Hey there everyone,
I started smoking cigs 25 years ago and switched to dip 5 years ago.. Been a nic slave for too long and am ready to kill the can and nicotine from my life forever. Yeah I've tried [half-assed] quitting countless times before. This time I'm all in. I don't see getting any other chance at this and if I want to be quit now is the time. I don't want to die from this crap. I want to be there for my family and watch my kids grow up. My Dad died 2 years ago from cancer, and I was with him bedside the final 2 weeks of his life as he suffered in pain and remorse. He couldn't manage to give up nicotine and paid the ultimate price.. So did we. I am not going to do that to myself or my family.
One month ago I decided I would truly quit, and it took a few weeks to get my head in check and take stock of my reasons, and my plan. I figured New Years would be a good time, but on the morning of dec 29th I decided not to dip any more. I was ready to say goodbye to nic for good. And so my journey began.
Today is day 5 and I'm in hell... I never want to go through this again. I posted roll for the first time today and I appreciate the support of my quit group and all the members here. I know I won't be able to quit and stay quit without the help. Thank you. I promise not to let you down. No nicotine today.
The good thing is that this is the absolute worst it will get for you.
Think of your quit as a pendulum. Your moods have been dictated by this crazy weed for a long time. It centered you. When you quit (and began the process of depleting the nicotine from your body), you began pulling the weight waaaaaay back into "suck" territory. Until you get all that nicotine out of your system, it will keep going back further and further. Drink tons of water and give it some time. It takes between 3-7 days usually.
Once your body is completely free of nicotine, you've hit the worst point of your quit...but also the best. You see, once the nicotine is gone you begin to heal. Your body slowly realizes it can function without the poison. It begins actually bypassing these thoughts. It's not all at once. It starts with simple motor function and expands from there. The more you do something nicotine free, the more your body responds and knows it can do stuff nicotine free. The weight of the pendulum begins to swing from "suck" to "meh" to "ok" to "center" and all the way into an adrenaline filled "great" territory.
You aren't cured at this point. Stay diligent for the weight is still swinging.
For the initial days of your quit, you'll swing back and forth in these areas. You've messed your body up with this drug. It won't ever be as a bad as these first days, but it does get bad on occasion. When times are good, practice for the bad. Post roll. Read everything. Make friends you can reach out to when necessary. When times are bad, lean on these tools. All we ask is that you post your word. It's that simple. Sometimes, we have to take. That's ok. Sometimes, we can give. That's ok too, and it will strengthen your quit.
Eventually, your moods will no longer be dictated by your nicotine (non) use. You will be centered. There will be little bumps that move the weight slightly, but you'll get to be centered for the first time in a long time and free to be you. Of course, this is all in the future. Let's worry about this moment and let the rest come naturally...like a pendulum swing.
