In article >,
~patches~ > wrote:

> Nancy1 wrote:
>
> > Nancy1 wrote:
> >
> >>Arnold wrote:
> >>
> >>>Anyone managed to give up cigarettes and alcohol and never looked back?
> >>>
> >>>If so, I would be interested to know the techniques you used, coz I am
> >>>struggling with 'will power'!
> >>
> >>Alcohol never had any huge attraction for me, so if I occasionally buy
> >>wine for a family dinner, most of it gets thrown out. I'm single and
> >>live alone, and gave up partying a long time ago. If I'm out for
> >>dinner, I'll sometimes have a drink, but I don't usually. Cigarettes
> >>- quit just about a year ago. I tried a lot of times, but it was never
> >>the right time. So, you have to want to (at least in the back of your
> >>mind) AND it has to be the right time. Last year, it was the right
> >>time for me. I just quit cold turkey and have never had a real urge to
> >>start again - I just imagine how the smoke feels in my throat, how bad
> >>my house smelled, and how much I coughed. HOWEVER, the old "saw" is
> >>true - if I knew I had only a year to live, I'd start again in a
> >>minute. LOL. I don't miss the taste or the feeling - just the action
> >>of smoking.
> >>
> >>Don't be afraid to get all the help you can - only about 1 in a
> >>thousand people can quit successfully cold turkey, and there's nothing
> >>wrong with getting support. OTOH, my son quit chewing tobacco cold
> >>turkey, so here are two of us in the same family, doing it. In my
> >>case, better late than never. ;-)
> >>
> >>Good luck.
> >>
> >>N.
> >
> >
> > I should add that I also gained some weight. But the experts say "one
> > thing at a time." When I reach my one-year anniversary in a month or
> > so, then I'll start working on the weight. If you want to give up both
> > alcohol and smoking, do one at a time. I would think alcohol would be
> > easier - if you don't go out to alcohol venues, you won't drink as
> > much, and consequently, you won't be smoking as much When that's been
> > successful, do the no-smoking thing.
> >
> > N.
> >
> That may not be true of alcohol. Many alcoholics are closet drinkers,
> drinking alone and at home. Quite often friends and co-workers may not
> even have a clue that a person is an alcoholic even though family member
> may know or suspect. This type of alcohol abuse is common amongst stay
> at home moms, homemakers, and the elderly. The true prevalence of this
> type of alcoholic may never truely be known as they tend to hide their
> drinking. For those who are not aware a heavy drinker or alcoholic
> should *not* quit cold turkey and they should seek medical help when
> trying to quit. DTs, a possible complication of alcohol withdrawl, can
> be fatal. If you want to know more about alcohol withdrawl there are
> several good sources on the web.

Very true.
It's safer to taper off if you are a regular heavy drinker, and drink
LOTS of water to help clear things out.

Take vitamins, especially B-complex, and take milk thistle for liver
support.

The above is a good idea even if you have no intention of giving it up.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson