Introducing pat

[Funktronic42]

Now lets sing a song, sing it strong
climb up to the mountain top and ring out the gong
from kaiju bay all the way to hong kong
let it climb out your throat so you can sing along

I won't quit, I won't quit
I won't quit being a quitter

Every single day, let it reign
let the whole world see how we've shed all the pain
break the slavery break away all the chains
let our smiles glisten out wash away the stains, we say

I won't quit, I won't quit
I won't quit being a quitter

...(add your verse)


I started this song poem/song I was working on in the jackwagins facebook page and thought I would throw it out here to anyone that wants to add on.

[Funktronic42]

I am in the same boat with you Funk.  I have been getting the random waves of sadness (one minute fine, next i feel sad for some unknown reason).  Started/Peaked for me about two weeks ago (around day 50) when i believe i was going through round #2 (50-70 funk), doc gave me some Xanax to get me by and also put me on Wellbutrin (lowest dose they have).  Not sure if i needed the Wellbutrin or not, but I took them anyway in case what i was feeling was gonna last longer than a few days.

I am on day 12 of the Wellbutrin but I am not sure if they have kicked in or not.  I was told they take about two weeks or more to kick in but i started to feel better after the first couple of days (could have been a placebo effect).  I may have gotten through a rough patch on my own (plus a couple days of Xanax).  Not gonna risk it, going to ride out the wellbutrin at least for a couple months.

I was totally surprised at the way i was feeling because life is good for me right now and had no reason to be sad.  Mentally i felt fine, but physically i felt sad.  Just wanted to curl up in the fetal position in bed and go to sleep, and had no reason too!

Couple that with a little paranoia; am I dieing? this can't be part of the quit? is this "random issue/symptom" part of it? is something else wrong?

I know everybody keeps saying "that this too shall pass" but it is hard to convince yourself that and your mind wanders and you think yourself into trouble.  But it will!!!!!

Day 64 and still quit, regardless of any crap the bitch tries to pull!

Sometimes you need an assist to get you through. If it comes in pill form, so be it.

I think I had anxiety issues but used to use Kodiak to cope with it.

Take away the Kodiak and WHAMO, I was feeling shit I didn't even know was possible.

I thought I was going nuts, literally. I honestly was very scared, terrified in fact.

But with the assists from the meds, talking to a professional, the support of my wife, TIME, and of course the peeps on this site, I was able to feel "normal" again.

I still do have some anxiety, but so do millions of other "normal" Americans.

I feel great, I'm just still learning to cope with the anxiety of every day life without my Kodiak crutch.

Maybd that's the pennance I have to pay for 15 years of abuse, or maybe its just a normal part of life. Either way its much better than it was and something I know I will beat.

Quit on....

I think that I will make an appointment with my doctor for this friday. I did find an interesting thing last night while cruising NETFLIX. Ever heard of TED talks?

Here are some Life Hacks

[Diesel2112]

I am in the same boat with you Funk. I have been getting the random waves of sadness (one minute fine, next i feel sad for some unknown reason). Started/Peaked for me about two weeks ago (around day 50) when i believe i was going through round #2 (50-70 funk), doc gave me some Xanax to get me by and also put me on Wellbutrin (lowest dose they have). Not sure if i needed the Wellbutrin or not, but I took them anyway in case what i was feeling was gonna last longer than a few days.

I am on day 12 of the Wellbutrin but I am not sure if they have kicked in or not. I was told they take about two weeks or more to kick in but i started to feel better after the first couple of days (could have been a placebo effect). I may have gotten through a rough patch on my own (plus a couple days of Xanax). Not gonna risk it, going to ride out the wellbutrin at least for a couple months.

I was totally surprised at the way i was feeling because life is good for me right now and had no reason to be sad. Mentally i felt fine, but physically i felt sad. Just wanted to curl up in the fetal position in bed and go to sleep, and had no reason too!

Couple that with a little paranoia; am I dieing? this can't be part of the quit? is this "random issue/symptom" part of it? is something else wrong?

I know everybody keeps saying "that this too shall pass" but it is hard to convince yourself that and your mind wanders and you think yourself into trouble. But it will!!!!!

