| It might seem obvious at first, but the underlying | | | | an entirely different person, but you will have to |
| reasons behind cutting back on drinking when you quit | | | | exercise caution for a bit to prevent yourself from |
| smoking aren't what you'd expect. Even more | | | | falling back on your old habits. |
| unexpected is the fact that you don't have to give up | | | | You should cut back on drinking for the first few |
| drinking to quit smoking, it just needs to be approached | | | | weeks after stopping tobacco use, however. This |
| carefully. | | | | gives you time to deal with all the other mental ties |
| Like almost everything else in life, things become easier | | | | that cause you to smoke (more on that at the end of |
| when you know what to expect. The way that your | | | | the article). After you are confident that you've kicked |
| subconscious mind acts on your thoughts isn't the | | | | the habit from your sober life, here's where it gets |
| most predictable of things, yet its effects can have a | | | | interesting. Have a few drinks, and make absolutely |
| great impact on your ability to stop smoking, especially | | | | sure that you don't smoke. |
| after tossing back a few at the bar. | | | | After a few drinks (especially after a few dry weeks) |
| Many people believe that if you give up cigarettes, you | | | | your inhibitions will be significantly lowered. Just like with |
| have to give up alcohol. These things, while connected | | | | the ugly chick at the bar, your subconscious will try to |
| in some ways, aren't inextricably tied together. Granted, | | | | take over, telling you such things as "Oh, you haven't |
| the absolute healthiest thing would be to stop both, but | | | | smoked for weeks, it's time to reward yourself!" Don't |
| that would make me a hypocrite, so we're just going | | | | fall for this, because this is the point at which you will |
| to avoid that concept. Anyway, the problem with | | | | be able to break your habit. Remember how |
| drinking and cigarettes is that you're so used to them | | | | embarrassing it was when you woke up with the |
| being together. Toss back a few beers, walk outside | | | | three-hundred-pounder from the bar? Same rules |
| and light up. You've been doing it for so long that it has | | | | apply here. Keep in mind what you're working for, and |
| become a habit, ingrained in your mind and difficult to | | | | you'll have your first smoke-free night of drinking. |
| stop. | | | | Will it be difficult? The first few times, it definitely won't |
| Like all habits, however, you can stop it. If you try to | | | | be easy. As with all habits that you break, it gets |
| run away from it by, say, not drinking for a few weeks | | | | easier with repetition. Before long, you'll be able to |
| and then going back, you'll likely relapse back into | | | | enjoy a few beers without even thinking about |
| smoking as well. Again, it has to be approached | | | | cigarettes, because your mind will no longer connect |
| carefully. Quitting smoking is a lifestyle change, just as | | | | the two. |
| becoming a smoker was. You aren't going to become | | | | |