Quit4good.......again

[Mike1966]

Thanks Dun
It did resonate with me. The 9 months statement really caught my attention. IÂ’m 50. Over the last 30 some years IÂ’ve tried to quit and stopped for 6 to 9 months several times. IÂ’ve never been able to get past 9 months. I used think if I could just get through withdrawal, itÂ’d be a done deal. 3 or 4 years ago after making it to about 9 months and caving I decided to quit trying to quit. I figured, why put myself and my family through the hell of withdrawal every couple of years when obviously I canÂ’t quit and stay quit.

I donÂ’t want to sound like IÂ’m taking this 1st 6 months for granted but itÂ’s the 6 to 9 month period that worries me. It seems like the euphoria of being quit and free begins to wear off and the memory of how bad I wanted to be free begins to fade. It seems like I start going through a depression and start thinking of the NIC as being the only thing in life that brought me enjoyment.

Anyway this is my 1st time to quit with KTC. IÂ’m trying to build a web of accountability here and learn from those whoÂ’ve had similar struggles.

[Dundippin]

Hi Mike,
Welcome to KTC. I am glad my post about 9 months resonated with you. I have had an extremely rough time since I hit my 9 month mark and am still working through it. Seeing that you had been through that as well is helping me.

I find that I still have episodes where I feel crazy and have to make sure to exercise a great deal and eat a great deal to stay calm and maintain the quit.

I am 60 and have been using nicotine since 6th grade. I am glad to finally be quit once and for all.

Feel free to PM me and I will be glad to share my contact information. I would be glad to assist with your quit.

I quit with you today.

Dundippin/Bud

[Mike1966]

Stranger
I've thought a lot about your reply to me last week on the 4th. When I 1st joined the site I was a little leery about sharing my phone #. But like you said, I need to share my digits with as many people as I can to become more accountable and take it to the next level. Maybe talking on the phone prior to having a "bad day" will make it more likely that I'll call someone up when I'm having a day when I feel like I'm about to crash and burn. Anyway, I've started sharing my number with those in my group.

As for a lot of Intros and HOFs starting off with "I used to post roll here and then I stopped..." I've noticed that. I always used to think that if I put enough time between me and my last dip at some point it would no longer be tempting. And maybe that will be true at some point. But I know I need to be here posting role for a long time to come.

Thanks for the advice and thanks for sharing your story. They've been helpful.
I quit with you today!

Pap
I believe it is the roll call promise and accountability that makes this quit feel different than past ones. I've read old timers posts, welcoming newbies where they claimed that posting role seemed kind of lame to them at 1st but, "do it because it works!" I may have sounded in my previous post that I didn't have much faith in posting roll but as skeptical as I was about it in the beginning. . . .it does make me feel more optimistic about this quit.

Thanks for the encouragement Pap, I quit with you today!

[pab1964]

Day 55
I've been feeling really good about my quit the last couple of days. I'm still thinking about the fact that I'm quitting 100% of every waking moment which is annoying and this weird taste that I have in my mouth every afternoon is getting old but I feel good. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, it's still early into my quit, but it occurred to me last night after I went to bed, something tells me that this quit is different than my previous ones. I'm feeling optimistic. I'm not sure how posting roll will help, but something feels different.

I'd like to say I'm thankful for all the personal testimonies(intros and HOFs) here. You guys have replaced late night TV! 'Popcorn' Very inspiring stuff. To mention only a couple, I recommend reading Stranger999's intro and boelker62's HOF. . . . WOW! Lots of other great reads out there too!

It really does take the brain a while to rewire. When I chewed I kept my can of Copenhagen long cut on the top shelf of my refrigerator and after I quit for the longest time I'd open the door and see a can there for a split second.

The mouth issues will take a while too. Gradually things get better, but I had a lot of numbness that persisted for months.

For me, promising not to use nicotine every day is essential. Even after over 280 days I know that one mistake could get me right back to where I was when I started. I know that I'm not the sort of person that can use nicotine for a day or so and just stop.

Many of the introduction threads and HOF speeches here are awesome. I read the caver stories too. Cavers fascinate me. Their stories can help us learn how to avoid situations that might cause us to fail. Coincidentally many caver stories start with "I used to post roll here and then I stopped...". ;)

Mike congratulations on your quit! The reason this one feels better is ACCOUNTABILITY! That comes from you posting roll early EDD ODAAT! Without that it would probably end just like all the other times you've stopped, in failure. Posting roll equals success as long as you're a man of your word! Damn proud to be quit with you! Quit on!

