Would like to here what others have to say about this topic.
I am on day 7 of my quit. I doing well. Cravings are not so bad right now. I have found that packing the lip with some dregs from a used tea bag helps with the oral fixation of having something in your mouth. I had to do something. I've chewed so much gum my jaws are sore. I am convinced I will beat this! Here's to the nic bitch.... 'Finger' !!
So here is the real question I have. How do you get through the grieving for a very dear friend? I know that the can was never my friend. But that doesn't change the feelings I have. The dip and can have been a part of my identity for many many years. Where ever I went the can was in my pocket and the turd was in my jaw. It really does feel like I lost a dear friend to death.
I guess what people say may be true. It will get better with time. I refuse to go back and be a slave to the can anymore. I just wish this feeling would get the hell out of here.
Time gets you through that feeling and around here we measure time in days. So just keep on track with your quit and it will go away. You'll find that the "sadness" happens less frequently, you'll find that you recognize it for what it is (the nic bitch in your brain), you'll find that it goes away with just a though of "oh yeah, I don't do that anymore".
You'll also find that the feeling come out of nowhere to surprise you at times. It's part of quitting. Insidious shit these scientists of death of came up with isn't it? Those fuckers. It's the siren's call of death, not a real long lost friend.
I PROMISE YOU THAT IT GETS BETTER. You don't have to "guess" it gets better with time. It does. You will not be having these feelings forever.
I can spend two days in Vegas casino's, drinking and gambling, and never have the feeling.
One day at a time.
I said this before, but damned if i can go back and find it. Addiction is part of you, whether you are actively using or quit. When using, your routines are centered around your addiction either consciously or sub consciously. When you quit, all those routines need to be reset.
Its akin to losing a limb. Folks have that phantom feeling, where they swear they can stool feel their hand or fingers or toes. They try and do things as normal, like nothing has changed. They are in denial that their whole life has changed. Addicts are no different, albeit with all of our limbs.
My suggestion? Give in to the fact you are an addict. Recognize that most, if not all of your routines were built on serving your addiction. Change them. Realize that you can mow the lawn, drive a car, take a dump, etc without a dip. Do it. If it helps, change something about how you do these tasks.
Most importantly, realize that your lifetime companion was killing you. Slowly but surely. Do not grieve for the loss, celebrate what you have gained. Freedom. Those routines you were chained to? How much time did they cost you with loved ones or doing things you would rather be doing? Focus on the positives.
Ultimately, your quit will be strong and wise enough to recognize that you were enthralled to your can. It was no companion, it was a jailer. Do not mourn, for you have not lost. Celebrate what you have taken. FREEDOM is beautiful thing.
