KillTheCan.org Accountability Forum
Community => Introductions => Topic started by: kjames242 on September 19, 2013, 03:24:00 PM
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All;
I am on day 52 of my 2 cans a day 16 year habit! I honestly thought I could cruise through this, but what is really freaking me out is the anxiety (out of the blue), and feeling like crap again. Almost like weeks 1 2 flu like feeling in the body and again anxiety. Is this normal? When will it end? I had a few bouts earlier in my quit but these anxiety bouts seem way worse. Help guys! It is keeping me up at night while trying to get some sleep and to think a week ago I thought my sleep habits were getting so much better and now this crap! I am also having bad stress/tension headaches. I swear I feel like I am dying but the only thing different I have done was quit this damn devil "Tobacco"!
Thanks ahead of time!
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Welcome to KTC bro.
I won't be the only one to say but... 52 days is impressive. It isn't uncommon to hit these funks right where you're at. Physically... You left nicotine in the dust at day 3. Head games is the biggest battle now. It passes bro... It really does. I can't tell you exactly when because its different for everyone but ~ it will pass. The good days/stretches become more frequent right about now for you. Hunker down and fight through this. You already did it for 52 days. What's one more day? Long haul?... Do yourself a favor and get involved here. Click the Welcome Center link at the top of the page. Learn about becoming part of your quit group ~ people who are quit for roughly the same time frame you are. I think you'll be in the October group... That's the month you'll hit your 100 day milestone. Find out why and how we post roll with our groups ~ a daily promise to be nicotine free for this one day. You're a man of your word right? You've done an amazing thing on your own but... You just put it into overdrive by coming here! We know what you're going through and going to go through. Let us help bro! Welcome to freedom ~ it's pretty damn cool. PM me if you'd like a phone # or if you have any questions. Rock on...
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Check your in box, you have my number. Feel free to use it. Follow the steps, post roll and make connections with your group (November 13) We are a kick ass group that is ready to support you when you need it.
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Welcome James! Yes the anxiety is completely normal, I've got it bad right now at day 30. Getting a bit better but the last couple weeks were completely up down irrational. If you think it's getting bad, go see your doc, or find one you can engage on this. I too felt like I was dying, but passed every health exam with flying colors. I now have meds for the anxiety. Don't be afraid to engage a doc bro, mine had even been through quitting smoking himself so had a pretty decent idea of what I was going through.
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Short answer: yes, it's normal...but it does not last and it gets less frequent.
Think of the occasional "funks" as your body winding down from an adrenaline high. You've been jacked up fighting the demon, and occasionally you just get mentally tired of it..just plain worn out. I'll tell you bro, 52 days is longer than I ever did on my own, but if I was you, I'd make day 52 the last day I'd do it alone. Here's just ONE big reason why, and it has to do with how you currently feel: Guys that have posted for 52 days, participated in the forums, and posted a few questions/answers will not be surprised by the funk that you are feeling. They will still feel the funk, but there is no "wtf is this" surprise in it. They will have expected it, and they will have thought about how to handle it. They would know all the techniques to cut through the fog, an they would have prepared for the day when they feel they can't do it any longer. And best of all, when they hit that funk, they will have already burnt the last bridge back to copenhagen. They would have gained all these advantages for the price of a couple of minutes a day.
What I'm saying is this: Why reinvent the wheel? Thousands of these guys have gone through the exact same thing you are going through. They have heard what works, they have seen what fails. Go to the WELCOME CENTER and read about what we do. If you can live by what it means to post roll and understand it's meaning...then jump in.
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Anxiety is a tough one because it can be different for everyone. I'm no doctor. But I think the cause of the anxiety is the key to dealing with it. After 3 days, the Nic is out of your system. So anxiety from the physical withdrawal seems unlikely (to me). I'm guessing your anxiety is a mental issue. I think mine was. I used to get overwhelmed by the thought of "quitting forever." I couldn't imagine myself not dipping ever again. I'd actually figit like my clothes were too tight at the thought.
But one thing that helped me was realizing that NOBODY was asking me to "quit forever" here. Quitting forever is hard...in fact, it's too hard. So we don't do that here. All we are doing is quitting FOR TODAY...nothing more. And anybody can go one day, right?
Like the story about how to eat an elephant...one bite at a time. You can do this. You just gotta cut it down to a size that you can wrap your head around. "One day at a time" is all that matters. Don't think about tomorrow, next week, next month or year. We'll deal with them when they get here. All you need to focus on is one little short-ass day...today.
52 days is great. Let's do one more together. You got my word.
One caveat - if the anxiety is too severe, go see a doctor. You might not like the idea of taking pills to deal with anxiety either. I don't. But anxiety and depression are serious. And real medical doctors know more than just stories about how to eat elephants.
