I quit 12 hours ago.

[invader]

Let me ask you this, Mike. Let's say for argument's sake that I buy into your theory that there's some benefit to lugging a can around with you still. When IS it time to throw your can out? When IS the day when you finally throw it out? Are you going to be 70 years old lugging a can around with you because you never developed the means to deal with getting rid of it? If you're dependent on having a can with you, it sounds to me like you are still dependent on dip, albeit not in the traditional mouth-full-of-cancerous-shit way. Our goal here is to get you to a place where you don't NEED to have a can with you. You should be able to live life without having to need a can nearby. And, you CAN live life without needing that. I don't know why you're so opposed to the idea. You should be looking forward to it.

It just seems to me like you're trying to use the can as a dam of sorts to stop a flood of feelings of wanting to buy a new roll or dip again. And I stand by my earlier point: You WILL have to confront those feelings head on. And when you do, it's my hope to you that you'll see that carrying an old can of dip around as if it were a talisman that wards off cravings is a useless endeavor.

No psych degree needed, common sense is enough. An addict does not need his substance of choice within arm's reach.


All the best, and still quit with you even though I disagree with you immensely,
- Invader

[ChristopherJ]

Nicotine is not heroin.

I'm not suggesting that anyone should keep a can, but everyone that says "you ain't quit" or one of my favorites, "would you give a gun to a someone that's suicidal?" are simply imposing their limited mental capacity on everyone else.

I made up my mind I was going to quit on a certain day. I did it. I chose to leave that can in it's spot because I could say no face to face with the demon. But, based on history, if he's in the back of my head jacking with my thoughts, I have caved in. No, I preferred to face it head on.

That first week was actually the easiest quit effort I've had on a week one. Once I knew that I was physically clear and I didn't have to worry about walking in to a store and buying a can, I tossed the can. I didn't need to make a big deal out of it. I didn't piss on it. I didn't burn it. I just tossed and it and let it go.

That's what quitting is. It's YOUR quit and YOUR story and it's what works for YOU.

Mike23, I'm not sure why you're advocating trophy cans when many of us have seen how often they lead to caves. The whole goal is to stay quit right? That's very special that it worked for you, and I am very glad you are still quit.

As you and Mikey build your quits here you will see the many ways to build the strength of your quit. Each of those elements decrease the likelihood of a cave. Posting roll everyday, getting numbers, helping others, losing the fear of asking others for help, learning as much as you can about nicotine addiction, tobacco company marketing, etc.

We also learn about things that can weaken a quit. Trophy cans, pride, and feeling that our own struggle is special and unique fall into that category.

Thousands of people have found freedom through KTC - one day at a time.

CJ

[AppleJack]

Nicotine is not heroin.

No, it's not.

However... do a li'l research on the relation. Nicotine is considered to be addictive on the same level. Nicotine is drop for drop as deadly as strychnine or rattlesnake venom. Know your enemy.

You're right, also, in that I'm no psych expert. Just a seasoned user of a drug that got the better of me for 25 years. Most need to flee the temptation altogether. To play with fire is a stupid thing because... you will get burned. Some escape consequences... some don't. I prefer to caution those who are starting their quit to stack the deck in their favor... leave the fire alone.

[Mike23mx]

Nicotine is not heroin.

I'm not suggesting that anyone should keep a can, but everyone that says "you ain't quit" or one of my favorites, "would you give a gun to a someone that's suicidal?" are simply imposing their limited mental capacity on everyone else.

I made up my mind I was going to quit on a certain day. I did it. I chose to leave that can in it's spot because I could say no face to face with the demon. But, based on history, if he's in the back of my head jacking with my thoughts, I have caved in. No, I preferred to face it head on.

That first week was actually the easiest quit effort I've had on a week one. Once I knew that I was physically clear and I didn't have to worry about walking in to a store and buying a can, I tossed the can. I didn't need to make a big deal out of it. I didn't piss on it. I didn't burn it. I just tossed and it and let it go.

