Quit-smoking club?

orion600

Hello. I'd like to know whether people think this might be a good idea or not.

Basically I'm trying to quit smoking. Again. Every-time I try I seem to get on okay for days until someone suggests going out. A few drinks later and offering to sell my first born for a cancer stick. I've tried quitting with friends but we always end up allowing each other 'just the one'. Going out with smokers is a no-no and going out with non-smokers is irritating. Obviously I was born without willpower but I'm sure that there are others in the same boat.

So I'm wondering whether likeminded smokers would be up for meeting up now and then and going for a few drinks in Galway without the schmokes. I'm hoping that the fear of being ridiculed by absolute strangers will scare us all into quitting. Obviously we'll be allowed to bitch and moan about how much we want to smoke and everyone has to put up with it by law. If people do crack then they'll be subject to routine shunning and/or execution.

Interested?

RubyBlu

Instead of putting together a gang, take an Allen Carr course and read the book. Fantastic. You're on your own with this one and need professional help.

RubyBlu

Sorry I didn't read your post fully.

When I gave up, I avoided drinking for a while. It just makes it so hard. Focus on quitting, turn into a social outcast for a while and after so long, you can go back and have the few drinks. I even gave up Coffee as the association was there and I didn't need any extra pressure.

As far as I know the Health Board has a smoking cessation counsellor, so if you're serious about it, make it a project. The more you put into it, the better chance of succes. And the Alan Car book...fantastic.

orion600

RubyBlu-congratulations on giving up the smokes. It obviously worked for you but I'm sorry-I don't see why quitting smoking should be a solo exercise-most other addictions have some other social support. Okay, so going to the pub for a few pints instead of smokes will never make it into HSE guidelines but I certainly don't think its the worst idea in the world. As for Alan Carr? Been there, done that, selling the book. Each to their own I suppose.

Xiney

orion600 wrote: »

going out with non-smokers is irritating

we're not all self-righteous assholes!

RubyBlu

orion600 wrote: »

RubyBlu-congratulations on giving up the smokes. It obviously worked for you but I'm sorry-I don't see why quitting smoking should be a solo exercise-most other addictions have some other social support. Okay, so going to the pub for a few pints instead of smokes will never make it into HSE guidelines but I certainly don't think its the worst idea in the world. As for Alan Carr? Been there, done that, selling the book. Each to their own I suppose.

Thanks. Quitting is a solo exercise, because it's all you. Nobody can do it for you. Sure, have lots of support, but it's down to yourself is what I mean. Drinking alcohol and coffee are the most pleasurable times to smoke along with some other times , so all I am saying to you is that I avoided those times as I found it hard to deal with them after coming off the fags.

I read the Alan Carr book about 4 or 5 times, while smoking and then I did give up. It's not that when you get to the last page you give up. you've got to work at it too. Don't sell the book. Keep it. Refer to it regularly. You're right, it's not the worst idea in the world. It's sounds great that you could all have a few and be there for each other, however I just believe that to stand a chance you have to dedicate yourself to giving up and use all of your energy on that because it is really really hard. Yes, you asked for everyone's advice, sorry mine isn't something you want to hear, but for what it's worth it's out there. Anyway, I wish you the very best of luck with it and hope you have much success with whatever method you choose. You know best after all.

orion600

Xiney wrote: »

we're not all self-righteous assholes!

Xiney-Thank you for your very valuable input.

I simply meant that it is irritating because it's not fair on my non-smoker friends to have to put up with me when I'm quitting. Fair play to them though-they've never called me a self-righteous asshole. Yet.

Xiney

I didn't call you a self righteous asshole either, for the record...

orion600

Xiney wrote: »

I didn't call you a self righteous asshole either, for the record...

Sorry. I obviously got the wrong end of the...ehem...stick.

Excuse the awful pun.

Xiney

it's ok - if you're off the cigarettes as we speak nobody will blame you for being a bit irritable!

fready

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Pulsating Star

I like the idea of a quitting club for the support etc.. wouldn't want it to become a drinking club though . My brother gave up while attending such and found them very helpful, bit like the AA for smokers. Believe there were some in Galway previously but now all defunct to my knowledge.

RubyBlu

RubyBlu wrote: »

Quitting is a solo exercise, because it's all you. Nobody can do it for you. Sure, have lots of support, but it's down to yourself is what I mean.

This is true, unfortunately! Ultimately only you can take a cigarette, put it in your mouth, light it and smoke it.
Nobody else can do that, you are completely on your own when it comes to making that decision (whether drunk or not!)

Completely understand where you're coming from, I was the same before I quit completely. Problem is there will always be a 'reason' to smoke if you look for it - few drinks, your mates, stress at work or home, watching a nerve wracking match on telly etc.

You have to get it completely clear in your own head that you don't smoke any more and it doesn't matter if every single person around you is puffing their brains out.
It might be worth knocking the booze on the head for a while if you find it's impossible to drink and not smoke at the same time. I went the other way, went out a lot when I stopped smoking because I wanted to get used to socialising minus the cigs as soon as possible.

terenc

Hi orion600 great that you want to start something like a quit-smoking club but I have to agree with some of the above posts , you are the one in control its your choice to put that cig in your mouth, but what you will get from boards will be support from people who have kicked the habit and people who are still still trying.
Maybe look at another thread where a mod wont jump to the wrong conclusion of your post.