KillTheCan.org Accountability Forum
Community => Introductions => Topic started by: mayfly on December 28, 2018, 01:26:28 AM
-
Day 2
Hi all, Mike (mayfly) here. I am a nicotine addict just like all of you are. Pretty damn sobering to sit here and type in those words that I am an addict while going through withdrawal symptoms. So far I feel like I have felt every damn emotion that is possible to feel over these last 2 days. I have started to look around and this website is a treasure trove of sorts and I plan to use it once I start to feel better.
My plan is to quit early and quit everyday. 30+ years of using nicotine really messed me up good but I want to beat this and plan to post my promise every day. Right now, its all I can do.
My border collie likes to grab stuff out of my wastebaskets around the house and he grabbed an empty tin of snuff out of some trash can today. He even left it there for me on my master bedroom floor as a test of sorts. I couldn't believe my predicament, so I proceeded to open it and wash that damn thing out! Baby steps I guess, but the old me would have found at least a dip out of that used up can....
Anyways, just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I also wanted to say thanks for all of the support and badassery that I've seen from all over this wonderful website.. Truly blessed and really feel like I have a chance to get rid of this nasty ass habit once and for all.
-
Hey Mike -
Glad to be quitting with you today! First 3 days are a doozy as the nicotine is leaving your system. I suggest accepting the urges versus playing tug of war with them. I find they leave more quickly. I'm 12 days in, and though not much longer, can tell you that the urges become less intense longer you stay quit.
Bruce
-
Welcome to the pioneer member of April. It may seem lonely in there right now, but the new year will bring a lot of resolution quitters.
-
You are doing great Mike and have a ton of badass quitters in your corner, you got my digits reach out whenever necessary.
You got a whole slew of other quitters coming your way, but you were the first, let's do this One. Damn. Day. At. A. Time.
-
Mike,
Keep doing what you are doing. You're doing awesome, and the suck won't suck so bad soon. It gets soo much better and it will get better for you too, you just have stick out the suck.
-
12/29/18
Ok, here it goes... Found other posts in other peoples intros that refer to this but I really find this so important to any new quitter...
This is a little informative page from whyquit.com on nicotine vs. heroin and which is more addictive.
As Addictive as Heroin?
On May 17, 1988, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine.[45]
Canada's cigarette pack addition warning label reads, "WARNING - CIGARETTES ARE HIGHLY ADDICTIVE - Studies have shown that tobacco can be harder to quit than heroin or cocaine."
Nicotine addiction warning label on a Canadian pack of Camel cigarettes
But how on earth can nicotine possibly be as addictive as heroin? It's a legal product, sold in the presence of children, near candies, sodas, pastries and chips at the neighborhood convenience store, drug store, supermarket and gas station.
Heroin addicts describe their dopamine pathway wanting satisfaction sensation as being followed by a warm and relaxing numbness. Racing energy, excitement and hyperfocus engulf the methamphetamine or speed addict's wanting satisfaction. Satisfaction of the alcoholic's wanting is followed by the gradual depression of their central nervous system. And euphoria (intense pleasure) is the primary sensation felt when the cocaine addict satisfies wanting.
The common link between drugs of addiction is their ability to stimulate and captivate brain dopamine pathways.
Should the fact that nicotine's dopamine pathway stimulation is accompanied by alert central nervous system stimulation blind us as to what's happened, and who we've become?
Nicotine is legal, openly marketed, taxed and everywhere. Its acceptance and availability openly invites denial of a super critical recovery truth, that we had become "real" drug addicts in every sense.
Definitions of nicotine dependency vary greatly. One of the most widely accepted is the American Psychiatric Association's as published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV).[46] Under DSM IV, a person is dependent upon nicotine if at least 3 of the following 7 criteria are met:
Difficulty controlling nicotine use or unable to stop using it.
Using nicotine more often than intended.
Spending significant time using nicotine (note: a pack-a-day smoker spending 5 minutes per cigarette devotes 1.5 hours per day, 10.5 hours per week or 13.6 forty-hour work weeks per year to smoking nicotine).
Avoiding activities because they might interfere with nicotine use or cutting activities short so as to enable replenishment.
Nicotine use despite knowledge of the harms tobacco is inflicting upon your body.
Withdrawal when attempting to end nicotine use.
Tolerance - over the years gradually needing more nicotine in order to achieve the same desired effect.