[Stranger999]

Day 55
I've been feeling really good about my quit the last couple of days. I'm still thinking about the fact that I'm quitting 100% of every waking moment which is annoying and this weird taste that I have in my mouth every afternoon is getting old but I feel good. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, it's still early into my quit, but it occurred to me last night after I went to bed, something tells me that this quit is different than my previous ones. I'm feeling optimistic. I'm not sure how posting roll will help, but something feels different.

I'd like to say I'm thankful for all the personal testimonies(intros and HOFs) here. You guys have replaced late night TV! 'Popcorn' Very inspiring stuff. To mention only a couple, I recommend reading Stranger999's intro and boelker62's HOF. . . . WOW! Lots of other great reads out there too!

It really does take the brain a while to rewire. When I chewed I kept my can of Copenhagen long cut on the top shelf of my refrigerator and after I quit for the longest time I'd open the door and see a can there for a split second.

The mouth issues will take a while too. Gradually things get better, but I had a lot of numbness that persisted for months.

For me, promising not to use nicotine every day is essential. Even after over 280 days I know that one mistake could get me right back to where I was when I started. I know that I'm not the sort of person that can use nicotine for a day or so and just stop.

Many of the introduction threads and HOF speeches here are awesome. I read the caver stories too. Cavers fascinate me. Their stories can help us learn how to avoid situations that might cause us to fail. Coincidentally many caver stories start with "I used to post roll here and then I stopped...". ;)

[Mike1966]

Day 55
I've been feeling really good about my quit the last couple of days. I'm still thinking about the fact that I'm quitting 100% of every waking moment which is annoying and this weird taste that I have in my mouth every afternoon is getting old but I feel good. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here, it's still early into my quit, but it occurred to me last night after I went to bed, something tells me that this quit is different than my previous ones. I'm feeling optimistic. I'm not sure how posting roll will help, but something feels different.

I'd like to say I'm thankful for all the personal testimonies(intros and HOFs) here. You guys have replaced late night TV! 'Popcorn' Very inspiring stuff. To mention only a couple, I recommend reading Stranger999's intro and boelker62's HOF. . . . WOW! Lots of other great reads out there too!

[Stranger999]

6/4/16 Day 48 Intro Revised
This may be too much material for most to want to read, I started writing this for my own sake, then decided to post it anyway.

I started dipping when I was 14. Someone had told me that it was as addictive as cigarettes and I can still vividly remember that day and where I was at, thinking, “at the 1st sign that I’m becoming addicted to this stuff, I’ll quit!” What I wouldn’t give if I could turn back time and tell that 14 year old what I’ve learned. If I could change 1 thing in life, experimenting with tobacco is at the top of the list. Over the last 36 years I’ve tried to quit hundreds of times, most of those attempts lasted only a week or less.

My reason for quitting is because while IÂ’m dipping, 95 percent of the time or more I wasnÂ’t dipping because I enjoyed it. For me, the nicotine buzz just isnÂ’t there anymore, most of the time.
ItÂ’s usually inconvenient to be dipping but IÂ’m dipping to avoid the feelings of withdrawal. When I did enjoy it, it was usually a very small percentage of the time.

And that’s been my reason for quitting. Oddly, when I quit, it’s as if my brain starts to lie to me and I remember dipping as being one of the most enjoyable things I used to do throughout the day. I begin to think, “Why did I quit the only thing in life that brought me enjoyment.” At the time, I know that statement is wrong on so many levels, but it feels true during the withdrawal period and months later during periods of cravings. To fight that thought I’ve compiled a list of reasons I don’t enjoy dipping, and I why I originally chose to quit:
•talking around a mouthful of spit,
•always having to be within arm’s reach of a spit cup,
•Spit cups all around the house
•Bad breath and worrying about tobacco in my teeth when I smile
•hiding it from people I work with,
•experiencing withdrawal at work cause I’m around people I can’t dip in front of
•being angry and short tempered because I haven’t had a dip in the last couple of hours
•5 dollars a can for a 1 can a day habit
•having to make that last minute run to the store before bedtime so I’ll be able to have that first dip in the morning before work

I’ve quit/stopped several times (made it through the withdrawal and on to 6 to 9 months) on my own over the last 30 years. The 1st few times I quit I can remember thinking, “If I can just make it through this withdrawal phase, I will never take another dip.” Every time I’ve been able to quit for 6 to 9 months I starting feeling really good about not being chained to the can. Getting to the point where I’ve gone a whole week without thinking about nicotine or the fact that I’m trying to quit nicotine is an incredible feeling of freedom.

