I've been dipping for many years and have tried to quit multiple times but never made it more than a couple months - usually just days. But I read the book called the Power of Habit. The author says that to break a habit/addiction you can't do it on your own. You need a community. Well I'm scared and I want to quit and I need some help. I am not good with computers, no Facebook etc. this is the first time I've posted on a board. Thanks in advance for anyone who takes time to reply. I'm not the type of person to ask for help but I don't want to fail again and tell myself stories. Yes I'm worried about cancer. And also worried and ashamed of what I might put my family through if it happens. I've got a favorite band that has a song that goes "I will change tomorrow, tomorrow I will change". That's what I've been telling myself for years. No more.
Chris, I PM'ed you my number. Use it if I can help. I'm nearly 400 days into this can still struggle at times, but KTC works. You've got many badass guys in here who will give you their best. All they ask in return is that you post roll everyday keep your word. You can do that, for today. We do it ODAAT, one day at a time, no need to worry about tomorrow until it's here. Getting through today can be hard enough, but by keeping your word you got this.
Nothing wrong with needing help, and you don't have to be good with computers. Posting roll, and I see you posted day 2 today great work, is actually technically kind of hard. Don't worry about if you do it wrong, someone fixes it, all people care about at this stage is that you do post roll keep your word.
Tomorrow is always soon enough to change if you have to do this on your own. Today I gotta get this done, and if I can't do it for myself, the least I can do is do it for my friends I've come to know over the past nearly 400 days.
You do mention being scared which is normal at this point for sure. I can offer some advice thereÂ…
1. Get thoroughly checked out. Been to the dentist recently? Go. Get them to do that backlight thing that scans for any pre cancerous signs. Some guys have had some pretty bad lips come out fine, I certainly did, and chances are good that you'll be fine too. It's better knowing than not knowing.
2. After the dentist, you may need a doctors visit. Tell them that you dipped, for how long, etc, that you are quit now. With no nic substitutes, no patches, gums, no nicotine period. They'll be able to assess your physical health well being.
After those 2 appointments are over, I pray you check out fine. If you're still scared at that point, it can be irrational. I thought I was dying over over again of cancer even after I'd been checked over. This could be 2 reasons really, or a combo of the twoÂ…
1. You have anxiety issues, but have successfully self medicated with tobacco in the past. Great medicine for that but the side effects are killer. You may be for the first time in your adult life, truly experiencing all emotions, positive, negative, and irrational, all at once, none of it dulled by nicotine as you're used to.
2. The nicotine withdraws really does mess with your brain chemistry. You've been dousing yourself with poisons for years, no judgement I was there once too as were thousands on this board, so it's affected your chemistry, the withdrawals affect it even more.
In one or both cases, you may have to get some anti depressants or anti anxiety drugs. It may be too early to tell by day #2, but anxiety and depression issues can be common when quitting. Many, including me, would up on some form of drugs to help right things while quitting. No shame in that, your doctor will be happy to help. My doc took the same drug I have for anxiety while quitting smoking.
You're doing this, you got this. Two days in, you're 2/3 of the way through the first 72hrs of hell. It gets easier day by day after this as your body mind heal little by little. It's a tough road but with community here you can do it. I offer up as proof you've got most every king badass of the boards here posting in your intro. These guys don't come out of the woodwork for nothing. They see the quit in you.