A 2008 study found that 98% of chronic smokers have difficulty controlling use.[47] Although often criticized, the problem with DSM nicotine dependency standards is not its seven factors. It's getting those hooked upon nicotine to be honest and accurate in describing its impact upon their life.
It isn't unusual for the enslaved and rationalizing mind to see leaving those we love in order to go smoke nicotine as punctuating life, not interrupting it. And the captive mind can invent a host of excuses for avoidance of activities lasting longer than a couple of hours. It can explain how the ashtray sitting before them became filled and their cigarette pack empty without realizing it was happening.
In February 2008, I finished presenting 63 nicotine cessation seminars in 28 South Carolina prisons that had recently banned all tobacco. Imagine paying $8 for a hand-rolled cigarette. Imagine it being filled with tobacco from roadside cigarette butts, tobacco now wrapped in paper torn from a prison Bible.
Eight dollars per cigarette was pretty much the norm in medium and maximum-security prisons. The price dropped to about $2 in less secure pre-release facilities. Imagine not having $8. I heard horrific stories about the lengths to which inmates would go for a fix.
Two inmates housed in a smoke-free prison near Johnson City, Tennessee ended a six-hour standoff in February 2007 when they traded their hostage, a correctional officer, for cigarettes. According to a prison official, "They got them some cigarettes, they smoked them and went back to their cell and locked themselves back in."
I stood before thousands of inmates whose chemical addictions to illegal drugs landed them behind bars. During each program I couldn't help but comment on the irony that those caught using illegal drugs ended up in prison, while we nicotine addicts openly and legally purchase our drug at neighborhood stores.
According to the CDC, during 2011 tobacco killed 11 times more Americans than all illegal drugs combined (443,690 versus 40,239).
As discussed in the intro, Joel Spitzer may well be the world's most insightful nicotine cessation educator. My mentor since January 2000, he tells the story of how during a 2001 two-week stop smoking clinic, a participant related that he was briefly tempted to smoke after finding a single cigarette and lighter setting atop a urinal in a men's public bathroom.
What made it so tempting was that the cigarette was his brand. He thought to himself how easy it would have been to smoke it. Joel then asked the man, "When was the last time you ever saw anything else atop a urinal in a men's room that you felt tempted to put in your mouth?" At that, the man smiled and said, "Point well taken."
Over the years, ex-users have shared stories of leaving hospital rooms where their loved one lay dying of lung cancer so they could smoke, of smoking while pregnant, of accidentally lighting their car, clothing, hair or dog on fire, of smoking while battling pneumonia, and of sneaking from their hospital room into the staircase to light-up while dragging along the stand holding their intravenous medication bag.
Another story shared by Joel relates how one clinic participant had long kept secret how his still smoldering cigarette butt on the floor had lit the bride's wedding dress on fire.
We each have our own dependency secrets. As a submarine sailor, I went to sea on a 72-day underwater deployment in 1976 thinking that stopping would be a breeze if I didn't bring any cigarettes or money along. I was horribly, horribly wrong. I spent two solid months begging, bumming and digging through ashtray after ashtray in search of long butts.
Even worse was losing both of my dogs to cancer. One of them, Billy, died at age five of lymphoma. It wasn't until after breaking free that I read studies suggesting that smoke from my cigarettes may have contributed to their deaths.[48] If so, all this recovered addict can do now is to keep them alive in his heart while begging forgiveness.
Again, the primary difference between the illegal drug addict and us is that our chemical is legal and our dopamine wanting relief sensation accompanied by alertness.
Yes, there are social smokers called "chippers." And yes, their genetics may allow them to use yet always retain the ability to simply turn and walk away.[49] But, I'm clearly not one of them. And odds are, neither are you, as you wouldn't be reading a book about how to arrest your dependency.
I often think about the alcoholic's plight, in having to watch 90% of drinkers do something the 10% who are alcoholics cannot themselves do, control their alcohol intake. We've got it much easier.
The dependency figures for nicotine are almost the exact opposite of alcohol's. Roughly 90% of daily adult smokers are chemically dependent under DSM-III[50] standards, while 87% of students smoking at least 1 cigarette daily are already dependent under DSM-IV standards.[51]
Prior Topic Next Topic
References:
45. The Health Consequences of Smoking: Nicotine Addiction: A Report of the Surgeon General, May 17, 1988.
46. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, Washington, D.C. 1994.
