Alcohol.

[dragon-uppercut]

So day two for me.  I just experienced my first morning without a cigarette.  Was a little rough but I made it through.

I have alot of triggers, but I'd say they all but one of them are minor ones that I can totally handle.  The master of all triggers, the only one I can see myself losing to is Alcohol.

Now while I'm determined to quit smoking, I am not prepared to give up alcohol.  Its something I enjoy and dont plan on quitting.

How do I avoid smoking with drinking???????

Ideas?

[Michwoman]

Yes - don't light up!! It's as simple as that! The alcohol isn't going to put the cigarette in your mouth and light it.  I felt the same as you when I quit and I tacked that hurdle right away. I just kept saying "Oh Yea I don't smoke any more"

[Michwoman]

Plus - there shouldn't be any cigarettes around for you to be tempted by and if you're drinking you shouldn't be driving to the store to buy them 😉

[Michwoman]

Ok Fair enough. My live-in boyfriend smoked for two months after I quit as well.  Still, nobody and nothing can "make" you smoke but you. If you are determined to keep drinking, that's the only way - you just can't let smoking be an option. PERIOD.

[Nyima_1.6.13]

I quit drinking for a while and I'm still careful about how much I consume! History tells us, too many cocktails will kill your quit! I'm not suggesting never drinking again, just give it a break until you have your quit more under control!

[dragon-uppercut]

Word.  Next week's BBQ at my buddies house is going to be a challenge.  I won't be tempted by alochol until then.

But at least I have time to prepare. 

[mel_74]

Is your girlfriend being supportive of your quit? If so, maybe she would be willing to not smoke in front of you, at least while you are drinking.  If she's not agreeable to that, then  if you want to drink you will just have  to keep telling yourself you don't smoke anymore.  Be sure your don't look at not having a smoke with your drink as a negative experience, be proud that you no longer smoke and know that is a very good thing!

You are going to be relearning alot of things and making alot of new "smoke-free memories".  Remember, N.O.P.E. under any circumstance.   

[rizza]

i am not an expert and am always hesitant to give advice, because everyone is different. 

If you can beat all the otherr triggers, you can beat the alcohol trigger!  YOU PULL the TRIGGER on that trigger. Shoot it dead! 😉 

Best of luck!

[YoungAtHeart]

Sorry - but I have to offer this quote:  "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."  If you have lost multiple quits by drinking - why do you think this time will be different?  The most important thing RIGHT NOW is your quit......and alcohol lowers your inhibitions and allows the addiction an in.  

The only solution to this dilemma I can see is for you to limit your alcohol consumption to only a drink (where you are still in control) in the early days of your quit - and add one or two more as you are successsful.  If your commitment to this quit is mountains higher than your previous trys, maybe that can help, too...........

There is no magic bullet for this process - it is not easy but it IS doable,,,,,,and it is SO worth  it - I promise!

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12.....

[Mandolinrain]

You said it yourself:

" Alcohol has lead me to failing multiple previous quit attempts..."

how bad do you really want to quit would be my question. Sometimes we have to really look 'inside' our hearts for that answer. If you are having a struggle giving up alcohol and it has lead you to 'fail' in quitting smoking I guess I would wonder, why alcohol is so important...why not give it up for awhile?

You say ;" How do I avoid smoking with drinking"? Really??? I am just not getting it, sorry. I think it is great your wanting to quit, but my opinion is if the alcohol is that major of a trigger, I would give it up as well for the time being".  Good luck and I really do hope you keep the quit. This site is wonderful!

[robertclark105]

Dragon,

I never have been much of a drinker, but I did frequent the gas stations to get a coke.  Just walking in there triggered me to buy cigarettes.  I just stopped going into gas stations unless to pay for my gas.  I know you don't want to give up drinking but you could switch your drink.  Instead of beer reach for a Mike's hard lemonade, etc.  Change it up.  It may prevent your trigger.

[dragon-uppercut]

My girlfriend is supportive of me quitting, but I think she believes that this will just be another failed attempt.  And I can't blame her for believing that, I've tried to quit so many times and failed.

The difference is that this time my mind is 100% made up.  I have a specific goal that I need to reach and the ONLY way to do that is by throwing away the cancer sticks.

I'm definately not keeping any beer or alcohol in my house during this process.  So as far as far as giving it up for awhile I definately am.  I just know next week I'm going to my good friends house for a BBQ and its going to be a struggle to tell him no to our normal hang out routine.  Which is whiskey shots.

Alcohol is an adversary I will have to face.

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

Drinking will not make you smoke. You're the one who has to pull that trigger & make a conscious choice. Alcohol lowers one's inhibitions * makes it a lot easier to make the choice to give up a quit. I agree with Freedom Bell. If quitting cigarettes is a true desire then you should be willing to make sacrifices.

I too wish you well but we've ween too many times someone losing a quit because of alcohol. Some never make it back.

Keep on keepin on,

M n @

[dragon-uppercut]

I like that idea Robert. 

So my plan so far is this, bring toothpicks so I'll have something to keep my mouth busy.  Bring my ipod as that has my motivational music on it that makes me think about my goal that is only obtainable without cigarettes.

And man up!!

[Buddy12]

I drank every Friday night....lots of beer and shots of vodka.....every Friday night.....never thought  about it.......that's just what Friday's was for......well, what do you know......I quit smoking and my desire to drink completely disappeared........heck, what good is a drink without a cig? It's been eleven months now......not a single puff........I've had a beer or two, but without a cigarette.....drinking no longer interests me......don't know why, but that's  what happened to me.......no cig? ...who wants a drink, now?

