Hi all, started mine yesterday

[MDG Welding]

Thanks Willy.

We have all come a long ways!!

[willy]

I have been looming around here for the past few weeks, and finally made the decision that yesterday was my day 1.  It was my 7 year wedding anniversary, and my wife was very happy.  I have been dippn since a teen and after I hit 30, I knew something had to change.  Well, it took 3 years of being 30 for it to stick.  Sure I have quit before for show, but this time it's real and for the right reasons. 

Day 1 (yesterday):  Go to work, sit at desk and wonder how to sit at desk without a dip.  Found that it's not that bad, just walk out in the plant every time the Nic Bitch push my buttons ( no dip in plant).  Go home to second job (welding shop at home), wonder how the hell to weld and fab with no dip.  Found out, it's not that bad.  Then the shit hits the fan, other welder drops steel tube and cuts $500 welding torch, other guy cuts 4 tubes to the wrong length, wrong parts ordered for delivery truck, deadline get pushed up by two days. 

While all of this is going on, the bitch is in me ear yelling YOU NEED ME, YOU NEED ME, and I'm thinking "one helluva day to quit".  I send the other two guys home so I can deal with my quit without killing them.  Once they leave I re-cut the tubes, put on the spare torch, and the need passes without a cave.  I showed the bitch this time is the last time.

My wife knew how bad things in the shop were and that I was fit to be tied.  Since she is also fully committed to my quit, at 9pm she brought me a beer and said that I should come inside for my day 1 reward.  Well it was worth it!!!!!!!

Day 2 (today):  The Nic bitch gets me up 1/2 hour before my alarm and wants some.  Drive the hour to work with the bitch on my shoulder.  Get a hold of IUCHEWIE because I'm having problems registering and I can't wait to post this day 1 deal.  He helps, problem solved, and here I am well into day 2.

I have read things from so many of you, thanks for the support even if you did not know it!!!!
Mark

Just think now you got your HOF. Great inspiration. Congrats MDG!

[bransc]

Glad to hear you made it through. That's great news! Distraction is almost 90% of the game to me. Keeping myself occupied so I stop associating with triggers. So I stop thinking of things in terms of "oh I need a dip to concentrate", or "oh I need a dip if the trip is more than 5 minutes". I know personally I'm threw letting that sht define me and am moving on full steam to 100 days and beyond.

I still struggle. The cravings have died down for me quite a bit. However, when I do get them, they come at me like some red headed step child from hell. The chat room here has helped me face those situations and divert my attention until they pass. It's all learning new coping strategies now.

Ha spitting in a flux, that's a new one. Hiding the sht was I think part of the draw for me. Made the whole thing exciting I guess and allowed me to sidestep how disgusting it looked. I came from a pretty straight and narrow family. Parents were really strict and it was my escape. I wish now I had found a better means, but it is what it is. I was young, stupid, and looking for anything I could do to rebel. It only escalated from there and turned into a habit way faster than I anticipated.

Anyways, I'm sure that's more information about me than you wanted to know, this is your intro page, but hey distractions right? =)

Happy to hear your doing well. Keep quit brother.

[MDG Welding]

Thanks Bran!!! I made the drive without issue. I just called someone every time I felt the need to dip. After 4 calls to friends to shoot the shit, I was home without a problem. Then into the fab shop and I just kept my head down and worked non stop just pushing the nic bitch to the side.
I had no idea that welding could be done without a dip. Hell, it's been since Vo-tech that I welded without one. Even in College we would put in a fatty and stay in the weld booth for an hour to enjoy. How stupid, sneaking around, spitting in a flux can so the Prof. did not see the spitter. How the fu@k did that seem cool???

[bransc]

Stop thinking about that car ride. Take it one mile at a time / one weld at a time and hang in there! Maybe taking a different way home might help?

[MDG Welding]

No real cravings?

WHO ARE YOU?

I'm not joking, but it will all change when I get to the fab shop tonight. I have gone most of the day without because of meetings, customers, ect many times in the past.

When I hit the car for that hour ride home and when I'm weldin/ fabin tonight, that's when it will really hit. I will have to fight and claw my way to bed time. I'm in it for the long haul.

Thanks guys!!

[DeanTheCoot]

No real cravings?

WHO ARE YOU?

[MDG Welding]

Bran, Brad: Thanks for the props.

I'm taking is as it comes. Yesterday sucked, I even thought about calling my wife and telling her to get me a can when she went to get the truck parts. I kept it to myself and just kept working. When she got back I told her that and she laughed and said "yeah right I'm done getting you a can, you wanted my support and it might hurt but you got it 100%"

I feel so much better today, no real cravings and totally at peace with the final decision. I'll catch you guys on chat some time.
Mark

[Brad64]

Welcome Mark! Glad to have you along on the journey!

You're a hell of a lot smarter than I am. I waited till I was 44 to quit. Good for you!

You are half way through the most difficult part. Oh sure they'll be some tough moments later, but right now you're kicking the shit out of the hardest part of this.

I can promise you it will NEVER AGAIN suck as much as it does right now. And when you make it through these first 3 days you will NEVER EVER have to go through that shit again. You're not gonna want to go through it again.

Take it one minute at a time if you have to. Stay in touch. And don't forget about the chat room.

[bransc]

Welcome Mark. I'm pretty new here as well, but if there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to let me know. This isn't easy but, like you, I've found this site immensely helpful. Keep quit!

Bran

[MDG Welding]

I have been looming around here for the past few weeks, and finally made the decision that yesterday was my day 1. It was my 7 year wedding anniversary, and my wife was very happy. I have been dippn since a teen and after I hit 30, I knew something had to change. Well, it took 3 years of being 30 for it to stick. Sure I have quit before for show, but this time it's real and for the right reasons.

Day 1 (yesterday): Go to work, sit at desk and wonder how to sit at desk without a dip. Found that it's not that bad, just walk out in the plant every time the Nic Bitch push my buttons ( no dip in plant). Go home to second job (welding shop at home), wonder how the hell to weld and fab with no dip. Found out, it's not that bad. Then the shit hits the fan, other welder drops steel tube and cuts $500 welding torch, other guy cuts 4 tubes to the wrong length, wrong parts ordered for delivery truck, deadline get pushed up by two days.

While all of this is going on, the bitch is in me ear yelling YOU NEED ME, YOU NEED ME, and I'm thinking "one helluva day to quit". I send the other two guys home so I can deal with my quit without killing them. Once they leave I re-cut the tubes, put on the spare torch, and the need passes without a cave. I showed the bitch this time is the last time.

My wife knew how bad things in the shop were and that I was fit to be tied. Since she is also fully committed to my quit, at 9pm she brought me a beer and said that I should come inside for my day 1 reward. Well it was worth it!!!!!!!

Day 2 (today): The Nic bitch gets me up 1/2 hour before my alarm and wants some. Drive the hour to work with the bitch on my shoulder. Get a hold of IUCHEWIE because I'm having problems registering and I can't wait to post this day 1 deal. He helps, problem solved, and here I am well into day 2.

I have read things from so many of you, thanks for the support even if you did not know it!!!!
Mark