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you got this man!. The anxiety is completely normal. Around here we call these "funks". You can expect to have these funks at different times as time goes on. Generally they occur 50 to 75 days, again around 125 days. Rule of thumb for me has been the doubling rule. I had a bad funk around 75 days. It lasted about 3 or 4 days. I had another one at 150 days and another one about 250 days. The good news is they get less frequent and less severe as time goes on.
Follow the plan. Post roll, keep your word. Get on chat, that always helps. Make sure you get some numbers. Talking to a real live person was some of the best help I had when I was in the midst of a funk. Stay close to the site. This funk will ease just as the SUCK and FOG faded away in the beginning. PM me if you need my numbers.
Mike
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This too shall pass.
Stick around and make some friends. Help others.
Peace.
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I'm on day 474 and still get anxiety. Don't let that scare you though, it's does get better.
I chewed for 15 years, near the end I was going through 2 cans a day, all the while hiding it from my wife and family. When I started Chewing I was a single lad just out of college. I thought dipping was cool and just a bad "habbit". Everyone needs a vice right?
Well, over my 15 year "career" as an idiot dipper the following things happened in my life...
I got married
I bought a house
I got "a real job"
Had kid #1
Wife lost her job
Wife got new job
Had kid #2
Daycare bills
Wife wins fight to send kids to private school so more $$ out the door
I take on another job
Economy tanks, family business nearly goes under
Wife takes a new job yet again
I decide to coach little league
I decide to coach basketball
I decide to coach football
I decided to accept job (unpaid) as assistant athletic director at kids school
Grandpa #1 dies
Wifes Grandma dies
Grandpa #2 dies
Wifes other Grandma dies
I get sore on lip, have panic attack end up in hospital and decide to quit.
All that shit that "happened to me" is nothing special and nothing that I'm sure hasn't happened to nearly every other person on here.
It's called life.
Bad part for me was that as all this stuff was happening, it was stressful...and I was using nicotine to "deal with it". I went from a punk college grad dipping for "fun" to a full blown nicotine dependent addict dipping to deal with LIFE.
When I decided enough was enough and took away the nicotine, BOOM came the ANXIETY, because I had never really learned to deal with the every day stress of every day LIFE.
I was blind sided by anxiety. In fact I didn't even know what the hell anxiety was until I quit. Scared me so bad I left this site for awhile. BUT I NEVER FUCKING CAVED.
I tried to be Joe tough guy and fight through it, but I couldn't. It was too much for me. So I saw a doctor. I got some meds that really helped and still use them.
Bottom line is I used nicotine to deal with life for 15 years. Although I'm quit for 474 days I am STILL learning to live my life without it. At times that causes anxiety. Not as extreme as when I first quit, but it's still there. Big picture, 474 days aint shit compared to 5,475 days. I'm still learning. I think we all are to certain point...
Anxiety doesn't hit everybody, but it sounds like you are one of the lucky ones. Do not try to be Joe tough guy and "grind it out". If your anxiety persists or gets worse, by all means go see a doctor. There is no shame in it.
You're learning to live your life without a pretty big crutch. You are going to need some assists. This site can be a HUGE one, but so could some medicine to take the edge off.
Quittin aint easy but IT'S ALWAYS WORTH IT. Do what ever you must to keep that shit, out your lip.
You ever need anything, hit me up anytime.
Quit on...
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On second thought, forget that stuff about eating elephants and listen to Diesel. I was sleepless, white-knuckled, constipated, confused, figity, and irritable. But I don't think I was lucky enough to hit the jackpot of withdrawal symptoms...anxiety. Diesel is always full of good ideas...seeing a real doctor is probably better than listening to stories about eating elephants.
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On second thought, forget that stuff about eating elephants and listen to Diesel. I was sleepless, white-knuckled, constipated, confused, figity, and irritable. But I don't think I was lucky enough to hit the jackpot of withdrawal symptoms...anxiety. Diesel is always full of good ideas...seeing a real doctor is probably better than listening to stories about eating elephants.
No. Your advice is helpful too. Skoal Monster told me the exact same thing, except he said it was a whale...
Anyway, like I said you will need some assists to have a successful quit. Advice here is one of them. Anxiety meds helped with anxiety but quitting was still a real mudder fucker.
Getting your anxiety under control does not mean all of the sudden quitting will be easy. You will still have craves, still have triggers to overcome, still have to deal with anger and irritability, etc... Its just that you won't have to do it with a burning chest, frightfulness, and racing heart where you think you are going to die.
But like Bean said, you still have to do it one bite or one day at a time.
You need the combo platter. Lucky for you, there's a ton of top chefs here to serve it up.
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Stay the course. Don't think about tomorrow. All the focus and energy you have to fight today....use it. You go 100% balls out today.
You will always have enough energy to battle today....if you don't save energy or worry about tomorrow.