Day 64 and still quit, regardless of any crap the bitch tries to pull!

Sometimes you need an assist to get you through. If it comes in pill form, so be it.

I think I had anxiety issues but used to use Kodiak to cope with it.

Take away the Kodiak and WHAMO, I was feeling shit I didn't even know was possible.

I thought I was going nuts, literally. I honestly was very scared, terrified in fact.

But with the assists from the meds, talking to a professional, the support of my wife, TIME, and of course the peeps on this site, I was able to feel "normal" again.

I still do have some anxiety, but so do millions of other "normal" Americans.

I feel great, I'm just still learning to cope with the anxiety of every day life without my Kodiak crutch.

Maybd that's the pennance I have to pay for 15 years of abuse, or maybe its just a normal part of life. Either way its much better than it was and something I know I will beat.

Quit on....

[stew5978]

I am in the same boat with you Funk. I have been getting the random waves of sadness (one minute fine, next i feel sad for some unknown reason). Started/Peaked for me about two weeks ago (around day 50) when i believe i was going through round #2 (50-70 funk), doc gave me some Xanax to get me by and also put me on Wellbutrin (lowest dose they have). Not sure if i needed the Wellbutrin or not, but I took them anyway in case what i was feeling was gonna last longer than a few days.

I am on day 12 of the Wellbutrin but I am not sure if they have kicked in or not. I was told they take about two weeks or more to kick in but i started to feel better after the first couple of days (could have been a placebo effect). I may have gotten through a rough patch on my own (plus a couple days of Xanax). Not gonna risk it, going to ride out the wellbutrin at least for a couple months.

I was totally surprised at the way i was feeling because life is good for me right now and had no reason to be sad. Mentally i felt fine, but physically i felt sad. Just wanted to curl up in the fetal position in bed and go to sleep, and had no reason too!

Couple that with a little paranoia; am I dieing? this can't be part of the quit? is this "random issue/symptom" part of it? is something else wrong?

I know everybody keeps saying "that this too shall pass" but it is hard to convince yourself that and your mind wanders and you think yourself into trouble. But it will!!!!!

Day 64 and still quit, regardless of any crap the bitch tries to pull!

[Diesel2112]

Hey Funk definitely go talk to a professional.  I have helped alot of my friends that have gone down the depression road and it was not pretty.  The main thing i can tell you is that do not go down this road alone.  Have a person you trust to talk to that you can confide in and talk to them.  that is one of the main keys to recovering from depression is talking to someone.  IF i can help let me know.  This fight is the best thing you have done in your life and dont let depression be the reason you cave.  Your stronger than this and you can make it.  I know cause i made it off that road before.

The strangest part is that it is only every once in a while. There will be this overwhelming wave of sadness that will crash into me and then after a few minutes it will pass and nothing will feel any different. Sometimes it lasts for 30 seconds, sometimes it lasts for 15 minutes. But that getting coupled on top of the added anxiety that has been growing over the last few weeks has been crazy in my brain. Is this a common experience amongst quitters?

It's not uncommon.

Some people quit and never have to deal with any anxiety. Others, like myself, get blind sided by it.

It sucks, no doubt about it.

Not to beat a dead horse, but if it continues, at the least go to your regular doctor and tell him what's going on.

[Funktronic42]

Hey Funk definitely go talk to a professional. I have helped alot of my friends that have gone down the depression road and it was not pretty. The main thing i can tell you is that do not go down this road alone. Have a person you trust to talk to that you can confide in and talk to them. that is one of the main keys to recovering from depression is talking to someone. IF i can help let me know. This fight is the best thing you have done in your life and dont let depression be the reason you cave. Your stronger than this and you can make it. I know cause i made it off that road before.

The strangest part is that it is only every once in a while. There will be this overwhelming wave of sadness that will crash into me and then after a few minutes it will pass and nothing will feel any different. Sometimes it lasts for 30 seconds, sometimes it lasts for 15 minutes. But that getting coupled on top of the added anxiety that has been growing over the last few weeks has been crazy in my brain. Is this a common experience amongst quitters?