47. Hendricks, P. et al, Evaluating the validities of different DSM-IV-based conceptual constructs of tobacco dependence, Addiction, July 2008, Volume 103, Pages 1215-1223.
48. Roza MR, et al, The dog as a passive smoker: effects of exposure to environmental cigarette smoke on domestic dogs, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, November 2007, Volume 9(11), Pages 1171-1176; also see, Bertone ER, Environmental tobacco smoke and risk of malignant lymphoma in pet cats, American Journal of Epidemiology, 2003, Volume 156 (3), Pages 268-273; also Brazell RS et al, Plasma nicotine and cotinine in tobacco smoke exposed beagle dogs, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 1984, Volume 73, Pages 152-158, also Bertone-Johnson ER et al, Environmental tobacco smoke and canine urinary cotinine level, Environmental Research, March 2008, Volume 106(3), Pages 361-364.
49. Kendler KS, et al, A population-based twin study in women of smoking initiation and nicotine dependence, Psychological Medicine, March 1999, Volume 29(2), Pages 299-308.
50. Hughes, JR, et al, Prevalence of tobacco dependence and withdrawal, American Journal of Psychiatry, February 1987, Volume 144(2), Pages 205-208.
51. Kandel D, et al, On the Measurement of Nicotine Dependence in Adolescence: Comparisons of the mFTQ and a DSM-IV Based Scale, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, June 2005, Volume 30(4), Pages 319-332.
-
So very pleased you made the decision to be an active participant in your life and not roll mindlessly along, adrift in a sea of nicotine addiction. Hats off to you for doing research and educating yourself about nicotine and addiction. You're well on your way to freedom!
Keep it up brother; one day at a time can move mountains!
-
I want to say how freaking proud I am of you already wanting to help out with the SSOA.
The quit is strong in you, keep it up, lead the charge and let's do this ODDAAT
-
From one Mike to another, and also 30+ year dipper, you are doing awesome! It's going to get better, and then a lot better - hang in there! You've got some badass quitters in your corner to support you too. Congrats on giving yourself the best Christmas present ever.
-
Day 12 of my quit... Quit has been going good after hitting 7 days or so. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Have a feeling that Im about to really find out what I'm made of and how deep I can reach to stay quit day to day.
First of all, if you're reading this, just quit. You'll thank me later. KTC and all the tools that are here is just astounding. All the vet quitters have been so welcoming and it really makes you feel as though you have thousands behind you in your quit. In fact, it probably is more than that.
Words really can't describe how those first 3 days were. Never really thought of nic as being this terrible drug similar to heroin, but it is... I really think the only difference is it just kills you slower. Withdrawals are the constant reminder during the first 3 days that you are truly an addict. To me the physical cravings actually made me exhausted by the end of the day and they I just zonked out and got some sleep. Around the end of day 2 the fog rolled in. I really could just sit at my desk at home and look at my monitor for hours. I couldn't think, and if I tried, it often took me 2 to 3 times longer to form a coherent thought. Probably should have just taken the 1st 3 days off work in retrospect. By the end of day 3, I knew that I had flushed the nic out of my system but I swear I was still having on and off physical craving for the next few days.
Anyways, I'm now at day 5 or so and I wake up feeling pretty good. The fog rolled in by lunchtime and got worse and worse throughout the day until early evening. With each passing day I seem to have less and less heavy fog and it just kinda comes and goes. I start to experience some quit rage also at this time and I have to restrain my tongue at work. Any little thing was a potential thing that could set me off.
I finally get to the week mark and know that the worst part is behind me. I've gotten a few low grade annoying headaches and they usually are just there not long after waking up in the morning. I hit day 10 and start having some sleeping issues. I go to sleep and wake up around 1, 2 or 3am and just cant get my ass back to sleep. I keep on thinking to myself, "what next?"
Now this is currently where I am, day 12, and I am determined to just get to day 13. The ODAAT mantra is one that I tell myself everyday and hold close to my quit. I post my roll early and make my promise to be free from nic just for that day. Slowly but surely the days have added up, pretty impressive I think. But I want to stay grounded and just think in the short-term such as hours and days. Without this site, I would have never made it. For that I am truly grateful.
-
Keep kicking ass!
