Alcohol Consumption When Stopping Smoking (How Drinking Makes Quitting Even Harder) By Steven L Jones At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

It might seem obvious at first, but the underlying reasons behind cutting back on drinking when you quit smoking aren't what you'd expect. Even more unexpected is the fact that you don't have to give up drinking to quit smoking, it just needs to be approached carefully.

Like almost everything else in life, things become easier when you know what to expect. The way that your subconscious mind acts on your thoughts isn't the most predictable of things, yet its effects can have a great impact on your ability to stop smoking, especially after tossing back a few at the bar.

Many people believe that if you give up cigarettes, you have to give up alcohol. These things, while connected in some ways, aren't inextricably tied together. Granted, the absolute healthiest thing would be to stop both, but that would make me a hypocrite, so we're just going to avoid that concept. Anyway, the problem with drinking and cigarettes is that you're so used to them being together. Toss back a few beers, walk outside and light up. You've been doing it for so long that it has become a habit, ingrained in your mind and difficult to stop.

Like all habits, however, you can stop it. If you try to run away from it by, say, not drinking for a few weeks and then going back, you'll likely relapse back into smoking as well. Again, it has to be approached carefully. Quitting smoking is a lifestyle change, just as becoming a smoker was. You aren't going to become an entirely different person, but you will have to exercise caution for a bit to prevent yourself from falling back on your old habits.

You should cut back on drinking for the first few weeks after stopping tobacco use, however. This gives you time to deal with all the other mental ties that cause you to smoke (more on that at the end of the article). After you are confident that you've kicked the habit from your sober life, here's where it gets interesting. Have a few drinks, and make absolutely sure that you don't smoke.

After a few drinks (especially after a few dry weeks) your inhibitions will be significantly lowered. Just like with the ugly chick at the bar, your subconscious will try to take over, telling you such things as "Oh, you haven't smoked for weeks, it's time to reward yourself!" Don't fall for this, because this is the point at which you will be able to break your habit. Remember how embarrassing it was when you woke up with the three-hundred-pounder from the bar? Same rules apply here. Keep in mind what you're working for, and you'll have your first smoke-free night of drinking.

Will it be difficult? The first few times, it definitely won't be easy. As with all habits that you break, it gets easier with repetition. Before long, you'll be able to enjoy a few beers without even thinking about cigarettes, because your mind will no longer connect the two.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=383575&ca=Self+Help

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.