[Reaper]

Hey Funk definitely go talk to a professional. I have helped alot of my friends that have gone down the depression road and it was not pretty. The main thing i can tell you is that do not go down this road alone. Have a person you trust to talk to that you can confide in and talk to them. that is one of the main keys to recovering from depression is talking to someone. IF i can help let me know. This fight is the best thing you have done in your life and dont let depression be the reason you cave. Your stronger than this and you can make it. I know cause i made it off that road before.

[Diesel2112]

The last couple of weeks I have been experiencing random moments of complete and utter sadness. A massive depression that I haven't felt since I was a teenager flailing through life as a ball of hormonal shifts. Having your brain re-wire itself after addiction is a lot like being a teenager again. Everyone is judging me and I can't talk to girls and my parents just don't understand.

Go talk to a professional, my man. It can't hurt anything and I hate to see you feeling this way, because I was there myself. I know the misery.

[Funktronic42]

The last couple of weeks I have been experiencing random moments of complete and utter sadness. A massive depression that I haven't felt since I was a teenager flailing through life as a ball of hormonal shifts. Having your brain re-wire itself after addiction is a lot like being a teenager again. Everyone is judging me and I can't talk to girls and my parents just don't understand.

[Funktronic42]

I have been doing a lot of research into herbal remedies for stress and anxiety and have happened upon gensing and kava kava among some other things. pretty good stuff. Kava, apparently behaves very much like the Benzodiazepine class of ant-anxiety meds. good stuff.

[Funktronic42]

So I have been doing a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications and non-medicated treatment techniques for people with anxiety.  I am quite certain that I have an anxiety problem of some degree.  That was one of my excuses for dipping all the time. 

In the end I have found that I am much better at handling stress and anxiety when I am not dipping.  But after a couple of small anxiety attacks(which I have had on and off for a long period in my life) and the revelation that many of my family members have anxiety or depression disorders I have been wondering if I need help from a professional. 

I have seen that some people have gone on drugs temporarily until their brains mellow out.  Since my brain re-wiring is going well in that regard I was intending to let it go for a while and see how it ends up.  For those that are checking in on my introduction from time to time:  What are your thoughts.

I'm on day 506 and still take anti anxiety meds. Never had a lick of anxiety until I quit. Didn't even know what it was.

When I quit my body literally went haywire. I was scared shitless. I left the site and went and saw a counselor and a shrink.

Later it was determined I was depressed and was suffering from extreme anxiety, both because of my quit.

I was put in a daily dose of anti depression meds and took anti anxiety meds as needed.

They worked wonders for me. I came off and and am still off the anti depression meds, but ill be damned if I can shake this anxiety. I'm not having any kind of attacks, just lingering dull ANNOYING anxiety.

I meet with a counselor to discuss why, and at this point she concluded its no longer due to missing nicotine, but more so a problem of living life.

I never really learned deal with the added stressers in my life that came along while I dipped, my plate was pretty empty when I started. Add a wife, a mortgage, a "real" job, one kid, two kid, and everything that goes along with it, you need to adjust your stress coping skills.

I leaned on chewing, but I didn't have to. That was bullshit. I want proof of that, I look at my wife. Her plate was empty too, but when life started getting "real" she didn't need nicotine to cope. Her body adjusted the way it was intended to. Same with my brother who had kids around the same time and millions of others who go through life non dependant on nicotine.

As I sit today I think "506 days quit...why the fuck do you still have anxiety????". It pissed me off and is annoying as hell.

Its not nearly as bad as it once was, but its still there and its annoying. I've continued to meet with a counselor and have tried all the techniques for eliminating it, but I can't.

I meet with my shrink next Tuesday to go over my medications. What I have now is more for emergencies to stop the onset of a panic or anxiety attack, a quick fix if you will.

We are going to talk about something long term, almost like an antibiotic that I might just take daily.

It sucks, and I hate being on meds, but if thats what it takes then that's what I will do. I cheated on my "life exam" and am still paying for it. I don't mind as its better than paying the ultimate price...death. Ill pop a pill once a day if I have to. Its better than stuffing 2 tins of Kodiak in it each day.