-
Killer intro! By the way, intros are one of my favorite parts of this website. It is a place for us to get and give help, but also save the history of our journey to look back later. As an example... remember that hot girl you banged in a drunken fit after that Junior party? Yeah I bet you do! Do you remember those weird bumps and rash that you had to deal with afterwards??? No. We tend to remember the good and gloss over the bad. And it will be SO helpful to look back and see how miserable days 1-3 were when you are enjoying freedom.
Brother GREATNESS is ahead. A feeling that you haven’t felt in so long, but one day at a time will be yours. Let the fucking dip dreams and craves fuel your passion to give big tobacco the finger. Because you, sir, are doing something thstvthey have spent hundreds of billions of $$$$ to make almost impossible... quitting. That should make you feel 10’ tall.
If you need another contact, hit me up. I only pick quitters to support that win. Your intro has win written all over it.
-
Mike, great intro. Keep track of your journey on this thread. You - and quitters you inspire - will gain a lot out of it.
I read so much that reminded me of my quit. The insomnia (sucks!!! but soon you will be sleeping better than you ever have - I can promise you that), the fog (My first month I billed my clients only half of the hours I "worked" because I was brain dead at least half the day!!!). The thing that really hit me was when you said: "Have a feeling that Im about to really find out what I'm made of and how deep I can reach to stay quit day to day." You are absolutely going to be a changed person by all of this. Once you've slayed this dragon, you will be amazed how emboldened you will feel - and what other challenges you will want to take on. This really is one of the best things you have ever done for yourself. Keep it up!
PM me if you need anything.
-
I'm sure this has been posted here before, but I just can't believe what I'm hearing on this video..
Congressional Hearing with tobacco company CEO's, these guys are sickos and make me want to puke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZDQKq2F08 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZDQKq2F08)
-
I'm sure this has been posted here before, but I just can't believe what I'm hearing on this video..
Congressional Hearing with tobacco company CEO's, these guys are sickos and make me want to puke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZDQKq2F08 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZDQKq2F08)
The eCig scam is the one that current has me boiling. Nicotine is one big lie.
-
Mayfly,
Good intro post. I’ve had a very similar experience to yours in my quit. The fog, the quit rage, the sleep issues. What most strikes me about the quit is that I have to break down some days by minutes to get through it. Stay the course, we got this!
-
Man, I had a real eye opener yesterday. Just got home and kinda had a misty moment on the way home, realizing what kind of win this was for my fucked up nic addled mind.
I found myself just chilling early morning on Saturday and was going to tie a fly few patterns for the next trip to the Juan and found myself looking right at a big box of nicotine gum. It was hiding right next to my tying vice and it was kinda shocking to me,so I just eventually threw it away in the trashbin next to my desk... I didn't even think twice about it. But as the day went on, I started to think about it little by little. I shook my head.. Holy shit, this is no joke. Texted a bad ass quitter or two and let them know what I was feeling and kinda how stupid I was feeling. Next thing I knew, my phone was ringing, another quitter on the line. He just wanted me to stay quit and to get rid of the gum.. I decided to throw it before going to dinner and felt a weight off my shoulders as soon as it landed in the dumpster.
"The ice is just as thin for me as it is for you" I was actually just texted this. This shit really means something to me now... Post early and post often... Approach each day as it should be, as a new day. Quit like fuck, one day at a time.
-
Man, I had a real eye opener yesterday. Just got home and kinda had a misty moment on the way home, realizing what kind of win this was for my fucked up nic addled mind.
I found myself just chilling early morning on Saturday and was going to tie a fly few patterns for the next trip to the Juan and found myself looking right at a big box of nicotine gum. It was hiding right next to my tying vice and it was kinda shocking to me,so I just eventually threw it away in the trashbin next to my desk... I didn't even think twice about it. But as the day went on, I started to think about it little by little. I shook my head.. Holy shit, this is no joke. Texted a bad ass quitter or two and let them know what I was feeling and kinda how stupid I was feeling. Next thing I knew, my phone was ringing, another quitter on the line. He just wanted me to stay quit and to get rid of the gum.. I decided to throw it before going to dinner and felt a weight off my shoulders as soon as it landed in the dumpster.
"The ice is just as thin for me as it is for you" I was actually just texted this. This shit really means something to me now... Post early and post often... Approach each day as it should be, as a new day. Quit like fuck, one day at a time.
