I came by this site sometime in the middle of June. I had quit about 2 weeks beforehand but I was searching the internet, looking for information on how long it took for nicotine to be out of your system. This happened to be one of the first sites listed on Google so I decided to check it out. It led me to the timeline breakdown on what to expect. It seemed like some decent information so I read further into the site. Being a chewer for almost 17 years I decided to sign up and start posting roll when I was encouraged to do so by a few people. This was the first time that I chose to quit so figured I would see what it did for me. Now, you have to understand, I am not much of a blogger. I participate on a few different sites of interest but hanging out in front of a computer for hours on end just does not do it for me. Checking my email on a daily basis is a chore for me even if it is work related. So, if anyone was wondering, that is part of why I do not hang around here a lot.
As far as my experiences with quitting are concerned, it really was not much of a big deal for me. The first week was an adjustment, I had some 'fog', a few bouts of insomnia, irritability, and some wicked gas. It all eventually passed after about a month. I never had any dip dreams and I only had 2 instances that I could call cravings. Both were after some very large meals. I played golf, went fishing, went to a few ball games, attended some barbeques, and had a few beers when I wanted to. During those times I never had any cravings. I recognized those moments as times where I would normally be throwing a dip in the lip but it was nothing that I wanted to do. I didn't want it at all. I have cousins that chew and I have spent time around them since I quit. It was no big deal. I didn't get preachy around them and it didn't affect me in the least. I had made my decision and as far as I was concerned it was final. I did it for me and only me.
Here I am and it has been over a 100 days. I won't beat around the bush so I will just get to the ultimate point of this post. I will not be posting roll anymore. It was not something that I felt was necessary. When I chose to quit I had done so before joining this site. Even looking back at when I did chew tobacco, I fully understand that it was something which I chose to do. It was not a pressure situation. I wanted to do it and I enjoyed it. Even now, after I have quit, I can still say that I did in fact enjoy it. I won't lie to myself and make excuses. This whole thing is about choices. It's not a disease. It's not an affliction. I was happy to do it and now I am happy to not do it. I do not need to conjure mental boogeymen to affirm my choices. I do not have to kick myself in the nuts on a daily basis in some kind of masochistic way to shame myself into quitting. I do not view this as something that is not curable or something that even needs one. To me that is making an excuse to avoid any responsibility for the choice I made. I would rather focus on the positive aspects and the future rather than torture myself about the past. I would rather not even know how many days I have been quit. I just want to be quit, period. In my mind, doing it any other way is only adding to what I view as punishment and like I said, I won't do that to myself. So, as some parting advice I will say this. Take it easy on yourselves and others. It doesn't have to be so difficult. We are not hardcore or badass. We just stopped a habit that we felt was undesirable to us now in some way. Embrace the fact that it will suck while your body and brain readjust. After that it's all about building up your willpower not tearing you or others down. Take pride in your new found level of willpower and apply it to other aspects of your life that might need changing. Finally, Take it easy on people. We are all only human and we make mistakes. Hammering on someone for caving is not very encouraging and only serves the person dishing it out, not the recipient. So, fucking relax on that. Thanks to anyone that offered their support. I appreciate it and good luck. I wish everyone else good luck on their journey and good health.
ChewIsTheBrownDevil