My advice to YOU is to take it one day at a time. If you think you can handle it and non medicated techniques are working for you, then keep it going. If not, and you start to feel overwhelmed, then don't try to "tough it out", go see a professional. You'd be surprised how much simply talking to a professional helps, and if you need an assist for awhile in the form of a pill...so what. Their are worse things in the world.

This is MY take on it. I know others feel different and have beaten the anxiety thing without meds, but I'm just giving you MY open and honest experience.

Sorry this is so long and I did not mean to hijack your intro but this is a very important subject to me, and I will always feel obligated to share MY experiences because it is something I REALLY struggled with and still am to a lesser degree. It's my sincere hope that SOME part of what I shared can help you.

Quit on...

hey Funk, Follow Diesels' solid experience and thoughts. The truth is in him!
NAFAR and ODAAT with or without meds. :-)

That's kind of what I have been thinking. I also wonder if I am not making it worse by thinking too much about it. Getting myself worked up.

What is NAFAR? I haven't seen that one before.

Yes. My therapist said I was anxious about anxiety. It is very hard however, NOT to think about.

Hang in there, bro. Don't try and be Mr. Macho. If it get real bad, go see someone. No shame in it.

Quit on...

Well, I think that seeing someone in the near future is for me. I had a major anxiety attack last night spurred on by the fact that we had a sick kid at home and neither of us could afford to miss work and no one was able to baby sit. I slowly went crazy and couldn't handle anything. So I going to look into the whole thing today.

Do what you gotta do.

Ill say this...going back to the can won't help, it will make matters worse.

Before I joined the site I had a panic attack that landed me in the hospital because I had a sore on my lip that I was convinced was the big C.

Luckily it wasn't but I decided to quit.

In the time between that hospital visit and finding this site I had major anxiety and said "fuck it" and bought a tin, loaded up my lip and just kind of waited to feel "normal" again.

It didn't happen. Dip don't have that kind of power.

That's when I knew I was in for some serious shit. I was in no mans land. Damned if I quit and damned if I didnt.

I didn't know if I was coming or going when I first quit. All I knew was that I REALLY wanted to quit and would do ANYTHING to do it.

Therapy and meds were two of the many tools I used, and Im not ashamed of it.

With success such as yours, how can you be ashamed.

My resolve remains unshaken. I drove a co-workers truck for a bit today and he had two almost full cans of dip sitting in the cup holder and I could smell it. It wasn't even intoxicating to me. I just didn't want it. Couldn't bear the thought of it being in my lip or even the taste of it.

I will not cave.

[Diesel2112]

So I have been doing a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications and non-medicated treatment techniques for people with anxiety.  I am quite certain that I have an anxiety problem of some degree.  That was one of my excuses for dipping all the time. 

In the end I have found that I am much better at handling stress and anxiety when I am not dipping.  But after a couple of small anxiety attacks(which I have had on and off for a long period in my life) and the revelation that many of my family members have anxiety or depression disorders I have been wondering if I need help from a professional. 

I have seen that some people have gone on drugs temporarily until their brains mellow out.  Since my brain re-wiring is going well in that regard I was intending to let it go for a while and see how it ends up.  For those that are checking in on my introduction from time to time:  What are your thoughts.

I'm on day 506 and still take anti anxiety meds. Never had a lick of anxiety until I quit. Didn't even know what it was.

When I quit my body literally went haywire. I was scared shitless. I left the site and went and saw a counselor and a shrink.

Later it was determined I was depressed and was suffering from extreme anxiety, both because of my quit.

I was put in a daily dose of anti depression meds and took anti anxiety meds as needed.

They worked wonders for me. I came off and and am still off the anti depression meds, but ill be damned if I can shake this anxiety. I'm not having any kind of attacks, just lingering dull ANNOYING anxiety.

I meet with a counselor to discuss why, and at this point she concluded its no longer due to missing nicotine, but more so a problem of living life.

I never really learned deal with the added stressers in my life that came along while I dipped, my plate was pretty empty when I started. Add a wife, a mortgage, a "real" job, one kid, two kid, and everything that goes along with it, you need to adjust your stress coping skills.

