Hello everyone! I am on day 25 and think it is about time to formally introduce myself. I started dipping freshman year of college. My suite mate at the time was a dipper and I asked him if I could try it. I will never forget what he said, "You can do what you want but I'm telling you that you should not try this. Once you start dipping, you will not stop." I laughed and dipped anyway.
For the first 6 months or so the dips were infrequent. I would dip when I was bored, or when I was studying/writing papers. Dipping once or twice a week turned into once a day, which turned into multiple times a day. By my second year of college, I was a full fledged dipper.
From the beginning I thought it would only be a phase and that I would quit whenever I wanted to, that was over ten years ago. I even "quit" for a semester my third year of college. That was enough for me to think, "see, I'm not that addicted, I'll quit when I graduate." Then after graduation I thought, "I'll quit when I get a job." Then, "I'll quit when I get married." I have been married now for 2 years and just quit 25 days ago.
A couple months ago, I was at the final stages of setting up a new insurance policy. I just needed to sign the paper work and that's when they said it, "Okay sounds good. Just send back that paperwork and schedule your nicotine test and we will be all set." I froze. "Oh, I need to take a nicotine test?" "Yes, it's not a big deal, someone will come out and take a saliva sample to test for nicotine levels." "oh, uhh, okay, sounds good, thanks." I got off the phone and starting to scheme. I looked up how the test works, it's accuracy, how to trick it, how long I needed to be nicotine free to pass, everything. After about a day of searching and scheming, dipping the whole time, I thought to myself, "hmm, maybe I don't really need to open this new insurance plan," and that's when it hit me. I was willing to choose dip over my health, over my wife, over my kids. At that moment, I finally realized, I am an addict.
I quit right at that moment and went online to figure out how I could do it. That's when I found this site. I am so thankful for those of you who have reached out with support and advice. You all keep me focused and keep me remembering how awful nicotine is. This is what I have learned the most on this site:
1) I make a new commitment every day to quit. Committing to quit today is a hell of a lot easier than committing to quit forever.
2) Do not feel sad about quitting as if you are saying goodbye to a good friend. Nicotine has controlled you and doesn't give a shit about you and that should make you angry. I realize more and more everyday how deeply addicted I am to nicotine and it makes me more and more angry.
3) Though your friends who still dip may support you...you need the advice and support from people who hate nicotine to quit nicotine.
Thanks again for all of your support!
