Hello KTC,
I am on Day 7 and a new quitter. My great quit group knows a little bit about me and for everyone else here it is.
When I was 16 I had my first dip and didn't even take a second thought to it. I was in rehab for drugs and what not and I smoked cigarettes every once in a while. Anyway took to big of a pinch and
threw up all over the place (you think that would have stopped me). After that I chewed on and off through high school still doing drugs being an asshole. Then when I graduated I quit drugs and used cigarettes
and chew to curb the drug cravings. I got my first job at an underground mine as a driller and welder. Smoking was not allowed underground so my boss threw my cigarettes down a mine shaft
and threw me a can of chew and said, "Start chewin boy." From that moment I just found the ideal new addiction. Started chewing a can a day then a little more. I have a huge number of health issues and you think that would
have stopped me, no way. Finally I just started lying to loved ones about my chewing. I would tell them the last time I chewed was when I left the mine job and really I was chewing everyday. Then when I
hit 10 years of endless fights about it, sneaking around, lying, and worrying about health issues I was like oh shit, I have to stop this. Tried quitting for an entire year! That just resulted in me chewing nicotine gum, using patches, and lozenges for 8 months. Then I just went back to chewing anyway. I knew about this site a long time ago and I just would always talk myself out of it. So finally shoved my pride aside and signed up and now I'm on 7 days, first time in 10-11 years.
Never tried to reach out for help about this ever and glad I did. Proud to be here with all of you quitters!
Thanks,
- Jpquit