I leaned on chewing, but I didn't have to. That was bullshit. I want proof of that, I look at my wife. Her plate was empty too, but when life started getting "real" she didn't need nicotine to cope. Her body adjusted the way it was intended to. Same with my brother who had kids around the same time and millions of others who go through life non dependant on nicotine.

As I sit today I think "506 days quit...why the fuck do you still have anxiety????". It pissed me off and is annoying as hell.

Its not nearly as bad as it once was, but its still there and its annoying. I've continued to meet with a counselor and have tried all the techniques for eliminating it, but I can't.

I meet with my shrink next Tuesday to go over my medications. What I have now is more for emergencies to stop the onset of a panic or anxiety attack, a quick fix if you will.

We are going to talk about something long term, almost like an antibiotic that I might just take daily.

It sucks, and I hate being on meds, but if thats what it takes then that's what I will do. I cheated on my "life exam" and am still paying for it. I don't mind as its better than paying the ultimate price...death. Ill pop a pill once a day if I have to. Its better than stuffing 2 tins of Kodiak in it each day.

My advice to YOU is to take it one day at a time. If you think you can handle it and non medicated techniques are working for you, then keep it going. If not, and you start to feel overwhelmed, then don't try to "tough it out", go see a professional. You'd be surprised how much simply talking to a professional helps, and if you need an assist for awhile in the form of a pill...so what. Their are worse things in the world.

This is MY take on it. I know others feel different and have beaten the anxiety thing without meds, but I'm just giving you MY open and honest experience.

Sorry this is so long and I did not mean to hijack your intro but this is a very important subject to me, and I will always feel obligated to share MY experiences because it is something I REALLY struggled with and still am to a lesser degree. It's my sincere hope that SOME part of what I shared can help you.

Quit on...

hey Funk, Follow Diesels' solid experience and thoughts. The truth is in him!
NAFAR and ODAAT with or without meds. :-)

That's kind of what I have been thinking. I also wonder if I am not making it worse by thinking too much about it. Getting myself worked up.

What is NAFAR? I haven't seen that one before.

Yes. My therapist said I was anxious about anxiety. It is very hard however, NOT to think about.

Hang in there, bro. Don't try and be Mr. Macho. If it get real bad, go see someone. No shame in it.

Quit on...

Well, I think that seeing someone in the near future is for me. I had a major anxiety attack last night spurred on by the fact that we had a sick kid at home and neither of us could afford to miss work and no one was able to baby sit. I slowly went crazy and couldn't handle anything. So I going to look into the whole thing today.

Do what you gotta do.

Ill say this...going back to the can won't help, it will make matters worse.

Before I joined the site I had a panic attack that landed me in the hospital because I had a sore on my lip that I was convinced was the big C.

Luckily it wasn't but I decided to quit.

In the time between that hospital visit and finding this site I had major anxiety and said "fuck it" and bought a tin, loaded up my lip and just kind of waited to feel "normal" again.

It didn't happen. Dip don't have that kind of power.

That's when I knew I was in for some serious shit. I was in no mans land. Damned if I quit and damned if I didnt.

I didn't know if I was coming or going when I first quit. All I knew was that I REALLY wanted to quit and would do ANYTHING to do it.

Therapy and meds were two of the many tools I used, and Im not ashamed of it.

[srans]

So I have been doing a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications and non-medicated treatment techniques for people with anxiety.  I am quite certain that I have an anxiety problem of some degree.  That was one of my excuses for dipping all the time. 

In the end I have found that I am much better at handling stress and anxiety when I am not dipping.  But after a couple of small anxiety attacks(which I have had on and off for a long period in my life) and the revelation that many of my family members have anxiety or depression disorders I have been wondering if I need help from a professional. 

I have seen that some people have gone on drugs temporarily until their brains mellow out.  Since my brain re-wiring is going well in that regard I was intending to let it go for a while and see how it ends up.  For those that are checking in on my introduction from time to time:  What are your thoughts.

I'm on day 506 and still take anti anxiety meds. Never had a lick of anxiety until I quit. Didn't even know what it was.

When I quit my body literally went haywire. I was scared shitless. I left the site and went and saw a counselor and a shrink.