Another win.
This gets easier. Nicotine is one big lie. One day at a time, you've got this.
-
Man, I had a real eye opener yesterday. Just got home and kinda had a misty moment on the way home, realizing what kind of win this was for my fucked up nic addled mind.
I found myself just chilling early morning on Saturday and was going to tie a fly few patterns for the next trip to the Juan and found myself looking right at a big box of nicotine gum. It was hiding right next to my tying vice and it was kinda shocking to me,so I just eventually threw it away in the trashbin next to my desk... I didn't even think twice about it. But as the day went on, I started to think about it little by little. I shook my head.. Holy shit, this is no joke. Texted a bad ass quitter or two and let them know what I was feeling and kinda how stupid I was feeling. Next thing I knew, my phone was ringing, another quitter on the line. He just wanted me to stay quit and to get rid of the gum.. I decided to throw it before going to dinner and felt a weight off my shoulders as soon as it landed in the dumpster.
"The ice is just as thin for me as it is for you" I was actually just texted this. This shit really means something to me now... Post early and post often... Approach each day as it should be, as a new day. Quit like fuck, one day at a time.
Huge win! It absolutely gets easier. I felt like there was a huge change for the better in my brain somewhere around 120 Days. But, you will definitely feel it getting easier way before that.
I was a ninja dipper and I had cans hidden all over the place for "emergencies." I just found another can a couple weeks ago hidden inside a sunglasses case. Those first few weeks after I stopped using it would freak me out a little bit every time I stumbled on a can I forgot I had hidden. Now every time I find a can it puts a smile on my face, and then I dump it out on the ground and throw the can away. It honestly makes my day to find a can now. :)
-
Man, I had a real eye opener yesterday. Just got home and kinda had a misty moment on the way home, realizing what kind of win this was for my fucked up nic addled mind.
I found myself just chilling early morning on Saturday and was going to tie a fly few patterns for the next trip to the Juan and found myself looking right at a big box of nicotine gum. It was hiding right next to my tying vice and it was kinda shocking to me,so I just eventually threw it away in the trashbin next to my desk... I didn't even think twice about it. But as the day went on, I started to think about it little by little. I shook my head.. Holy shit, this is no joke. Texted a bad ass quitter or two and let them know what I was feeling and kinda how stupid I was feeling. Next thing I knew, my phone was ringing, another quitter on the line. He just wanted me to stay quit and to get rid of the gum.. I decided to throw it before going to dinner and felt a weight off my shoulders as soon as it landed in the dumpster.
"The ice is just as thin for me as it is for you" I was actually just texted this. This shit really means something to me now... Post early and post often... Approach each day as it should be, as a new day. Quit like fuck, one day at a time.
Huge win! It absolutely gets easier. I felt like there was a huge change for the better in my brain somewhere around 120 Days. But, you will definitely feel it getting easier way before that.
I was a ninja dipper and I had cans hidden all over the place for "emergencies." I just found another can a couple weeks ago hidden inside a sunglasses case. Those first few weeks after I stopped using it would freak me out a little bit every time I stumbled on a can I forgot I had hidden. Now every time I find a can it puts a smile on my face, and then I dump it out on the ground and throw the can away. It honestly makes my day to find a can now. :)
Hiya Mayfly. You've been quiet, but you've been winning... but how are things going? You jumped in here both feet and QLF, but lets hear what it feels like to be fighting and winning this battle that you are in with your bros.
-
Day 30-
Thanks w2w for reminding me for getting back on this.
Well, our month is closed for now and I really like all the quitters in April. The support from both my month and vets alike is crazy. I hope that I can pay it back 10 fold in the future. I really find it therapeutic to get on intros and post support for others and their groups, you know the little things. It just puts me and my quit more on solid ground. I just want to say that this site is incredible, without it, I would probably still be putting that shit in my lip. I wanted to make a shout out to all the quitters in my group and vets who are making a difference in my quit. It really is badass and I truly value your friendship in helping me stay quit.
