Caffeine or Nicotene - which is harder to give up?
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
September 21, 2009 8:41pm CST
I'm looking to quit drinking caffeine AND quit smoking cigs, and I'm wondering which you think would be best to do first. Somehow I've found myself extremely addicted to both, especially within the last 6 months. I can tell that it's taking a toll on my health, though. I shake when I don't drink caffeine - and get terrible headaches when I don't have a cigarette on the hour, every hour. It's annoying and I want to change. So I'm looking for your help, here, guys!
Which do you think is harder to give up? And would you suggest giving up one first? And why?
I know a lot of people assume that quitting caffeine is MUCH easier than cigarettes, but to be honest - I've been hopelessly addicted to caffeine for probably three years longer than I've been addicted to smoking.
What do you think? Which would you try to give up first? And do you have any tips for me? 
1 person likes this
16 responses
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
22 Sep 09
For me I would have to say that nicotine is harder to give up but I've been trying to give it up and I don't think it's that hard to not smoke that much. I haven't completely quit but I've definitely cut down a good amount. Caffeine is not all that addicting to me because I don't really drink coffee or anything so the most caffeine that I probably consume are energy drinks or pop or something.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
22 Sep 09
Energy drinks are just as bad as coffee, if you ask me! They have caffeine PLUS sugar and carbonation! I drink more energy drinks & pop than I do coffee, but I tend to mix and match.
By the way - I noticed that you say POP too (and not "soda"). Are you, my dear, also from the midwest? 
@eddiechoohn (340)
• Malaysia
22 Sep 09
I think you should try control smoking because i think it affects your health more serious than Caffeine.
Quitting on coffee is hard, especially when you need concentration in your work.
However, you can try tea instead of coffee.( i recommend Chinese Tea, if you can find it in the stores)
@eddiechoohn (340)
• Malaysia
22 Sep 09
i normally will drink chinese tea if i need to stay up late at night.
Ever heard of green tea? jasmine tea? those are examples of chinese tea(correct me if i am wrong) that normally i consume.
@wmaths (563)
• Italy
22 Sep 09
it's a very very difficult question. difficult to answer to. i can't give up ahving coffee because i need it to study and to write every day. if i don't drink it i am not able to do anything. i think it's easier to give up smoking. i can control it every day. i smoke because i like it, not because i need it.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
i can quit both. actually i don't smoke. then i do drink coffee once in a while. i can easily drink chocolate or just cold juice instead if i have to give up coffee. i don't really like drinking os much often. i tried to have this habit of drinking coffee but i just easily give up on this habit. i just like drinking other drinks. i like trying out new drinks
@dbabcook (388)
• United States
23 Sep 09
I myself am also addicted to both and it is a tough call as they are both such a part of my daily life anymore, but I think if I were going to quit both of them I would probably quit smoking first as I know how edgie I get when I try to stop smoking so I want to get through the withdrawals over that first and foremost. The decision is ultimately yours and I wish you the very best with this venture.
@gossipgirl9 (100)
• United States
22 Sep 09
well, I am not a smoker and have been trying to get my mother to stop smoking for years due to her health. I do not know what its like to be addicted to nicotine. Am I am thankful for that. I'm glad I never started that habit. For my health and also my wallet. However, I do like my caffeine. If I go a day without it , I can tell that feel so sluggish. It gives me that boost I need I guess. I know a little caffeine is okay, but I am way over "a little". Still, I think it would be easier for a person to give up caffeine than nicotine.
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
22 Sep 09
I am not a smoker so I am not sure how hard it would be to quit smoking and give up nicotine but alot of people tell me that it is really hard. However I do drink alot of pop and I know that it is hard to give up caffeine. If I give up caffeine for too long I get a headache. I need my caffeine but I am trying to cut back.
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
22 Sep 09
Well I have never smoked and dont plan to start so I dont know how hard it is to give up nicotine but I have heard it is hard. Now Caffeine would be hard for me to give up. I need my caffeine in the morning to get me going. I have been without caffeine for a few days and it has been hard. I guess my body is so used to it that if I dont have it for awhile I get headaches. I am trying to cut back though
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
22 Sep 09
Hi there!