But also around this 6 to 9 month period after feeling so good about being free from the ball and chain of the Can, sometimes as little as hours later, my mood can swing the opposite direction and I begin to feel very depressed and in the back of my mind I’m thinking, “Why did I quit the only thing that brings enjoyment in my life”. As I’ve said, I know it’s wrong on so many levels, but it feels true. Usually this will hit me in the evening after work and will go on for a couple of days. It’s like my brain lies to me. I remember dipping as being a so much more enjoyable than it was. After feeling this way 2 or 3 days in a row, I’ve always thrown in the towel on my quit. All the while, my brain has been reminding me of how wonderful it used to be dipping. And every time I take that 1st dip I think, “That it?!?! I threw months of freedom away for this?” It’s never as good as I remember it. But with just one dip I’m hooked all over again.

So thatÂ’s what brings me to this community. IÂ’ve tasted freedom and I like it 8 or 9 times over the last 30 years. But I donÂ’t have a game plan to make it through that 6 to 9 month wall. ItÂ’s my hopes that KTC can help make this quit my last one.

PS Any input/advice from those whoÂ’ve experienced cravings 6 to 9 months down the road would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a 35 year addict. My advice is to share your digits with as many folks as you can here. Make yourself truly accountable. If you can, meet some KTC people in person to make it real. Or at least text someone or talk to someone on the phone. You want to get to the point where caving means that you have let your friends here down.

I always failed in the past because I tried to quit by myself. This time I am quitting with a team. I'm quitting with my quit group and all those other folks who I have swapped digits with - my web of support. Now, I am closing in on 300 days quit. You can do this too. One day at a time. I quit with you today.

[Mike1966]

Poof!

[Mike1966]

Day 41
Thought I'd put down some reminders of why I quit for those tough days.
Things I don't miss and the reasons I chose to quit

•talking around a mouthful of spit,
•always having to be within arm’s reach of a spit cup
•being in the middle of doing something and have stop to find a spit cup
•Spit cups all around the house
•Bad breath and worrying about tobacco in my teeth when I smile
•hiding it from people I work with,
•experiencing withdrawal at work cause I’m around people I can’t dip in front of
•being angry and short tempered because I haven’t had a dip in the last couple of hours
•5 dollars a can for a 1 can a day habit
•having to make that last minute run to the store before bedtime so I’ll be able to have that first dip in the morning before work

I am glad to hear that you recall all of that shit that pushed you over the edge enough to make you say fuck it. Don't ever forget it or day1.

Even though I am on day 255 I sometimes envy the guys/gals here who have had to endure all that shit that you listed and then some. I never had to deal with any of that shit other than the $5 can chew. BUT I only used a can every other day. I would put a dip in my mouth as my eyes opened and add a flavor burst to it each hour on the hour. Sometimes the same old dip would rest in my mouth for 12 -14 hours.

Now that begs the question, why Ray did it make you envy us so much then? Because you all had MANY reasons to quit. My reason was I spit out my dip and decided to see how long I could go without one in my mouth. 255 days later, I still have not put one in. Some days I simply forget why I had to stop. Now I never forget. it is the risk of cancer, my wife not nagging at me anymore about shit breath after a kiss, and perhaps now my BIGGEST reason is my brothers and sisters of quit reminding me each and every day that I, like you are a 100% complete addict that without the help of others would be packing my lips full of fucking shit daily again.

I sincerely thank you for posting this post today and for reminding me of some of the reasons why I am quit. I don't believe I have ever talked to you before or corresponded with you ever on the boards but your post today might have in it's own way saved my quit and for that I am grateful! Thanks for being with us each and every day.I quit with you today and EDD!!!!

Have a very safe and happy holiday weekend!

