Ex smokers and vape quitters

[Champgal]

How did you keep off them long term? I quit cold turkey about 6 months ago and though I have quit the day to day habit, every couple of weeks when I go out on the town with my friends, I always indulging in a cheeky smoke or two. Though I don’t wake up wanting one or to start again, obviously a non smoker doesn’t need just one or two with drinks. How did everyone manage when all your friends smoke? Do I just remove myself and stop drinking for a couple of months untill I am confident I have broke the habit? Any tips would be great as I just can’t seem to fight the urge when drink gets involved! Help! Advice!

Honestly, I don't know how you have just one. I did this after quitting for 3 years on dps birthday 2021, ended up smoking full time again for another year and had to go back through the whole quitting process again.

Not another puff.

For me it was just deciding that I was an ex smoker and stopping. Having one of two when drinking was always a slippery slope for me, so I just decided to stop altogether.

I appreciate that this may not help you, but for me it was a mindset thing. Also reminding myself how smoking ruins your health, your looks and is a financial drain helped. Oh and also that it smells revolting after you've stopped for long enough.

Hi @Champgal
My husband stopped smoking and never had another smoke again. He mainly quit because i wouldn't date him but honestly more than anything he did say he started to experience cheast pains and wasn't doing to great in the gym. I think you have to just quit completely and maybe just stop drinking for a while xx

What about trying a nicotine free vape when having a drink?

I did actually get one of those however I thought it was a slippery slope once I start buying more vape products, I want to just be done and dusted but I always seemed to not be able to resist one every couple of weeks while out! Maybe I just need to take a few months off drinking socially and then I will hopefully disassociate from
it!

A couple of things worked for me. My husband and I gave up at the same time , which obviously makes it easier to resist , plus I've also stopped going out drinking. It is bloody hard though , as before I quit properly (7 years smoke free now) , I would manage a few months then gradually start again after a relapse on a night out.

Funnily enough I was talking to my husband yesterday about how I will always think cigarettes are delicious and tempting even though they are also stinky , expensive and bad for your health. No matter how much I appreciate feeling healthier and having more spare cash I can't see this changing!

Good luck op. I hope you find what works for you.

Maybe I just need to take a few months off drinking socially and then I will hopefully disassociate from it!

Honestly yes, this is partly what you need to do. Do ALL your friends smoke? Does your partner smoke? Because you need to break your association of alcohol with smoking, of going out and having a good time with smoking. Going out for a drink or two with someone who doesn't smoke will help that. It's hard though. I've quit cold turkey twice now, and beer is by far my biggest stumbling block when I otherwise have found it manageable.

Don’t think a puff here and there is a setback. Part of quitting anything addicting is relapsing. Over time you’ll get more and more disgusted with it, and you’ll be more apt to refuse one. I tend to indulge if I’ve had enough alcohol, which isn’t often. Any other time I get nauseous with just one drag. I can’t even remember the last time I had one. I started smoking at a really young age, like preteen, and quit at 25. I’m now 41. I was really motivated because I’d seen a chart at the dr’s office that showed how lungs repair after quitting- and every year after 25 the damage was more and more irreversible. I happened to be pregnant at 25 as well, so that made it easier. So my advice is to just stay motivated and don’t think you’re failing if you regress- it’s a process, not an overnight thing. I will say it’s good to know your triggers- mine was coffee, alcohol, after a meal, stress, and seeing people smoke in movies. I went out and bought a pack plenty of times over the years, but couldn’t manage to smoke them, I’d end up just holding it and letting it burn down. Over time it just becomes so disgusting, and the smell on my hand and the taste in my mouth was revolting and so hard to get rid of. It takes awhile to get to that point. So give yourself time and room to “fail.” The goal is a long term thing and you’ll get there.

I second this. I did use patches but they gave me nightmares. Ultimately I just carried on not smoking, and told myself I was a non-smoker. It’s been 2.5 years now. I don’t agree that they smell awful though. I breathe deeply on the street when someone nearby is smoking. The memories!!