NO bar tonight

[Nicoletta69]

I had to decline an invitation to go to a restaurant bar to celebrate an anniversary. Would have been too tempting to smoke a cigarette while drinking an alcoholic drink and being in a bar atmosphere. I cannot wait until I feel relaxed enough to go out to a bar and have a drink without the need of smoking a cigarette😶

[Coco797 17 Month Winner]

Oh sweets you will get there. You will! I gave up drinking for weeks for the same reason. 5 weeks in and I can be around the smokers and am no longer tempted. My quit was hell and I’m not going back. Hope you find the same strength. And at the same time I say do what helps you. Find your why and your quit and be strong in it. No judgement. No beating yourself up. We are all in the same boat and pulling for you.

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Coco797]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[Arizona- 26 Months Winner in reply to Nicoletta69]

Good going Nicoletta👍

I can now safely have a drink and not want to light up but I’m still careful.

Eventually it won’t be s problem .

[Alex_Vega LONG TERM WINNER]

Well done! Smart decision, there'll be plenty of awesome moments to come after those stupid cravings will be gone in a few weeks. Just be prepared that you might hit a few triggers that you have avoided before. I don't think the cravings will be very strong then, but it's quite possible that especially after having a drink you'll feel tempted. It helped me to remember how unsexy it really is..the cough, the phlegm, the bad skin etc..sorry for the graphic depiction, but it's what really helped me when I sometimes had the illusion that smoking was part of my sexy night-life identity

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Alex_Vega]

Thank you for your advice. I just hope one day these Cravings will be gone💯. I honestly do not think they will ever be

[Alex_Vega LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Nicoletta69]

Ha! If they're not gone after a few months then you'd be a medical miracle! Seriously..it works like this: after your body has passed the stage of physical withdrawal (4-8 weeks), it has basically "forgotten" what nicotine is, meaning: the number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors will have reduced so dramatically that they can't be observed anymore (they are gone). However, certain situations, like a song, a breeze of summerwind, basically anything that your brain used to associate with smoking, can trigger a psychological craving. These can appear even after years have passed, though they are getting weaker and weaker. But the good thing is: once you've experienced all of these situations a few times without smoking, your brain has learned that they are not tied to a dopamine reward in the form of nicotine and will eliminate the association. For example: I was a super heavy smoker, so a million things reminded me of smoking and triggered cravings each morning. But after a couple of times living through them without smoking, my brain (=me) has now totally forgotten about it. I actually had to remind myself that I was a smoker and should check this Forum with lovely people who helped me to quit in order to contribute and give sth back to the community, else I'd have just forgotten about it all for weeks now.

TLDR:Cravings will go. Forever.

You're doing great, keep it up!!!

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Alex_Vega]

Wow 4-8wks!!!!!!!! That long?!?! I hope it is sooner because this is torture. I can finally drink a cup of coffee in the morning and sometimes not think of lighting up a cigarette. Thank you for your support and your advice and giving me hope in the long run!

[Alex_Vega LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Nicoletta69]

Oh don't you worry, read the other posts here. The real magic happens somewhere between day 10 and 20 for most people. You'll see One thing I promise: this whole chapter of your life will all be over soon and you'll be a lot happier! There is basically no exception with all the guys here

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Alex_Vega]

Very much looking forward to it

[ekomspots 1 YEAR WINNER]

Alcohol does seem to be a major trigger for most of us and especially difficult if surrounded by smokers. I think you should give yourself a special reward as compensation.

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to ekomspots]

I think so too but I wish my reward can be a cigarette!😠

[Alex_Vega LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Nicoletta69]

I 100% remember that feeling. Whatever I did, I wanted to do it "smoking". Even quitting smoking would be a lot easier if I could smoke (so I thought). It's all a mean magic trick. Don't believe these lies for 1 second, that feeling that "nothing will ever be the same again" or "as fun again". It's all lies..I was out clubbing super hard this week and had the time of my life and actually pittied the people running in and out for smokes.

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Alex_Vega]

I hope that is me one day. I am usually a positive person but in this case, I do not see myself ever not wanting to smoke. I do hope I prove myself wrong. Thanks for the encouragement and support.

[Alex_Vega LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Nicoletta69]

I know exactly how you feel, honestly. If you like..check my very very first post in this Forum and then work your way up

[alwaysseek 11 Month Winner]

Well done Wise decision

I couldn't even have a conversation on the telephone for the first several weeks of my quit because it was such a massive smoking association. When you do feel able to go out and socialise again you will feel so incredible that you no longer need to escape for a smoke that you will look at others disappearing and hardly believe that you used to that

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to alwaysseek]

Thank you. I cannot wait to feel that way

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

You made the right decision but it won’t always be like this. Be very proud of yourself 💐😊x

[Nicoletta69 Planning to quit in reply to Briarwood]

Thank you very much

[Brightonmikey 29 Months Winner]

you will get there i chose to give up smoking so i have drunk all the way through my quit so maybe i have done it the hard way but i have done done It and soon you will also