Ray

Thanks for the encouraging words Djporkchop!

It seems like when I've tryed to quit it in the past I've quit because of the reasons I've listed and probably more, 95% of the time I'm not dipping because I enjoy it but to avoid withdrawal, but a couple of days into my quit my brain starts reminding me of how "wonderful" dipping used to be. Which is simply just BS! So today I thought I'd jot down some reasons why I decided to quit as a reminder.

[DjPorkchop]

Day 41
Thought I'd put down some reminders of why I quit for those tough days.
Things I don't miss and the reasons I chose to quit

•talking around a mouthful of spit,
•always having to be within arm’s reach of a spit cup
•being in the middle of doing something and have stop to find a spit cup
•Spit cups all around the house
•Bad breath and worrying about tobacco in my teeth when I smile
•hiding it from people I work with,
•experiencing withdrawal at work cause I’m around people I can’t dip in front of
•being angry and short tempered because I haven’t had a dip in the last couple of hours
•5 dollars a can for a 1 can a day habit
•having to make that last minute run to the store before bedtime so I’ll be able to have that first dip in the morning before work

I am glad to hear that you recall all of that shit that pushed you over the edge enough to make you say fuck it. Don't ever forget it or day1.

Even though I am on day 255 I sometimes envy the guys/gals here who have had to endure all that shit that you listed and then some. I never had to deal with any of that shit other than the $5 can chew. BUT I only used a can every other day. I would put a dip in my mouth as my eyes opened and add a flavor burst to it each hour on the hour. Sometimes the same old dip would rest in my mouth for 12 -14 hours.

Now that begs the question, why Ray did it make you envy us so much then? Because you all had MANY reasons to quit. My reason was I spit out my dip and decided to see how long I could go without one in my mouth. 255 days later, I still have not put one in. Some days I simply forget why I had to stop. Now I never forget. it is the risk of cancer, my wife not nagging at me anymore about shit breath after a kiss, and perhaps now my BIGGEST reason is my brothers and sisters of quit reminding me each and every day that I, like you are a 100% complete addict that without the help of others would be packing my lips full of fucking shit daily again.

I sincerely thank you for posting this post today and for reminding me of some of the reasons why I am quit. I don't believe I have ever talked to you before or corresponded with you ever on the boards but your post today might have in it's own way saved my quit and for that I am grateful! Thanks for being with us each and every day.I quit with you today and EDD!!!!

Have a very safe and happy holiday weekend!

Ray

[Mike1966]

Day 41
Thought I'd put down some reminders of why I quit for those tough days.
Things I don't miss and the reasons I chose to quit

•talking around a mouthful of spit,
•always having to be within arm’s reach of a spit cup
•being in the middle of doing something and have stop to find a spit cup
•Spit cups all around the house
•Bad breath and worrying about tobacco in my teeth when I smile
•hiding it from people I work with,
•experiencing withdrawal at work cause I’m around people I can’t dip in front of
•being angry and short tempered because I haven’t had a dip in the last couple of hours
•5 dollars a can for a 1 can a day habit
•having to make that last minute run to the store before bedtime so I’ll be able to have that first dip in the morning before work
•looking forward to friends and family visiting, but 2 hours later thinking, "When are these people going leave!" So I can get my nicotine fix and put out the fire of withdrawal.

[mattlock]

Welcome aboard Mike. Same story here, started 30 years ago, stopped using thousands of times only to pick it up again the next day. Now 63 days quit and it's totally different this time with the help of this site. Get involved and stay involved, it will make your quit exponentially stronger.

[Mike1966]

Welcome Mike! You've never quit before, only stopped for a period of time.

Read this story: http://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures ... rns-story/

Very inspiring, and thought provoking story. Thanks for posting the link FM

[Mike1966]

Post roll bro. Just turned 47 yesterday and quitting has saved my life. But it only works if you post roll.

will do! thanks

[Mike1966]

Similar story. I'm 51 and dipped for a long ass time. Stopped many times also.
807 days ago I quit. This time it's different. This time I found KTC.

807 days! I saw this site a few years ago and looked it over real quick(maybe too quick). I thought "if they're patting them on the back after 100 days and sending them on their way as having kicked the habit . . . maybe this site isn't for me". It's encouraging to see someone whose made it 807 days.