social smoker seeks to quit smoking without giving up being social

[nodilberthere]

I am one week off of cigarettes today. I'm avoiding everyone I know who smokes -- and that seems to be everyone I know. Apparently, smokers do attract smokers. I can't have cocktails either, because for me, the two go together like a hand in a glove.

How do I continue having a social life and not smoke? I am fine at the house without one, or when I am with my family or people I don't normally smoke with. But put me within spitting distance of someone -- anyone I know who I smoke with, and the desire for a cigarette IMMEDIATELY kicks in. And at that point, I have no willpower whatsoever because strangely enough, I don't consider myself a "smoker."

I can't do the patch because I don't smoke during the day, don't wake up in the a.m. to have one, don't have one with my coffee -- I smoke only socially. But when I am socializing, I have been known to smoke a pack in an evening. Add cocktails, more than a pack. And now that it's summer, I'm socializing a LOT....

I don't want t be a hermit, but I may need to move to my own island to kick this nasty habit. Any tips would be gladly appreciated.

 

[scooterbug44]

Good luck - nasty habit to kick!

Only suggestion I can make it to go places where it is difficult to light up, try to focus on friends who don't smoke, and find something else to do while drinking that ISN'T smoking - maybe an electric cigarette or something to chew on.

 

[passin thru]

Maybe try some other kinds of & places for socializing? At the gym, on a walk or bike ride, at the movies?

I respect you for quitting ... it's simple, but not at all easy. Keep at it!

 

[happy2Bme]

Sounds more like a learned habit than a physical one, so should be easier with a change of mind-set, social settings, or friends. For a true "smoker", it is more a function of (lots of) time to get past the mental and physical cravings. But, eventually, you get to the point where you wonder how/why you smoked to begin with, so there's always hope!

May the force be with you!!

 

[Lynnie]

A psychology professor talked about imagining the action makes you violently ill. That's worked for a few of my friends - you know, those dry heaves from drinking too much kinda' sick feeling?

Mind over matter - cold turkey. You can do it! Socialize indoors where smoking isn't allowed. Good luck and keep us posted~~~~~

 

[bluemtnrunner]

Keep one drink in each hand, that way you don't have a hand free for a cigarette?
Sorry, I know this is a tough thing to kick. My husband quit cold turkey on New Years. He hadn't been a heavy smoker either, just one or two at work or out with friends. For him, it was his mama dying that kept him on the wagon (though he wanted one bad during those long hours at the hospital). Maybe if you can focus on the reasons for quitting it will make it easier to pass it up.
Or try my dad's approach and put a big rubber band on your wrist. Everytime you think about lighting up, pull back and let it smack you!!!

 

[Tootie]

congratulations on quitting for this amount of time - your story sounds JUST like mine - I do the same thing - I am only quit for three days - I don't get past three days -

 

[nodilberthere]

I like the rubberband idea, I'm going to do that! And seriously, I'm avoiding our neighbors and my friends for the next month. I don't want Cancer or COPD or anything else horrible that smoking causes.

And it won't be hard to imagine that ciggies make me nauseous -- lately I smoke soooo much in such a short period of time that I literally have nicotine poisoning the next day. I get shaky, spacey, with nausea, headache, just downright sick. That's because I can go a week or longer without one, then boom boom POW, I have a few cocktails with my smoker friends and I'm a chain-smoker.

I've never smoked in Florida, interestingly enough......so when we do relocate down there, as is our 7 year plan -- I will make sure not to make any new friends who smoke. (smokers are usually fun people, though.)