My sleep is really bad still, but it is getting better by the day. I usually wake up at 1-3am and sometimes I can go back to sleep but not always. I decided to start exercising and let me tell you, it really helps with the sleep issue. Right now I am only running and this is really helping me pass out and get some solid sleep on the 3 days I run a week. I've also lost around 8 lbs. I was 197lbs when I quit and now am 189. The goal is to get back to 180, which is what I feel comfortable at. Quitting has brought out some healthy habits in me. I've also decided to just cut out alcohol from my life at the moment. I am currently on day 11 and I look forward to posting my promise in the slow-down section everyday just as much as my April 19' roll. In the past, I could really put them down and I usually compensated with alcohol when I tried to quit dipping. So I just bit the bullet and realized that for me to be successful, I just need to abstain for now. Who knows what will happen down the road on that but I plan on doing what I do right now everyday, which is quit edd on both.
I've seen others talk about their dip dreams, I really can't say that I had any yet. I did have a bad nightmare in my 1st week where I woke up kinda scared (like night terrors) but I never can remember my dreams anyways. So who knows what that was about. The one shift in my quit is now the mental games have kicked in full gear. I find my mind trying to convince me to pull into the cs for a single or a can on the way home from work but I've always just kept going. We are creatures of habit and now relearning how to go and do the things that we love to do takes some courage and patience. I practically did EVERYTHING in my life with a dip in but I don't miss it one bit. It seems as though sometimes your mind tricks you into thinking that a dip is what you always did before you did a particular thing and you catch yourself. Don't really know how to explain it. The nic bitch never rests, I guess. Keep up your guard.
The single most important thing to me is my roll post every day. WUPP means a lot to me, and I have noticed that others in pre-hof groups don't think that rolling in late in the day is a big thing. I do. That is the pillar of my quit and probably most here on ktc. As soon as the board flips at 12est, I am on the board most nights. In fact, its right before my bedtime but as soon as I post roll, my choice is made for the day and I am quit. If you do no other thing, you need to honor your quit and your groups by posting roll early and edd.
Anxiety and almost a crave like feeling has hit me a few times since the first 2 weeks. It seems its usually later in the day and it almost always hits when I read something about someone caving or if I'm stressed out. I just shove a bunch of seeds in my mouth or take a pinch of my fake stuff and weather the storm. Here's a link to what I'm going through right now post acute withdrawal (https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm). This fits me to a T right now. Kinda emotional. Even though I have hit a few rough patches, I never ever really think I was close to going to get a can. The idea just seems foreign to me already, as I see myself as a quitter and I'm not going to cross the line to the dark side. Or something like that. I have enough pride to grab my phone and call any of the quitters who have my back if it ever occurs. Protecting my quit is my top priority. Damn, this has been a hell of a ride, but I am winning ODAAT.
-
Good Morning Brother, keep up the awesome work. I am proud to be Quit with you! Happy Friday!
-
Mayfly, you truly are a BMF of quit. I’m proud to be quit ODAAT alongside you in April.
-
Wow, it has been awhile since I posted in my intro but I have been busy quitting!! Anyways, I hit 68/50 today.. Really cool to be pushing towards the last 30 days or so until hof. Also really nice to see March start their hof celebration! We're next, woohoo!!!
Wanted to emphasize that my nic quit is going good but I have to really work to keep it fresh and exciting. The funk is real for me and has been real for a week or 2. I'm really not tired of quitting but just feeling a little bored by it really. Glad to recognize this and am really working my way through this. Some days are harder than others. Talking it through with others and visualizing the odaat mantra is helping. Now is not the time to get complacent and I know this. My guard is up!! I am quit today and when tomorrow becomes today, I will quit again.
I am really proud to say that I have made some postive changes to myself since I quit. I now exercise regularly, about 3 times a week which is pretty good with my schedule. I eat healthier meals and have way more energy. My sleeping pattern is so predictable and I have never felt what true tiredness was until a month or so ago. I get into bed and basically hibernate every damn night!!! Sleep never felt so good. My mind is slowly beginning to change, I know it will take close to 2 years to complete the rewiring. How in the hell did I mess myself up so bad??? Making the wrong choices is how and now I am making the right ones and edd at that!
Today was special to me in that I hit 50 on my alcohol quit! Wow is all I can say. Don't ever remember quitting the juice for that long and I really feel so much better. The clarity of mind has really inspired me to focus on myself. Stress management is a huge goal and I am putting myself out there slowly to gain those small victories as I learn to do everything again without booze or nic. Baby steps, I know, but still important as stress was and still is a huge trigger for me.
See you on roll!