Later it was determined I was depressed and was suffering from extreme anxiety, both because of my quit.

I was put in a daily dose of anti depression meds and took anti anxiety meds as needed.

They worked wonders for me. I came off and and am still off the anti depression meds, but ill be damned if I can shake this anxiety. I'm not having any kind of attacks, just lingering dull ANNOYING anxiety.

I meet with a counselor to discuss why, and at this point she concluded its no longer due to missing nicotine, but more so a problem of living life.

I never really learned deal with the added stressers in my life that came along while I dipped, my plate was pretty empty when I started. Add a wife, a mortgage, a "real" job, one kid, two kid, and everything that goes along with it, you need to adjust your stress coping skills.

I leaned on chewing, but I didn't have to. That was bullshit. I want proof of that, I look at my wife. Her plate was empty too, but when life started getting "real" she didn't need nicotine to cope. Her body adjusted the way it was intended to. Same with my brother who had kids around the same time and millions of others who go through life non dependant on nicotine.

As I sit today I think "506 days quit...why the fuck do you still have anxiety????". It pissed me off and is annoying as hell.

Its not nearly as bad as it once was, but its still there and its annoying. I've continued to meet with a counselor and have tried all the techniques for eliminating it, but I can't.

I meet with my shrink next Tuesday to go over my medications. What I have now is more for emergencies to stop the onset of a panic or anxiety attack, a quick fix if you will.

We are going to talk about something long term, almost like an antibiotic that I might just take daily.

It sucks, and I hate being on meds, but if thats what it takes then that's what I will do. I cheated on my "life exam" and am still paying for it. I don't mind as its better than paying the ultimate price...death. Ill pop a pill once a day if I have to. Its better than stuffing 2 tins of Kodiak in it each day.

My advice to YOU is to take it one day at a time. If you think you can handle it and non medicated techniques are working for you, then keep it going. If not, and you start to feel overwhelmed, then don't try to "tough it out", go see a professional. You'd be surprised how much simply talking to a professional helps, and if you need an assist for awhile in the form of a pill...so what. Their are worse things in the world.

This is MY take on it. I know others feel different and have beaten the anxiety thing without meds, but I'm just giving you MY open and honest experience.

Sorry this is so long and I did not mean to hijack your intro but this is a very important subject to me, and I will always feel obligated to share MY experiences because it is something I REALLY struggled with and still am to a lesser degree. It's my sincere hope that SOME part of what I shared can help you.

Quit on...

hey Funk, Follow Diesels' solid experience and thoughts. The truth is in him!
NAFAR and ODAAT with or without meds. :-)

That's kind of what I have been thinking. I also wonder if I am not making it worse by thinking too much about it. Getting myself worked up.

What is NAFAR? I haven't seen that one before.

Yes. My therapist said I was anxious about anxiety. It is very hard however, NOT to think about.

Hang in there, bro. Don't try and be Mr. Macho. If it get real bad, go see someone. No shame in it.

Quit on...

Well, I think that seeing someone in the near future is for me. I had a major anxiety attack last night spurred on by the fact that we had a sick kid at home and neither of us could afford to miss work and no one was able to baby sit. I slowly went crazy and couldn't handle anything. So I going to look into the whole thing today.

Great job on your quit friend. Realize your very early in your quit. It is really rough for the first 3 or 4 weeks. If you need to get checked out do it. Like we always say,, do whatever you need to do to keep the poison out.

I experienced anxiety quite a bit during the early days of my quit. Your head is going through a lot of changed right now. It is receiving the proper amount of oxygen, which it hadn't seen in years. You screwed your brain for years and now it is finally able to do something it hasn't been able to in years. HEAL!! It is actually thanking you.

You have been dealing with all of life's problems and daily activities with nicotine dulling your feelings and desensitizing your emotions. Welcome to real life. Welcome to freedom. Welcome to a life without the poison.

After time you will be surprised at how much better you handle situations and life's problems. I have found that things that use to stress me out no longer have that affect. I found that nicotine caused a lot of my stress. I have been in some pretty stressful situations and I can't believe how much different I feel and handle things. Life without the poison is so much better.