Your body is rewiring and its like writing with the other hand. Doesn't feel right but you will be glad for this change and it will feel better soon.
The vets always preached to worry about today and never think about being quit tomorrow. That is the priceless message. You are an addict and addicts brains can't imagine being quit forever. So...you're not but you are quit and can go without for today. Right? If not, its time to call and talk to your support group. Get on chat or get talking to a fellow quitter. Magic quit strength happens if you make the fucking call.
That concept with posting roll. I had tough days but all my days here...I am undefeated. 556 today. Still tomorrow is too far away for me. I just promise I wont have any dip or form of nicotine today.
I hate the nic bitch. You quit because you hated her lies too. Never forget the day you flushed and declared your independence from her. That was a good day. This pain and anxiety are great days and you are learning to live life on life's terms!
Stay the course and Congratulations on reaching out. You are an intelligent quitter by calling for back up.
Winning hurts but the trophy's will start adding up and victory over the enemy is sweet.
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I have found that the addition always tries to sneak back up on you when you least expect it. Just keep on doing what you did before and punch on through it. It's the brothers here that help me through those sneak attacks so keep at it and keep quit.
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Hey Kevin,
I sent you a PM with my number. Hit me up if you need to. I saw that you posted roll today, rock on brother! You have done more than some. Make sure you post everyday, even if you don't feel like it. Hold yourself accountable and help us hold ourselves accountable. You have made it so far, don't give in to the Nic-Bitch. Hit us up if you need help.
Great having you with us brother!
Brian - bjarrett74
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Slow deep breath.
it's just a funk . Around day 70 is a recognized rough patch. It occurs with predictable regularity for many quitters. I hit it early......just like you.
52 days of quit is epic, but it doesn't undo years of damage. Nicotine is an incredibly damaging neurotoxin . The funk is a sure sign your brain is rewiring, nicotine receptors are dying off and your healing.
Just focus on today, workout, reduce caffeine , and breathe. A single day of quit can change everything. Keep at it, you don't know it yet but your winning.
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Thanks to all of you guys! This is amazing that so many of you even after a long quit give me words of encouragement and positive information! Thanks!
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Thanks to all of you guys! This is amazing that so many of you even after a long quit give me words of encouragement and positive information! Thanks!
52 is no joke brother. Rounding the quit corner. There is still some speed bumps ahead. Nothing you can't run right over while your QLF. Stay the course, nothing back there for you. Great things coming your way. The difference i felt at 50 and 100 were amazing. You've come to far to even mention going back now. Glad to be quit with you.
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Thanks to all of you guys! This is amazing that so many of you even after a long quit give me words of encouragement and positive information! Thanks!
52 is no joke brother. Rounding the quit corner. There is still some speed bumps ahead. Nothing you can't run right over while your QLF. Stay the course, nothing back there for you. Great things coming your way. The difference i felt at 50 and 100 were amazing. You've come to far to even mention going back now. Glad to be quit with you.
What srans said! I am at day 118 as I type, and it is so much better right now than it was at 50-90. Keep fighting b/c better days are real close for you!
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I am really enjoying this community! I went and liked the Facebook page, and this is a strong brotherhood you all have formed. It is very impressive being a Marine in the USMC and the amount of work it takes for our entire group to become one; it's obvious you guys did it with the same hard work and dedication.
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Stay involved bro... dig in deeper. You'll bump your quit to 11! If you need another number... pm me. Would be glad to be another help to you.
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It really is a truly great awesome community with brotherhood second to none that I've seen. Glad you're experiencing that too!
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This has been the best choice I made was joining this brotherhood. Thanks "T-tanks.44" you and I ought to be brothers in real life with the amount of things we have in common. Keep rocking the quit and as I promised you on the phone; I to am in this for the long haul.
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"I am 40 years old as of September 8th, 2013! I am married with three (3) kids, 2 girls and 1 boy. I started officially dipping when I was 13 and playing baseball. I played throughout high school, college, and 3 years in minor league ball for the Mets in St. Lucie, FL until I blew out my knee for the second time. "Career Ending". When I dipped I would have Copenhagen snuff, skoal wintergreen, and I would ALWAY's have several plugs of Taylors Pride and swap between them all. I can honestly say that KTC "NO DOUBT" kept me from caving and I'll never forget it. Although I do not plan on going anywhere I wanted to make sure everyone knows how much I believe in KTC. Chad from KTC reached out to me back in the 70's days and sent me some great encouragement. I drive a black F-250, King Ranch, Fx4! I have a passion for hunting duck, deer, and gators. I have come to learn at my age that this life I am living is the only one I have and I cherish every minute with my family. I have lost several friends to crazy shit (i.e. heart attacks, strokes, routine surgeries they never made it out of) so I make every minute count. Quitting tobacco has hopefully helped me stay around to see my youngest daughter marry??"
Sounds like a good plan Kevin....congratulations!