Allen Carr's Stop Smoking book
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Allen Carr's Stop Smoking book
Good way-early-morning (or late night) all,
I just finished reading this book and smoked my last ever cigarette. If any of you have ever read it, did you have the thought that the method could be applied to drinking as well? Seems to me that it could (minus the ease of physical withdrawal from nicotine). But the whole premise that not one good thing comes from nicotine addiction, and one should approach it as a very happy ending, the rewiring of the brain with thoughts of how free we are rather than trying to avoid the thoughts to smoke that inevitably arise, seems appropriate, at least to me, for alcohol addiction. Why aren't we talking about how easy it could be if approached in the same way? Maybe I'm missing something? Addiction is addiction, right?
I just finished reading this book and smoked my last ever cigarette. If any of you have ever read it, did you have the thought that the method could be applied to drinking as well? Seems to me that it could (minus the ease of physical withdrawal from nicotine). But the whole premise that not one good thing comes from nicotine addiction, and one should approach it as a very happy ending, the rewiring of the brain with thoughts of how free we are rather than trying to avoid the thoughts to smoke that inevitably arise, seems appropriate, at least to me, for alcohol addiction. Why aren't we talking about how easy it could be if approached in the same way? Maybe I'm missing something? Addiction is addiction, right?
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I started it and made it ¾ through. About everything I did read I was thinking of how it related to my quitting the alcohol and what really jumped out at me was the willpower and how it wasn't effective in the quit for smoking.
I tried the willpower before with the booze but when I decided I really didn't want to drink, that helped me a lot at least.
I intend to get back to the book but for now, the drinking is my main focus.
I tried the willpower before with the booze but when I decided I really didn't want to drink, that helped me a lot at least.
I intend to get back to the book but for now, the drinking is my main focus.
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I've got one of his quit drinking books and it's packed full of good stuff that makes sense but for me is probably a bit too simplistic to be all you need, probably because alcohol affects your emotions and parts of your life you don't even consider, so much more than nicotine.
I'd recommend it to help maintain motivation though, once you've already got some sobriety under your belt.
I'd recommend it to help maintain motivation though, once you've already got some sobriety under your belt.
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Join Date: Jul 2017
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I bought the stop smoking book about 2001 or 2002 and did find it useful at the time (though ultimately I did start smoking again). I remember thinking at the time that some of what I was reading could also be applied to stopping drinking so it didn't come as any surprise when I later learned he'd written a similar book about alcohol. I did buy that one about 10 years ago, read the first few pages and then didn't read any further. I still have the stop smoking one but I must have thrown out the alcohol one as the last time I looked for it I couldn't find it.
I didn't read enough of the alcohol one to know if his whole approach to stop smoking / stop drinking were the same but as he / his publishing company then published similar books for losing weight, stop gambling, sugar addiction, being sucessful and a whole lot more I'm assuming that he (or someone else for the later books given he died in 2006) uses a similar approach in each book.
I didn't read enough of the alcohol one to know if his whole approach to stop smoking / stop drinking were the same but as he / his publishing company then published similar books for losing weight, stop gambling, sugar addiction, being sucessful and a whole lot more I'm assuming that he (or someone else for the later books given he died in 2006) uses a similar approach in each book.
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Join Date: Jul 2017
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I've read the alcohol one and the approach is pretty much identical to the stop smoking one. I did actually stop for maybe a couple of weeks but I dont think it alone was enough to sustain it for me.
I did the 30 day alcohol experiment this time and the approach just worked for me completely, it's kind of focused on changing your subconscious rather than logic (which the AC focuses on)... your AV doesnt care about logic and you cant beat it with logic alone.
I found the alcohol experiment really changed my thoughts and behaviours. Theres exercises and videos to do daily, I suppose in a way similar to working the steps. With Alan Carr you read the book then just stop but I needed something with more to it. TAE is free to sign up to. You also get weekly newsletters from her ongoing.
I also found 2 books really helpful, The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety and This Naked Mind. I found them to be really focused on what you gain and found them inspiring.
I'm now 54 days in and have to say, for the first time ever, LOVING sobriety and all it has to offer. I'm pretty much euphoric right now!
I hope you find the way that works for you.
I did the 30 day alcohol experiment this time and the approach just worked for me completely, it's kind of focused on changing your subconscious rather than logic (which the AC focuses on)... your AV doesnt care about logic and you cant beat it with logic alone.
I found the alcohol experiment really changed my thoughts and behaviours. Theres exercises and videos to do daily, I suppose in a way similar to working the steps. With Alan Carr you read the book then just stop but I needed something with more to it. TAE is free to sign up to. You also get weekly newsletters from her ongoing.
