Do you think giving up 2 addictions together is too risky?

Question

I managed to stop drinking 9 months ago but I still smoke. I enjoy smoking most of the time and I have had advice off cousellors(6 months ago) not to try to quit too much at once. My fear is that if I stop smokinjg and relapse, then I may get into that frame of mind and relapse with the drinking, or maybe that's just an excuse I'm using..I'd love to hear from anyone who has done anything like this or anyone with some good sound advice on multi addictions etc

Answer 1

I would carry on smoking for a while. You've done fantastically well to stop drinking and you should be really proud of yourself. I stopped smoking 2 years ago, I've never relapsed but it is hard, especially for the first few months and if you try to give up too soon after you stopped drinking you could possibly end up relapsing on both counts. Unless you have any serious health problems where smoking puts you in immediate danger, I honestly think you should forget about stopping for another year or so. I hope everything works out for you.

Answer 2

My personal experience says it is possible after four months of sobriety. If you are in a 12 step program then, I would suggest you use those steps to stop. It worked me. I'll show you an example of how simple this works.
1) I admitted that I was hooked on cigerettes, and that it was messing up my life.
2) I realized that I could not quit without help from someone or something outside of my own knowledge.

oh, i quit smoking almost 3 packs a day 32 years ago.
I know you can do it!
3) Became willing to "let go" of the habit and let myself be happy that I could stop and to let others know that you need there support. (Like staying away from other smokers)
4) Made a list of all the times smoking had become a problem. I.E. burns on furniture, floors, self. Nagging cough, complaints from others, loss of health. Costs going up, up, up.
If you know the steps this works. If you are not working the steps, go to the library and find liturature that states the 12 steps. just read some lit, and give it a go.

Answer 3

First congrats on being 9 months alcohol free! Its true alot of counselors and alot of recovering addicts/alcoholics do not reccomend stopping 2 addictions at once. One reason is so we can learn some of our trigger points. Since its been 9 months and now you want to stop smoking try doing it with the help of a patch or gum. Don't go cold turkey unless you have alot of strong support. If you relapse on your smoking it does not mean you will relapse on your drinking. Stay focused in your recovery and you'll do fine. I've been sober a bit over 10 years now and my main objective has been learning a better way of life with learning a new me. Support and consistancy will help you alot. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Maybe wean urself off the ciggies by cutting down or using nicotine patches? It could be beneficial to ur health in the long run, prevent cancer etc. However i dont wish to sound like the accusor here, so perhaps try and simply cut down the amount u smoke? That way u could kinda limit the risks of other nasties without relapsing into drink again. Good luck!

Answer 5

Generally alcohol is a psychological addiction while smoking is a physical one. I think that as long as you take time to make sure you are prepared and not about to go trough a period of stress anbd turmoil that you should be able to keep off both.
I found smoking very easy to give up but alcohol was a real battle for me, probably because I really loved drinking and if drinking affected only me and not those around me I would not have given up.
Anyway what I would do is make sure you want to give up. If you really enjoy smoking it will be hard to give up. If you decide you don't like to smoke and it is no benefit to you giving up will be easy. Basically you have to want to give up or chances are you will fail.
Have a great day and good luck!

Answer 6

To be honest when i quit smoking i found that i didnt want to drink either as it'd make me want to smoke as i loved having a cig with an alcoholic beverage. Thing is, im still smoking and drinking but not as much. Its probably best to do one thing at a time, i mean ur body is used to the nicotine and alcohol so it might be best to do it how ur already doing it. Tho if u do relapse, as many people do so dnt feel bad, why not try it the other way round? sto smoking first as this might help u quit drinking too. Thats my personal opinion but different things work for different people. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

I have read that it takes 21 days to break a habit. I took 12 months to wean from a drug known here in Australia as "Subutex" or "Buprenorphin". That was hell hard to get off, but I did it by a very slow method of reducing it and monitoring and recording my progress. If you really want to give something up which has control over you, then you must do it slowly, but if I can do it, anyone can... good luck.

Answer 8

First well done with the drinking addiction you have done great the smoking you will really have to want to give up just take things slow

Answer 9

wait until u have stopped drinking for at least a year and as u know u really have to want to give up smoking to be able to manage it, good luck xx

Answer 10

If you have not been dinking for 9 months slowly try to see if you can handle dropping the second addiction. Just dot do it cold turkey. If you feel you are doing okay then it should be fine.