-
Wow, it has been awhile since I posted in my intro but I have been busy quitting!! Anyways, I hit 68/50 today.. Really cool to be pushing towards the last 30 days or so until hof. Also really nice to see March start their hof celebration! We're next, woohoo!!!
Wanted to emphasize that my nic quit is going good but I have to really work to keep it fresh and exciting. The funk is real for me and has been real for a week or 2. I'm really not tired of quitting but just feeling a little bored by it really. Glad to recognize this and am really working my way through this. Some days are harder than others. Talking it through with others and visualizing the odaat mantra is helping. Now is not the time to get complacent and I know this. My guard is up!! I am quit today and when tomorrow becomes today, I will quit again.
I am really proud to say that I have made some postive changes to myself since I quit. I now exercise regularly, about 3 times a week which is pretty good with my schedule. I eat healthier meals and have way more energy. My sleeping pattern is so predictable and I have never felt what true tiredness was until a month or so ago. I get into bed and basically hibernate every damn night!!! Sleep never felt so good. My mind is slowly beginning to change, I know it will take close to 2 years to complete the rewiring. How in the hell did I mess myself up so bad??? Making the wrong choices is how and now I am making the right ones and edd at that!
Today was special to me in that I hit 50 on my alcohol quit! Wow is all I can say. Don't ever remember quitting the juice for that long and I really feel so much better. The clarity of mind has really inspired me to focus on myself. Stress management is a huge goal and I am putting myself out there slowly to gain those small victories as I learn to do everything again without booze or nic. Baby steps, I know, but still important as stress was and still is a huge trigger for me.
See you on roll!
Keep doing what you are doing, and stay engaged here. We win together, we lose alone. The time you are in now is a pretty typical funk period. But... great times are ahead with the HOF celebrations. After that, likely another funk. Start thinking about how, as a quitter that has made it 100 days, you can take on a new quitter and walk with them to the greatness that you are feeling now. You are a dude that knows how to win, and its great to see you succeed in this journey. It gets a lot better from here - just keep quitting one day at a time.
-
Wow, it has been awhile since I posted in my intro but I have been busy quitting!! Anyways, I hit 68/50 today.. Really cool to be pushing towards the last 30 days or so until hof. Also really nice to see March start their hof celebration! We're next, woohoo!!!
Wanted to emphasize that my nic quit is going good but I have to really work to keep it fresh and exciting. The funk is real for me and has been real for a week or 2. I'm really not tired of quitting but just feeling a little bored by it really. Glad to recognize this and am really working my way through this. Some days are harder than others. Talking it through with others and visualizing the odaat mantra is helping. Now is not the time to get complacent and I know this. My guard is up!! I am quit today and when tomorrow becomes today, I will quit again.
I am really proud to say that I have made some postive changes to myself since I quit. I now exercise regularly, about 3 times a week which is pretty good with my schedule. I eat healthier meals and have way more energy. My sleeping pattern is so predictable and I have never felt what true tiredness was until a month or so ago. I get into bed and basically hibernate every damn night!!! Sleep never felt so good. My mind is slowly beginning to change, I know it will take close to 2 years to complete the rewiring. How in the hell did I mess myself up so bad??? Making the wrong choices is how and now I am making the right ones and edd at that!
Today was special to me in that I hit 50 on my alcohol quit! Wow is all I can say. Don't ever remember quitting the juice for that long and I really feel so much better. The clarity of mind has really inspired me to focus on myself. Stress management is a huge goal and I am putting myself out there slowly to gain those small victories as I learn to do everything again without booze or nic. Baby steps, I know, but still important as stress was and still is a huge trigger for me.
See you on roll!
mayfly, as one of my April quit brothers, it's been a joy to go on this journey with you thus far. I want to add how impressed I am by all the positive changes you are making in your life, and ALL AT ONCE! I'm not much of a drinker, but I wish I could say I was dedicating myself like you are to other healthy choices in addition to the nic quit. I'm proud of you, I'm proud to quit with you, and - of course - we've only just begun, my friend.
-
Great work mayfly! You are a badass quiters!
A lot to be proud of in this post. I have kinda followed in your foot steps. Obviously quit the nicotine, me and my wife are eating much healthier, I'm trying to find time to exercise but I am walking about 4.5 miles throughout the day. I have not quit drinking but have greatly greatly reduced it!
I'm proud of you dude! Your doing awesome things for yourself and loved ones!
