cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Give and get support around quitting

JessicaF
Member

Smoking & drinking...HAAALLP!!!

My quit date is not until next month, but I'm trying to get ready for it by cutting down & listening to the audio version of Allen Carr's book. I've been doing really good at cutting down! Went from 15 to 10 effortlessly. 

I like to drink. And by like, I mean pink puffy heart love. Today is a one of those rare days (I get one once or 2x a month) where my husband has taken all my kids to his creepy parents house for the day. I left to get groceries & the brakes went out on the car after I was 1/2 hour away from home. No groceries, white knuckles it all the way home. Stressed. Made myself a beautiful cocktail once I got home. 

Pretty much instantly lost all motivation to cut down, let alone quit. What do you guys suggest? A girlfriend of mine recently told me that she quit smoking by giving up drinking. She quit the drinking for 9 months just so she could quit the smoking. Is that what I need to do? 

Tags (1)
0 Kudos
9 Replies

Good to meet you!!

I've seen it go both ways myself. As with many, there was a time when I had a few short quit attempts. One thing is certain. Every one of those quits ended in the bar, or having a beer with a friend. It's one of the strong triggers for most and I have to tell you, the two seem to go hand in hand.

 On my last quit I was able to drink some after the first couple of weeks. I think the difference is that my last quit was very well planned. I felt comfortable with the thought of quitting and I didn't have nearly as hard a time as in the past, simply because I had a better attitude about the whole thing.

 So for me the bottom line is, if there's the slightest desire to smoke and you drink, you'll probably smoke. I mean we both know that alcohol changes our decision making and for some can become to good of an excuse to smoke again. If it were me, and I was in your shoes, I wouldn't risk it for a while. But then, that's just my opinion!!

Either way, I look forward to hearing of your success in both your preparation and your quit!

ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!

Chuck

Giulia
Member

If you "pink puffy heart love" to drink, and you "lost all motivation to cut down, let alone quit," what do you imagine the answer is?  If you learn anything from this community you'll learn that drinking is the quickest route to relapse that we know of.  YoungAtHeart  Puts out a weekly blog on it.  You can get to them all from her page.  Here's more reading that may prove useful:  The Drinking Trap   , https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/community/expert-advice/blog/2015/08/14/alcohol-use-in-early-toba... 

Until one is secure in their quit - VERY SECURE - it is wise to not put yourself in jeopardy.  Drinking clouds the mind.  

Alcohol Abstinence isn't just "nice' or "helpful" - it's a must! You can do both simultaneously - In fact, in a lot of ways it's easier to make a lot of lifestyle changes at once. But - bottom line - the answer to your question is - YES!

Smoking cessation and alcohol abstinence: What do the data tell us? (PDF Download Available) 

alcohol lowers inhibitions and muddys clear thinking.

alcohol is a quit killer

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

Your girlfriend did the right thing for herself.  It took me about 4 months before I had my first glass of wine.  Understand....alcohol can be a trigger.  You have to be prepared and committed to go through whatever withdrawal symptoms because of drinking. Even the day after.  If you are not sure it is best not to drink until you are sure you are able to not smoke. 

elvan
Member

I did not drink for six months and then I went to a pool party to celebrate my good friend's birthday.  I knew there would be drinking and smoking but I planned for it...I planned to sit with non smokers and I planned to have no more than two beers...maximum.  Turned out that my non smoking friends had started smoking again, after my second beer, I caught myself leaning forward to pick up a pack of cigarettes that was on the table.  They were my brand and there was a lighter right there.  I stopped myself before I actually touched them...I made my excuses and picked up my new white shirt that I had thrown over the back of a chair when I got there.  I threw it on the bedpost when I got home and when I went to wear it a couple of weeks later, I saw a HUGE burn hole in the middle of the back.  It was a brand new shirt, I had never worn before that day.  It was basically destroyed...just like my quit would have been had I picked up those cigarettes.  I am SO GLAD that I didn't, I am so glad that I protected my quit...my friends all knew that my quit was my number one priority and that I was not about to give it up.  

It's been 3 1/2 years since I smoked, I do not think you need to quit drinking for nine months to quit smoking but I DO think you need to get your priorities straight.  When you quit, it has to be number one...you have to protect that quit like your life depends upon it because it DOES.   If you drink and all of your inhibitions are let down, you will smoke.  The goal is NOT TO SMOKE, NO MATTER WHAT.

I know you can do this...

Best,

Ellen

maryfreecig
Member

As disappointing as it may be to hear, the booze has got to go for your quit...early on at least.

I admire your courage in asking the question...or humility, whatever it is, it is a good thing.

Stress + booze minus cigarettes = Oh what the hell. 

mariggin
Member

Hi there,  While I am no expert on the matter, I do disagree with all who said alcohol has to go.  I am on my 75th day of no cigarettes and I have continued to drink as much as I have before.  My feelings are that I can't avoid living my life.  I needed to make sure that whatever I did before I can do now only without cigarettes.  This quit has not been easy and enjoying a cocktail or glass of  wine has made it a little easier as I don't feel I have to give up everything.  I agree with others who say that you'll know if your

resistance is tested and if it is right or wrong for you.

 Best wishes. 

EastEnd
Member

Hopefully you're overweight (he says with a smile).  I have high blood pressure and was carrying 25 pounds too much body weight around and was hacking from cigs.  Hmmm....what to do?   Well two things to lower BP are to lose weight and quit smoking.  The easiest way to lose weight is to quit drinking and.....that makes the smoking quit easier.  

No drinks once the 15th of June, I'm down 19 pounds and BP down as well.  Last smoke was after midnight on the 19th of this month and I'm still going.  

Bundle all the reasons you know of to quit and look for more.  Add it all up and then, get a patch, park the alcohol and down the road you go.