[nanawendy]

No one can force you to smoke, it is your decision, so if you want to drink just decide to keep the cigarettes out of your face !!

keep calm and carry on

Wendy

12/31/12

[Michwoman]

You've made it past one day - ask your lady to keep the smokes out of sight and out of the house.

For us - I never said a word to Al. I just kept up with my quit. He was great about leaving to smoke. After two months he just up and quit too. He tells people that "I convinced him". I knew at first that he was waiting to see if I was really going to do it and when he saw that I had really done it, he joined me. Perhaps your girlfriend will too! (Especially if she sees you enjoying youself at the BBQ without smoking)

P.S. Did you finish reading the book?

[dragon-uppercut]

I made it about half way through the book last night and fell asleep

[jim_ohio]

hi dragon,,,jim from ohio here.......i think you have a good plan...it is toughest to quit when young like u...........fact  alcohol  number 1 quit killer.......fact only 6 percent make it to 1 year.............i still carry my toothpicks in my non-smoking notebook.....i am on my 6 th mini book.....i make my own vanilla and peppermint and butter rum toothpics................i also buy bacon flavored on ebay......pretty cheap.........since i quit i am back doin my weights, and running...............god speed on your journey    jim ohio...........go buckeyes........go browns..............big smile.......

[stonecipher]

I like Robert's idea of switching to a different drink.  And it wouldn't hurt to keep the drinking to a minimum and drink NA beverages in between the alcohol.  and how about focusing on whatever activity is going on, such as dancing, shooting pool, throwing darts, watching the game on TV, conversation.

Better to walk by the beer pong table. 🙂

The best thing, though, would be to abstain altogether until you have more time in without cigarettes.  If you can beg off for this BBQ, it just might make all the difference to your quit.

[Sootie]

Can certainly understand your not wanting to give up alcohol...I did not want to give up coffee even though it was a trigger for me....and I  didn't---I just "bulled" my way through.

THAT BEING SAID-----coffee does not lower your inhibitions as does alcohol......and you are already aware it has ended some of your prior quits.

My husband quit smoking almost the same time as I did (he was a month ahead)----he's a big beer drinker but he really did not drink any beer for the first three months.......because he knew it would probably end his quit. He never intended to quit drinking forever...and he did not. he can now have a beer with no desire to smoke (he does drink way less as buddy said.....that's not a bad thing : )

Everyone on here makes their own choices.....but just sayin be VERY CAREFUL with alcohol if you really want to do it this time. Stay Strong

[dragon-uppercut]

Thanks guys

[Jordan-11-1-12]

Definitely change what you drink!  Its surprising how much of a difference that can make.

But, if alcohol is so imporntant to you that you can't stop for a few weeks........ than there's a definite problem right there.  Drinking is waaaayyy too important to you!  And your quit is no where near important enough.

[dragon-uppercut]

Jordan I think you should focus on being a positive energy to new quitters instead of a negative one.

You have no idea how important my quit is.  Just using this website for what its for, help, support and ideas.

Don't be negative to me, and I wont be to you.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Question: if you were training for an MMA fight and your trainer prohibited alcohol would you abide by his rules? My guess from what you've said is Yes! How is quitting smoking any less important than MMA? Isn't it essential to MMA? So when you choose sobriety so you can protect your quit you're really bettering your overall conditioning. right? Sobriety smobriety, Addiction FREE Living! It's all worth it!

[dragon-uppercut]

I would.  But once my fight was over I would drink.

Saying I will never have a drink again for the rest of my life is not something I'm comfortable with.

Abstaining for extended periods is no problem though.  Especially with the endorphins I'm getting from excercising.

"How is quitting smoking any less important than MMA? Isn't it essential to MMA?"

You're exactly right.

I think I might want to tell my buddie no drinkin at this BBQ, have some caffine instead because for whatever caffine doesn't trigger me at all.

At some point I am going to have to confront this alcohol issue though.

[Giulia]

All you have to do is read through the thousands and thousands of blog  pages on here of replapses due to drinking.  How do you avoid smoking with drinking?  You don't do either. At least you certainly don't drink in the early stages of your quit.  Period.  You can become a relapse statistic in an instant.  Booze erodes will power.  (Though will power won't keep you quit either.  There's more to quitting than will power alone.)  It's your choice.  Whiskey shots will kill your quit.  This is all up to you.  What's it gonna be?  What do you want more - your quit, or your temporary "fun time" with the gang?  How bad do you not want to write that "I f'cked up" blog?  Think hard.  Prepare well.  Quit the scene before you quit your quit.  I don't want to read your "I f*cked up" blog.  I've read too many of them before from those who didn't heed the advice given here.  Heed it well.

[Jordan-11-1-12]

Dragon..... saying "positive" things ===  things you want to hear.    That's not true support or friendship/... especially since you're at the beginning of your quit when, like ALL of us, the addictive thoughts and feelings still feel normal and logical.   I tell the truth cuz this is life or death and I care.   I help people.... not sugar coat.  What I said is facts. If it made you defensive (I SURE GOT DEFENSIVE WHEN I FIRST QUIT) that usually means its cuz a nerve was hit and you should look at it for what it is..... truth with no addictive denial clouding it.  

[Jordan-11-1-12]

PS NO ONE SAID QUIT DRINKING FOREVER... YOU'RE FIGHT IS ABOUT 130 DAYS SMOKE FREE

[dragon-uppercut]

I can do six months of no drinking to quit these cancer causing pieces of shit before I catch a perma disease.  Some of these blogs on this site are scary as fuck, definately things I don't want to experience.  And I'm young enough to completely recover.

As long as I quit now!

[Jordan-11-1-12]

That's a winning attitude (or as Thomas would say, "quittatude")   You got this, Dragon!  You are doing great, you're doing it, and you deserve to get free and stay free!!!  Great blogs you've got going, too... keep it up!!!