I think both are harmful, however, Nicotene does more damage to our internal organis of body. It would be better to give up the habit of consuming Nictoene. I think for Caffeine, there may be some substitute like tea or some other drinks, however, smoking per se has no substitute. Had I been at your place, I would have gone for giving up Nicotene first.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
22 Sep 09
I have never really had Nicotene, as I have never smoked, but I would say that it is harder to give up on Nicotene. I say that because I have known many people who have tried to stop smoking, but could not, although they had so many reasons for doing so. I have gone with out caffiene several times in my life and have not really been bothered by it at all other than a couple of days of headaches, but there are so many good substitutes for caffeine. You can drink caffeine free coffee, and your taste buds won't really taste the difference, you can also still drink sodas that are caffeine free, and you wan't notice the difference if flavour that much there. There is really no good substitutes for cigerettes.
@marguicha (223777)
• Chile
22 Sep 09
I drink instant coffee with caffeine. I love it but I don´t think I would not be able to change it for another drink. I quit smoking a year and a half ago. I smoked for 50 years. The last years I was smoking 2 packs and discovered that I couldn´t afford it. My liungs are PERFECT after these years of smoking. I have a cousin who is a doctor and specialist in lungs and he checks me every once in a while and hates me for having such good lungs.
Why don´t you talk about this with a doctor. Maybe even with a psichiatrist. Let him see how much it hurts your health and which is worse. You can´t leave both at the same time. You´ll have to be helped with your anxiety.
Take care!
.
Why don´t you talk about this with a doctor. Maybe even with a psichiatrist. Let him see how much it hurts your health and which is worse. You can´t leave both at the same time. You´ll have to be helped with your anxiety.
Take care! @riyasbass (118)
• India
22 Sep 09
I believe that Nicotine is more addictive than caffeine. The main reason is it create cancer.It rarely stuck me that drinking caffeine is dangerous.As a usual drinker of coffee i am sure that it has minimal effect.Which make it less forbidden
TRY YOUR MAXIMUM TO GIVE OFF SMOKING
BEST OF LUCK
@netfact_new (3)
• India
22 Sep 09
First and formost is that whether u want to quit? If yes then half of the battle is won. Trying to work out prceisely how to reduce the stress that accompanies attempting to stop smoking is never easy. there are lot of factors that will all work in partnership to put stress on you badly and learnign the way to avoid those possible problems is absolutely critical to success. If you want to stop smoking for good, you will need to find out how to rleax and reduce stress. since your life is unlikely to exist inside of a small bubble, you need to leran how to deal with the stress. This may mean activities like yoga, meditation and even a nice relaxing shower or bath.
@MParsons (1)
• United States
22 Sep 09
Well, I think it's safe to say most people would give nicotine their vote. And I would also. But it definately varies with each person. Take my mom for example. I believe she is addicted to caffeine. She get's quite irritated when she hasn't had her "morning coffee". But I have also witnessed my dad's many failed attempts to quit smoking. So I would have to put my money on Nicotine. Well I would first give up smoking, it is way worse for you and harder to quit than caffeine. Think of it this way. By the time you are done quitting Nicotine quitting caffeine will seem like a breeze.
@fruitcakeliz (2638)
• United States
22 Sep 09
I would sy that you should quite the smoking first. I totally feel your pain, as i am addicted to both of these substances as well, and with in a year will be starting my ettempt to stop smoking. I have always said i would quit smoking when i turned thirty, which is next summer...getting myself psyched up for it already!!
But back on subject. Smoking cause more health damage, and the sooner one stops, the sooner ones body can start healing itself. And many times when people are quiting smoking, they tend to rely more on any other bad habits, such as eating or what not, and i think not having the caffine to satisfy yourself when you are giving up harsher nocotine would just be more likely to cause a relapse into one, or the other, or both.