Read everything you can on nicotine and addiction. Learn your enemy. It will help you. Settle in, take some breaths and take it one minute at a time. You will do this. In time you will look back at all this and thank yourself for hanging in there.

Quitting comes from deep. Dig deep,,, you got this!!!

[Funktronic42]

So I have been doing a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications and non-medicated treatment techniques for people with anxiety.  I am quite certain that I have an anxiety problem of some degree.  That was one of my excuses for dipping all the time. 

In the end I have found that I am much better at handling stress and anxiety when I am not dipping.  But after a couple of small anxiety attacks(which I have had on and off for a long period in my life) and the revelation that many of my family members have anxiety or depression disorders I have been wondering if I need help from a professional. 

I have seen that some people have gone on drugs temporarily until their brains mellow out.  Since my brain re-wiring is going well in that regard I was intending to let it go for a while and see how it ends up.  For those that are checking in on my introduction from time to time:  What are your thoughts.

I'm on day 506 and still take anti anxiety meds. Never had a lick of anxiety until I quit. Didn't even know what it was.

When I quit my body literally went haywire. I was scared shitless. I left the site and went and saw a counselor and a shrink.

Later it was determined I was depressed and was suffering from extreme anxiety, both because of my quit.

I was put in a daily dose of anti depression meds and took anti anxiety meds as needed.

They worked wonders for me. I came off and and am still off the anti depression meds, but ill be damned if I can shake this anxiety. I'm not having any kind of attacks, just lingering dull ANNOYING anxiety.

I meet with a counselor to discuss why, and at this point she concluded its no longer due to missing nicotine, but more so a problem of living life.

I never really learned deal with the added stressers in my life that came along while I dipped, my plate was pretty empty when I started. Add a wife, a mortgage, a "real" job, one kid, two kid, and everything that goes along with it, you need to adjust your stress coping skills.

I leaned on chewing, but I didn't have to. That was bullshit. I want proof of that, I look at my wife. Her plate was empty too, but when life started getting "real" she didn't need nicotine to cope. Her body adjusted the way it was intended to. Same with my brother who had kids around the same time and millions of others who go through life non dependant on nicotine.

As I sit today I think "506 days quit...why the fuck do you still have anxiety????". It pissed me off and is annoying as hell.

Its not nearly as bad as it once was, but its still there and its annoying. I've continued to meet with a counselor and have tried all the techniques for eliminating it, but I can't.

I meet with my shrink next Tuesday to go over my medications. What I have now is more for emergencies to stop the onset of a panic or anxiety attack, a quick fix if you will.

We are going to talk about something long term, almost like an antibiotic that I might just take daily.

It sucks, and I hate being on meds, but if thats what it takes then that's what I will do. I cheated on my "life exam" and am still paying for it. I don't mind as its better than paying the ultimate price...death. Ill pop a pill once a day if I have to. Its better than stuffing 2 tins of Kodiak in it each day.

My advice to YOU is to take it one day at a time. If you think you can handle it and non medicated techniques are working for you, then keep it going. If not, and you start to feel overwhelmed, then don't try to "tough it out", go see a professional. You'd be surprised how much simply talking to a professional helps, and if you need an assist for awhile in the form of a pill...so what. Their are worse things in the world.

This is MY take on it. I know others feel different and have beaten the anxiety thing without meds, but I'm just giving you MY open and honest experience.

Sorry this is so long and I did not mean to hijack your intro but this is a very important subject to me, and I will always feel obligated to share MY experiences because it is something I REALLY struggled with and still am to a lesser degree. It's my sincere hope that SOME part of what I shared can help you.

Quit on...

hey Funk, Follow Diesels' solid experience and thoughts. The truth is in him!
NAFAR and ODAAT with or without meds. :-)

That's kind of what I have been thinking. I also wonder if I am not making it worse by thinking too much about it. Getting myself worked up.

What is NAFAR? I haven't seen that one before.

Yes. My therapist said I was anxious about anxiety. It is very hard however, NOT to think about.

Hang in there, bro. Don't try and be Mr. Macho. If it get real bad, go see someone. No shame in it.

Quit on...

