Old 05-12-2013, 09:05 AM
  # 28 (permalink)  
Genie
Member
 
Genie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 133
Hey Mag - I can relate to your posts. I did a lot of drinking alone. I am only a week sober, so I do not have any words of wisdom to offer. I know I am only holding on by tenterhooks, but I am determined. This group is awesome (thanks guys).

As for quitting smoking - that's one area where I finally succeeded. It's been 20 years since I last smoked and it was damn hard to quit. Took me at least 5 tries. I never used any patches or gum, just CT. I started out saying to myself...oh, I'll only smoke when I'm drinking (because they go hand-in-hand). That didn't work. Only have a puff - nope. What I finally realized is that I couldn't even light a cigarette for anyone. I could not be a casual smoker. I just could not have that next one. It was tough, but as time went by it became easier and now I don't even think about it. In fact, smelling smoke or walking through a cloud of smoke makes me ill.

Now...if I can only apply my same thought pattern to quitting drinking. It's got to be the same. The only difference I see, is that drinking is socially acceptable while smoking is not. Most places and homes will not allow smoking, but not the same for drinking - in fact, drinking is part of being social. However, unlike a casual smoker (who still is not allowed to smoke in most places), the casual drinker is most welcome.

I found quitting smoking far easier than quitting drinking.

If I were you, I would not focus on the smoking right now because the drinking is far more dangerous at this time.

Good luck to you, hon...we are rooting for you.

Genie
Genie is offline