Dutch226

Something I haven't seen discussed

Smoking has been a helpful crutch to stand on these last few weeks while I struggle to stay sober. I was wondering if anyone had success quitting alcohol then cigarettes after (or any tobacco I guess). When did you feel comfortable attacking the cigs?

I know it's a bad habit and so freaking taboo these days but I want to be realistic. Looking for honest advice, maybe from people with a few months under their belt.

tommyk

I quit the cigs as part of my fitness program.

I started the fitness as part of my recovery program.

Keep coming back.

chip

Hi and welcome Dutch,

A buddy of mine quit smoking in sobriety. He did it for himself, when he hit his 10 year mark. He waited to attack the cigs, and he used the tools he gained in recovery to quit smoking. He said he couldn't imagine doing it in his early sobriety, as it was a great crutch for him. I think there was also a social aspect of it as well, meeting other people after AA meetings for smokes & coffee.

Quitting smoking is always a good idea when the time is right to do so. I have another buddy who quit alcohol/drugs/and cigs at the same time. He's been clean/sober/non-smoker for over 3 years now.

From what I hear, it's different for different people. The common ground is that each person must be ready before he/she is successful at quitting smoking.

I wish you the best as you work on your own recovery. Congrats on your sober time.
chip

tallcactus

Dutch,
I do not have a few months under my belt. I'm smoking more then ever, dealing with a lot of stress in my marriage, etc.
I hate this habit, I do not even enjoy it. Heard it is harder to quit than heroin...LOL.
As a nurse, (yes, I smoke...unforgivable.) I know this battle well. Have quit many times, but start again....NO WILLPOWER!
It is easier to give up drinking 4 me anyway....

littlebluedog

Drinking is the biggest hurdle. Do what you have to do to get through that for now.

Not drinking is priority one in for me. Cigs next.

matt88

I stopped smoking about 2 weeks into my most recent foray into sobriety. I didn't really feel better until I stopped smoking as well.

The cravings for a cig tended to scream at me much louder than alcohol cravings. I've used the "just not today" mantra, usually applied to alcohol, but applied it to my nicotine cravings. So far so good. I seem to desire one less and less each day.

killingmesmalls

Seems like here in Southern California the only place you can smoke a cigarette without someone screaming at you is outside an AA meeting. If you are trying to quit or cut down toothpicks have always helped me.

yeahgr8

Cigarettes are really bad for you! My doctor said to me 7 weeks ago to not quit smoking and stop drinking...that's how bad our disease is...so i would not concern yourself with smoking too much for now.

Better to smoke a couple of packs a day in early sobriety (first couple of years) than try and quit, get back out there for a few years drinking everyday and smoking 3 packs a day...thats if you make it back...its pretty logical actually:-)

Saw a post the other day making a point that Bill W (AA founder)died from the cigs in the end and not the booze, how long do you think his life would have been if he hadn't stopped drinking...

totfit

More alcoholics die from smoking related diseases that from drinking related death period. There is not reason to wait. If you want to be "clean" and sober then smoking must go. Of course one is free to choose their vices. I quit both at the same time. Only way I could finally be free of substance abuse.

Dee74

How much longer could it have been if he stopped smoking?


LOL
D

BarstoolBlues

As I've been on my worst bender yet, I've noticed I've also been smoking a lot more. I've been an on and off smoker since I was 18, but never really felt myself addicted. I have anxiety disorders though and it would just make me me comfortable. I saw those "electronic" cigarettes that are out now an am thinking of getting one of those. It's basically steam that you're inhaling from what I gather, yet you are still getting nicotine. I've read it can be a helpful way to quit smoking as aside from the patch and prescription medications.

Bamboozle

I'm almost five months sober and I'm still smoking. Now it takes me about 4 days to go through a pack...I've cut down a bit.

I'll quit when I'm ready.

BoozeFish36

If you ask me tackle the big kahoona first, alcohol. Plenty of time to quit cigs later once you have slain the big dragon (not to discount the deadliness of cigs). I got lucky myself. Started taking welbutrin for depression (which worked) and got bonus side effect in that it cured my nicotine addiction. You don't want to bite off more then you can chew Good luck on your recovery!

Ghostlight

This is quite true. There was a study done on alcoholics that was very comprehensive.
It followed alcoholics for years and found more of them were dying of lung cancer than alcohol related illnesses.

Oddly enough, I'm quiting smoking today after 36 days sober. My doctor said he won't see me again until I quit, and he's an addiction specialist.

yeahgr8

Stop showing off Dee;-) I know you quit both smoking and drinking at the same time...i am trying hard here to justify lighting up in a minute lol

CarolD

I said I would give up smoking on the anniversary
of my first sober year in AA. I did not.

Tho I have cut back ...down from 3 packs
to 1 a day......I am still a smoker...20+ years later.

Obviously....I have no experience in successfully quitting cigarettes

TheSunAlsoRises

I halfheatedly thought day 90 would be a good day to give em up... now i'm on 93. I didn't want it bad enough. I stopped for 2.5 years at one point... I know I can kick it again... I just need to decide its what I want. I know i'll feel a million times healthier... Good luck with the ciggs... and make sure stay away from booze...

bjork

67 days no alcohol-49 days no cigs

My smoking and drinking always went hand in hand (so I thought). When I quit drinking I start smoking more. I hate smoking too.....I am just addicted. I had quit for 3 years before and had been smoking again for almost 10 years. I had a few off and on attempts to quit.

This time, quitting smoking has definitely been nerve racking; However, now is a good time for me as I am on summer break and not around colleagues that smoke. I think that helped me determine that now was definitely the time for me to quit.

Also, not smelling like smoke and really feeling the benefits from not drinking kind of encouraged me to keep away from the cigs as I just felt that much more better. In my opinion, I like killing both demons at the same time. Why go through H-E-L-L twice???

yeahgr8

First good luck with your quitting, it is a good thing and you should listen to your doc if he is helping:-)

Second i do not believe for one minute that the amount of deaths from alcoholism to the amount of deaths from smoking related causes to alcohoics is less. The reason being is that whatever the cause of death is from alcoholism, unless it is something like liver failure or cirhosis, the only thing that will be written on the death certificate is heart attack, stroke etc...not heart attack/stroke from alcoholism. This does not even take into account the numerous accidents, death by driving etc that is caused by alcoholism.

Alcoholism is life or death for an alcoholic plain and simple, and i don't like it being compared to smoking at all...this gives completely the wrong impression to a newcomer that it is a bad habit which is just the ignorance on the suject that sends most alcoholics to their early graves.

Please note i'm not having a go at you just expressing an opinion on the subject matter:-)

bugsworth

addiction is addiction...smoking or drinking. It seems to me that many folks live in denial when it comes to smoking, especially if they are alcoholics. Deaths caused by smoking far surpass alcoholic deaths regardless whether one believes it or not.
Good job to all who have managed to quit!