I also found 2 books really helpful, The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety and This Naked Mind. I found them to be really focused on what you gain and found them inspiring.
I'm now 54 days in and have to say, for the first time ever, LOVING sobriety and all it has to offer. I'm pretty much euphoric right now!
I hope you find the way that works for you.
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Originally Posted by C0ntr0ls 
I started it and made it ¾ through. About everything I did read I was thinking of how it related to my quitting the alcohol and what really jumped out at me was the willpower and how it wasn't effective in the quit for smoking.
I tried the willpower before with the booze but when I decided I really didn't want to drink, that helped me a lot at least.
I intend to get back to the book but for now, the drinking is my main focus.
I tried the willpower before with the booze but when I decided I really didn't want to drink, that helped me a lot at least.
I intend to get back to the book but for now, the drinking is my main focus.
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Join Date: Feb 2020
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Originally Posted by Tetrax
I've got one of his quit drinking books and it's packed full of good stuff that makes sense but for me is probably a bit too simplistic to be all you need, probably because alcohol affects your emotions and parts of your life you don't even consider, so much more than nicotine.
I'd recommend it to help maintain motivation though, once you've already got some sobriety under your belt.
I'd recommend it to help maintain motivation though, once you've already got some sobriety under your belt.
not complex enough. To tell you the truth, I had way more trepidation regarding quitting smoking than quitting drinking because of how thoroughly the former had permeated my life. I had strong emotions about both, but knew before I ever wanted to quit that neither offered me one good thing and both were leading to an early demise.
I know everyone is different. And many different approaches work. I very much appreciate your input. Thank you for sharing!
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Originally Posted by Robbie64
I bought the stop smoking book about 2001 or 2002 and did find it useful at the time (though ultimately I did start smoking again). I remember thinking at the time that some of what I was reading could also be applied to stopping drinking so it didn't come as any surprise when I later learned he'd written a similar book about alcohol. I did buy that one about 10 years ago, read the first few pages and then didn't read any further. I still have the stop smoking one but I must have thrown out the alcohol one as the last time I looked for it I couldn't find it.
I didn't read enough of the alcohol one to know if his whole approach to stop smoking / stop drinking were the same but as he / his publishing company then published similar books for losing weight, stop gambling, sugar addiction, being sucessful and a whole lot more I'm assuming that he (or someone else for the later books given he died in 2006) uses a similar approach in each book.
I didn't read enough of the alcohol one to know if his whole approach to stop smoking / stop drinking were the same but as he / his publishing company then published similar books for losing weight, stop gambling, sugar addiction, being sucessful and a whole lot more I'm assuming that he (or someone else for the later books given he died in 2006) uses a similar approach in each book.
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Originally Posted by AwkwardKitty
I've read the alcohol one and the approach is pretty much identical to the stop smoking one. I did actually stop for maybe a couple of weeks but I dont think it alone was enough to sustain it for me.
I did the 30 day alcohol experiment this time and the approach just worked for me completely, it's kind of focused on changing your subconscious rather than logic (which the AC focuses on)... your AV doesnt care about logic and you cant beat it with logic alone.
I found the alcohol experiment really changed my thoughts and behaviours. Theres exercises and videos to do daily, I suppose in a way similar to working the steps. With Alan Carr you read the book then just stop but I needed something with more to it. TAE is free to sign up to. You also get weekly newsletters from her ongoing.
I also found 2 books really helpful, The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety and This Naked Mind. I found them to be really focused on what you gain and found them inspiring.
I'm now 54 days in and have to say, for the first time ever, LOVING sobriety and all it has to offer. I'm pretty much euphoric right now!
I hope you find the way that works for you.
I did the 30 day alcohol experiment this time and the approach just worked for me completely, it's kind of focused on changing your subconscious rather than logic (which the AC focuses on)... your AV doesnt care about logic and you cant beat it with logic alone.
I found the alcohol experiment really changed my thoughts and behaviours. Theres exercises and videos to do daily, I suppose in a way similar to working the steps. With Alan Carr you read the book then just stop but I needed something with more to it. TAE is free to sign up to. You also get weekly newsletters from her ongoing.
I also found 2 books really helpful, The Unexpected Joy of Sobriety and This Naked Mind. I found them to be really focused on what you gain and found them inspiring.
I'm now 54 days in and have to say, for the first time ever, LOVING sobriety and all it has to offer. I'm pretty much euphoric right now!
I hope you find the way that works for you.
If what I'm doing doesn't work, I will search out the program you mention.