That's what quitting is. It's YOUR quit and YOUR story and it's what works for YOU.

[Mike23mx]

Hey Mikey, I had a half full can sitting on my bedside table for a week after I quit. Based on my past quit experience, I have really obsessed over it when I've tossed out all of my snuff and I think it was part of my failure. I needed that solid black and white do not cross line to quit. That can was that line. It was there and all I had to do was grab it and pinch. Well, I didn't. It worked for me. After a week or so I tossed it with no regrets.

I don't think I'd carry one in my pocket, but you do what you have to do. Different folks have different needs.

Nope. Wrong.

You're a nicotine addict. Does it really make sense to keep temptation in reach? Does a heroin addict keep a li'l bit around to prove he's bigger and thumb his nose at it? It's just a stupid idea. Don't leave a door open for yourself. Dump it and move on into some real quit.

Explain how exactly it's wrong? This is a psychological battle and each person functions differently. It worked for me as described above.

I'd say that makes you and the others wrong--not about your quit, but trying dictate what works for others. You may want to re-evaluate your arm chair psych degree. It's only worth what you paid for it.

[Pinched]

Hey Mikey, I had a half full can sitting on my bedside table for a week after I quit. Based on my past quit experience, I have really obsessed over it when I've tossed out all of my snuff and I think it was part of my failure. I needed that solid black and white do not cross line to quit. That can was that line. It was there and all I had to do was grab it and pinch. Well, I didn't. It worked for me. After a week or so I tossed it with no regrets.

I don't think I'd carry one in my pocket, but you do what you have to do. Different folks have different needs.

Nope. Wrong.

You're a nicotine addict. Does it really make sense to keep temptation in reach? Does a heroin addict keep a li'l bit around to prove he's bigger and thumb his nose at it? It's just a stupid idea. Don't leave a door open for yourself. Dump it and move on into some real quit.

Mike, you are experiencing KTC tough love here. Everyone here quits cold turkey just like you which takes balls. Get the crutch out of your pocket, open the lid, place it on the ground, unzip pants and piss inside that mother fucker. You are so early in your quit that testing temptation is very stupid. You are one bad decision away form another Day 1. You may believe that you are tough or solid, but your head is not right and a simple distraction can lead you to tapping that can, and grabbing another pinch. So , get rid of it and stay away from tobacco as a whole.

Simple distractions can be:
- a text or phone call that pisses you off
- something goes wrong at work
- a family member dies
- your car/truck breaks down
- your wife/girlfriend or significant other cheats on you
- you get a call from the clinic indicating that you have a VD or STD
- your dog dies
- a tree falls on your house

Granted none of the above sound fun, but adding nicotine or tobacco to any of the above items just means you have another problem. I am still an addict at 800 days and I keep all that shit far away from myself, plus it fucking stinks too.

[quark]

Started back in 1982, tobacco companies left samples in dorm lobby constantly

Sounds like you haven't grown up enough to leave your dorm room-- you still need that shit with you at all times.

Stop playing games: give up the pacifier.

[Igloo27]

The ole "I'm gonna carry this can around to challenge my willpower quit". Gotta love it. (Translation - "I'm going to carry around this can, so it's easier to get a dip WHEN I cave.")

Dude, I invented the carry-around-the-can quit. 20-30 yrs, and about 16,000 quits later, I'm sitting here on Day 5, doing it the right way. Trash your shit, and promise, "never again" for today. Then, do it again tomorrow.

If you own a can of dip, you haven't quit. You're just playing chicken, and that game sucks.

Time to play something else, like "Kick the Can."

[AppleJack]

Hey Mikey, I had a half full can sitting on my bedside table for a week after I quit. Based on my past quit experience, I have really obsessed over it when I've tossed out all of my snuff and I think it was part of my failure. I needed that solid black and white do not cross line to quit. That can was that line. It was there and all I had to do was grab it and pinch. Well, I didn't. It worked for me. After a week or so I tossed it with no regrets.