Keep it up you are making quiting look easy!!!
-
T minus 14 mother effin days til Hof!! Woohoo!
Ok, I made it through the funk. It reared its ugly ass around day 65 or so and I had a few interesting patches but now its happy days again! I almost feel as though I turned a corner while in the funk. Let me explain. It was hard to get on and quit and to support others. It was hard to give a crap even at work. I even had a foggy as hell morning similar to the first week. But you know what? I crushed that shit, like it was a hanging curve ball over the plate. I just plowed through it, like a hot knife through butter.
It was easy, because I make the decision to quit EVERY DAY and for that day only. Once the decision has been made, the rest of the day is cake. I don't need nic, and it feels good knowing that but I only make that decision for today. Forget about tomorrow. I can quit for a day and thats all I need to succeed. Life is always going to be filled with ups and downs and I can accept that much easier now. Life goes on anyways right?
Living without nic is now a part of my life that I enjoy, almost need. I want to quit and that makes all the difference in the world. Before, I used nic to fill in the gaps, to take the edge off. Just about every damn thing I did, I had a lipper full of shit in. Now, I just face whatever the day brings. I face life head on. Without nic, and its pretty glorious. Being a quitter has never been so much fun, I just wish I had done this years ago.
-
T minus 14 mother effin days til Hof!! Woohoo!
Ok, I made it through the funk. It reared its ugly ass around day 65 or so and I had a few interesting patches but now its happy days again! I almost feel as though I turned a corner while in the funk. Let me explain. It was hard to get on and quit and to support others. It was hard to give a crap even at work. I even had a foggy as hell morning similar to the first week. But you know what? I crushed that shit, like it was a hanging curve ball over the plate. I just plowed through it, like a hot knife through butter.
It was easy, because I make the decision to quit EVERY DAY and for that day only. Once the decision has been made, the rest of the day is cake. I don't need nic, and it feels good knowing that but I only make that decision for today. Forget about tomorrow. I can quit for a day and thats all I need to succeed. Life is always going to be filled with ups and downs and I can accept that much easier now. Life goes on anyways right?
Living without nic is now a part of my life that I enjoy, almost need. I want to quit and that makes all the difference in the world. Before, I used nic to fill in the gaps, to take the edge off. Just about every damn thing I did, I had a lipper full of shit in. Now, I just face whatever the day brings. I face life head on. Without nic, and its pretty glorious. Being a quitter has never been so much fun, I just wish I had done this years ago.
I just love waking up to positivity like this.
Keep doing what you're doing and I'm sure it will pay off for all of us in the end.
AW
-
Mayfly well said sir! I love waking up to badass quit motivation like that! Proud of you sir! Keep up the great quit!
-
3 more days big haas! You are crushing this quit and it's a glorious thing to see. Absolutely proud of you and all that you have done to spearhead this group to it's first milestone of 100. Looking forward to the next 100 big bro, keep leading the pack!
-
Congrats on hitting 100!!
IQWYT!!
-
One hundy, you should be walking ten feet tall with your chest puffed out.
Congrats bro, let's keep it going.
-
One hundy, you should be walking ten feet tall with your chest puffed out.
Congrats bro, let's keep it going.
It is an honor to quit with a winner like you, Mayfly. Congratulations on your first huge accomplishment of many. It gets way better from here.
-
One hundy, you should be walking ten feet tall with your chest puffed out.
Congrats bro, let's keep it going.
It is an honor to quit with a winner like you, Mayfly. Congratulations on your first huge accomplishment of many. It gets way better from here.
YOU are the shizzle! I done knowed it right when I seen you, knowed right then an thar you's gonna ring that hunert bell!!
-
One hundy, you should be walking ten feet tall with your chest puffed out.
Congrats bro, let's keep it going.
It is an honor to quit with a winner like you, Mayfly. Congratulations on your first huge accomplishment of many. It gets way better from here.
YOU are the shizzle! I done knowed it right when I seen you, knowed right then an thar you's gonna ring that hunert bell!!
Congratulations on a great quit, Mayfly! Keep being the leader you have been for the past 100+ days! Quitters like you are the reason this site works!
-
proud to be quit with you today man
-
Mayfly, you were one of the first to hit me up when I joined here. Your support is appreciated more then you will ever know. I am very proud of you hitting that Hall of Fame! Honored and Blessed to be Quit with you!