Well, I think that seeing someone in the near future is for me. I had a major anxiety attack last night spurred on by the fact that we had a sick kid at home and neither of us could afford to miss work and no one was able to baby sit. I slowly went crazy and couldn't handle anything. So I going to look into the whole thing today.

[Diesel2112]

So I have been doing a lot of research on anti-anxiety medications and non-medicated treatment techniques for people with anxiety.  I am quite certain that I have an anxiety problem of some degree.  That was one of my excuses for dipping all the time. 

In the end I have found that I am much better at handling stress and anxiety when I am not dipping.  But after a couple of small anxiety attacks(which I have had on and off for a long period in my life) and the revelation that many of my family members have anxiety or depression disorders I have been wondering if I need help from a professional. 

I have seen that some people have gone on drugs temporarily until their brains mellow out.  Since my brain re-wiring is going well in that regard I was intending to let it go for a while and see how it ends up.  For those that are checking in on my introduction from time to time:  What are your thoughts.

I'm on day 506 and still take anti anxiety meds. Never had a lick of anxiety until I quit. Didn't even know what it was.

When I quit my body literally went haywire. I was scared shitless. I left the site and went and saw a counselor and a shrink.

Later it was determined I was depressed and was suffering from extreme anxiety, both because of my quit.

I was put in a daily dose of anti depression meds and took anti anxiety meds as needed.

They worked wonders for me. I came off and and am still off the anti depression meds, but ill be damned if I can shake this anxiety. I'm not having any kind of attacks, just lingering dull ANNOYING anxiety.

I meet with a counselor to discuss why, and at this point she concluded its no longer due to missing nicotine, but more so a problem of living life.

I never really learned deal with the added stressers in my life that came along while I dipped, my plate was pretty empty when I started. Add a wife, a mortgage, a "real" job, one kid, two kid, and everything that goes along with it, you need to adjust your stress coping skills.

I leaned on chewing, but I didn't have to. That was bullshit. I want proof of that, I look at my wife. Her plate was empty too, but when life started getting "real" she didn't need nicotine to cope. Her body adjusted the way it was intended to. Same with my brother who had kids around the same time and millions of others who go through life non dependant on nicotine.

As I sit today I think "506 days quit...why the fuck do you still have anxiety????". It pissed me off and is annoying as hell.

Its not nearly as bad as it once was, but its still there and its annoying. I've continued to meet with a counselor and have tried all the techniques for eliminating it, but I can't.

I meet with my shrink next Tuesday to go over my medications. What I have now is more for emergencies to stop the onset of a panic or anxiety attack, a quick fix if you will.

We are going to talk about something long term, almost like an antibiotic that I might just take daily.

It sucks, and I hate being on meds, but if thats what it takes then that's what I will do. I cheated on my "life exam" and am still paying for it. I don't mind as its better than paying the ultimate price...death. Ill pop a pill once a day if I have to. Its better than stuffing 2 tins of Kodiak in it each day.

My advice to YOU is to take it one day at a time. If you think you can handle it and non medicated techniques are working for you, then keep it going. If not, and you start to feel overwhelmed, then don't try to "tough it out", go see a professional. You'd be surprised how much simply talking to a professional helps, and if you need an assist for awhile in the form of a pill...so what. Their are worse things in the world.

This is MY take on it. I know others feel different and have beaten the anxiety thing without meds, but I'm just giving you MY open and honest experience.

Sorry this is so long and I did not mean to hijack your intro but this is a very important subject to me, and I will always feel obligated to share MY experiences because it is something I REALLY struggled with and still am to a lesser degree. It's my sincere hope that SOME part of what I shared can help you.

Quit on...

hey Funk, Follow Diesels' solid experience and thoughts. The truth is in him!
NAFAR and ODAAT with or without meds. :-)

That's kind of what I have been thinking. I also wonder if I am not making it worse by thinking too much about it. Getting myself worked up.

What is NAFAR? I haven't seen that one before.

Yes. My therapist said I was anxious about anxiety. It is very hard however, NOT to think about.

Hang in there, bro. Don't try and be Mr. Macho. If it get real bad, go see someone. No shame in it.

Quit on...