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Well, that was interesting

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 792

Yeah, I know it, huh? Actually, I cut him some slack for a few reasons. First, he doesn't understand the nicotine addiction process like we do. I didn't understand that having one could foil the whole quit until I had done some research. Second, this guy is not a nicotine addict. He's one of the "lucky" 10 percent or so that can smoke when he chooses. Since he only smokes when he drinks, he doesn't understand what it's like to even be addicted. Third....well, he was drinking and probably not displaying the best judgement.

...Not to mention the fact that it's my responsibility to maintain my quit and not his.

Thanks for the level headed reply Workin'.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts here. You have given me several new ways to look at this. As breather pointed out, just raising the questions might be more important than having definitive answers to those questions.

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12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

Original Post by: willisv56

Hi Working, Very interesting train of thought. I do feel that while I personally have no trouble bending my elbow I do feel that quitting smoking does give you a sense of regaining a measure of control in your life that extends beyond smoking cessation and it is a very good feeling.

(And while it is none of my business you may want to reconsider who you call "friend" he offered you one ??!!!!!)

...Not to mention the fact that it's my responsibility to maintain my quit and not his.

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12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 43

Hi everyone,

I am glad you bought up this subject, Working On It, as I have been surprised by my reaction to the smoking/drinking combination. I do not drink any more or less than when I was smoking, and in fact, when I now drink I do not think about smoking at all. I have thought about this long and hard as I most people don't have this reaction and I have come to the conclusion that the reason I feel like this is because I was actually not even realizing that I was smoking when drinking! I was socializing and talking to the people I was with - I was not thinking about the cigarette I was smoking. It was something that was being done subconsciusly - you know, like when you are busy and suddenly you look at the ashtray next to you and it is full of cigarette butts and you can't remember smoking those cigarettes??? I will always be wary and recognize that I am addicted to cigarettes so I have to be careful in ANY situation, but I will not let them rule my life again.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 816

Hello Working On It et all. I have some thoughts on the subject that I'd like to share with you. I think that sometimes the questions are more important than having the answers to them. Do you think that perhaps the drinking diminishes because as we gain control over the smoking it gives us more power over the alcohol as well ? Maybe we're more mature than we once were ? Some people never grow up that's a fact and they'll party to the bitter end with the end result of any addiction of having to pay in the future for today's overindulgence. Could it be about seeing past the immediate gratification of today knowing the effect tomorrow from the cause of today. Maybe it's because we're gaining the confidence that we need to have more control over our lives without the substances that we were dependant on ? Maybe we just don't need or want it ? Excellent for us. breather

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 792

Hi Working, Very interesting train of thought. I do feel that while I personally have no trouble bending my elbow I do feel that quitting smoking does give you a sense of regaining a measure of control in your life that extends beyond smoking cessation and it is a very good feeling.

(And while it is none of my business you may want to reconsider who you call "friend" he offered you one ??!!!!!)

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Workin'!

I know what you mean about the drinking part not being "that" much fun since quitting. My consumption took a significant nose dive after I quit! Having a cold one or two after work was a real motivating reward I set up for myself in the beginning (which has continued). The good thing, though, is that the desire to obtain that big buzz has substantially diminished. That's a good thing, especially remembering some of those morning afters!

I DO know what you meant about the Puking part! I still have smoking friends and I definitely have to be upwind of them or the gag reflex is triggered big time! It has gotten worse as time has passed. That's one reason I always offer to drive when going somewhere with my smoking friends. Thank goodness they are considerate enough not to smoke in my car!

Hope that everyone has a great smoke-free New Years!

Jim

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12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

Actually, I'm not really concerned about the drinking. I don't consider partying with friends a couple of times in 4-5 months to be problematic. (Maybe the "puke" comment confused you. It was because I figured a cigarette would make me woozy, which would not go well with the wings and beer in my belly.) There was a point in my life when I drank more heavily and frequently, but it just doesn't have the same allure that it used to. That allure was further reduced when I quit smoking. Hence, my conclusion that maybe it was more about having the big smoking binge that went with a night of alcohol than it was about the alcohol for me. Not saying that's true for everyone, and I don't want any sober alcoholics here to go out and test the theory. It just seems to have been more about the smoking for me.

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12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

Working!

You have made some real progress, in more ways than one! Congrats on keeping strong in the face of this addiction and pushing forward. Have some thoughts about the drinking? Go to our sister site AlcoholHelpCenter.net, for information that can make sense to you.

Reward yourself

Pat yourself on the back

You came through a hard situation and learned some extra knowledge of your own!

Josie, Health Educator

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

Since I quit smoking, drinking hasn't been nearly as fun for me. When i first quit, it was just aggravating, since i would have to make sure didn't get inebriated enough to lose willpower. Now, it's not that I crave smokes while drinking. It's that the drinking doesn't give me the same kind of buzz anymore. So I was thinking that maybe my drinking escapades (which used to be every weekend) were actually more about smoking than anything.

So, tonight, after having had alcohol once in 4-5 months, I went out to drink with some friends. I was particularly worried that I might want to "enhance the buzz" with a cigarette. I also knew that I'd be hanging out with people who smoke a lot when they drink, so I was anticipating some difficult feelings. I was also thinking about nonic's post on our tendency to slip up during the holidays.

As it turns out, I really didn't get any significant cravings this time. I even sat outside with the smokers so I could talk to them.

What I found was that I was kind of revolted by the smoke, I kept trying to get myself upwind so I wouldn't have to smell it. There was only one point where I just half thought about me smoking. It was, like all my "craves" have been lately, just a memory of how cigarettes used to make me feel. I told one of my friends that I might have to go inside if the thought got too strong. His response was to offer me one. ???

And that's when I realized that I really, really didn't want one. I told my friend, "I'm an addict, and I don't want to wake up craving a cigarette tomorrow. ...I also don't want to puke tonight."

I figured that either or both of those outcomes were distinct possibilities.

Glad I didn't do it. I'm also not as nervous about the idea of drinking anymore.

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Well, that was interesting