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Join Date: Nov 2018
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I quit smoking 11 years ago with the help of whyquit.com. when I quit drinking 16 months ago I could not help but constantly compare the similarities and differences from quiting the two different addictions. And yes, I was able to apply some of the quitting smoking techniques I learned from whyquit.com to quitting drinking.
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Join Date: Jan 2020
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I read Carr’s drinking book last fall ( about 3 months before I did an inpatient detox in January. ) I hated it. I felt Carr took the plan for smoking and applied it identically to drinking, when there are huge differences in the two addictions (I quit smoking decades ago, but had been totally addicted to cigarettes.)
But lots of people seem to find it useful. I do like what both he and Annie Grace have to say about the influence of society and media and advertising. That we are being brainwashed to believe drinking is glamorous, that is leads to deeper friendships, more romantic relationships and all good things.
I thought his advice to all drinkers to decide to quit and then just do it cold turkey was irresponsible and dangerous, completely ignoring that people physiologically addicted can go through dangerous withdrawal.
But all of us find different kinds of help and support in all different places!
But lots of people seem to find it useful. I do like what both he and Annie Grace have to say about the influence of society and media and advertising. That we are being brainwashed to believe drinking is glamorous, that is leads to deeper friendships, more romantic relationships and all good things.
I thought his advice to all drinkers to decide to quit and then just do it cold turkey was irresponsible and dangerous, completely ignoring that people physiologically addicted can go through dangerous withdrawal.
But all of us find different kinds of help and support in all different places!
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 67
I’ve read both, pretty much identical approach. Neither worked for me, although I’ve had short periods of stopping smoking using it (it didn’t stop me drinking). For me it highlights the sheer stupidness of smoking - makes you consider what on earth am I getting out of it. And there is no good answer. But with drinking, at least until the end, I could answer (rightly or wrongly) that such and such time was fun.
We can all say “I had some fun nights out drinking” but no-one says “I had some fun nights out smoking”. That’s the difference for me and why the method doesn’t apply as well to drinking as smoking.
now I’m over a year sober I’m looking in to going to an Allen Carr stop smoking clinic or maybe a hypnotist
We can all say “I had some fun nights out drinking” but no-one says “I had some fun nights out smoking”. That’s the difference for me and why the method doesn’t apply as well to drinking as smoking.
now I’m over a year sober I’m looking in to going to an Allen Carr stop smoking clinic or maybe a hypnotist
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Join Date: Feb 2020
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Originally Posted by FlyAgain
I’ve read both, pretty much identical approach. Neither worked for me, although I’ve had short periods of stopping smoking using it (it didn’t stop me drinking). For me it highlights the sheer stupidness of smoking - makes you consider what on earth am I getting out of it. And there is no good answer. But with drinking, at least until the end, I could answer (rightly or wrongly) that such and such time was fun.
We can all say “I had some fun nights out drinking” but no-one says “I had some fun nights out smoking”. That’s the difference for me and why the method doesn’t apply as well to drinking as smoking.
now I’m over a year sober I’m looking in to going to an Allen Carr stop smoking clinic or maybe a hypnotist
We can all say “I had some fun nights out drinking” but no-one says “I had some fun nights out smoking”. That’s the difference for me and why the method doesn’t apply as well to drinking as smoking.
now I’m over a year sober I’m looking in to going to an Allen Carr stop smoking clinic or maybe a hypnotist
Thanks all for the discussion! I love interaction that helps me see all sides of a subject.
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I just looked and I have The Easy Way to Quit Alcohol by Alan but have not read it yet and don't believe it is as easy as anyone says whether they wrote a book or not.
I got it in a bundle with This Naked Mind which I have started reading.
It sounds like they are similar methods as far as training the unconscious minds which I do believe needs to be a part of recovery.
I quit cigs cold turkey 20+ years ago so no need to read that one now.
I will say I believe you get out of any book, method, etc. what you want to get out of it.
If you believe it will help then it probably will. If you are convinced it's hogwash then it probably won't help.
That said, I have been following you in your journey and it's great to see you reaching out for new tools for your sobriety.
I got it in a bundle with This Naked Mind which I have started reading.
It sounds like they are similar methods as far as training the unconscious minds which I do believe needs to be a part of recovery.
I quit cigs cold turkey 20+ years ago so no need to read that one now.
I will say I believe you get out of any book, method, etc. what you want to get out of it.
If you believe it will help then it probably will. If you are convinced it's hogwash then it probably won't help.
That said, I have been following you in your journey and it's great to see you reaching out for new tools for your sobriety.
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