I don't think I'd carry one in my pocket, but you do what you have to do. Different folks have different needs.

Nope. Wrong.

You're a nicotine addict. Does it really make sense to keep temptation in reach? Does a heroin addict keep a li'l bit around to prove he's bigger and thumb his nose at it? It's just a stupid idea. Don't leave a door open for yourself. Dump it and move on into some real quit.

[invader]

Have had a full can in my pocket all day, and will keep one with me, but I will not take another dip !!

For what? Just for ole times sake? To smell it? How about, to lick the label?

Nope, to prove to myself that I can do it. If not, all I'll be thinklng about is going to the store to get a roll.


I see your point, maybe it is a crutch, but I've got to prove it to myself that I can facedown the temptation.

I promise you that you're going to have thoughts of going to the store to get a roll whether you have a can with you or not. You are going to have to confront that urge and many others like it, but I know you can do it bro.

You mentioned you have the can with you, but you won't take another dip? Then I can only assume there is still dip in it, which makes this even scarier to think about. I'll tell you a quick story, my man, and hopefully it'll at least make some sense to you.

I thought EXACTLY as you did. But it wasn't about proving anything to myself. I was afraid to dump the can - and I'm not too big to admit that. I was terrified. See, I had declared myself quit, and said I'd just keep the can just to know it was there since I thought there was comfort in that. But, after being urged to dump it by the people in the chat room, I did. My hands were actually shaking as I did it, and I had a feeling of dread wash over me, as if I had just killed my best friend.

But, that feeling of dread was soon replaced by a tremendous sense of pride. It was THEN I had truly proven something to myself. It was THEN I actually began to feel as if I had taken control of my life back. Look, I can't come over to your home, wrench the can from your pocket, and dump it for you. All I can do is highly suggest to you that it's imperative that you do so. I sincerely hope you take my advice and just ditch it, dude. No good can come from holding onto it.

If you want the feeling of a can in your pocket, go get yourself some Smokey Mountain herbal snuff from Walmart, or order a can of that online.

- Invader

[Mike23mx]

Hey Mikey, I had a half full can sitting on my bedside table for a week after I quit. Based on my past quit experience, I have really obsessed over it when I've tossed out all of my snuff and I think it was part of my failure. I needed that solid black and white do not cross line to quit. That can was that line. It was there and all I had to do was grab it and pinch. Well, I didn't. It worked for me. After a week or so I tossed it with no regrets.

I don't think I'd carry one in my pocket, but you do what you have to do. Different folks have different needs.

[ChristopherJ]

Mikey,

Great to have you here to quit with KTC! Many successful quitters have used both the support and the experiences of others to Kill the Can and stay nicotine free.

I have to tell you that keeping a trophy can is a terrible idea. Hell I didn't even go inside a convenience store for several months. I even took the bus to work to avoid the triggers of driving. You are about the face incredible cravings from a powerful physically and psychologically addictive drug. You odds are not good - why make them worse?

flush that can now! or throw it in the river. (We've had guys cave here who simply threw a can away and then wallowed in the dumspter to retieve their precious dip.)
Get rid of that crap now and join your December brothers in accountability and success!

Quit with you Mikey!

CJ

[MikeyMcD]

Have had a full can in my pocket all day, and will keep one with me, but I will not take another dip !!

For what? Just for ole times sake? To smell it? How about, to lick the label?

Nope, to prove to myself that I can do it. If not, all I'll be thinklng about is going to the store to get a roll.


I see your point, maybe it is a crutch, but I've got to prove it to myself that I can facedown the temptation.

[Grady]

Have had a full can in my pocket all day, and will keep one with me, but I will not take another dip !!

For what? Just for ole times sake? To smell it? How about, to lick the label?

[MikeyMcD]

Have had a full can in my pocket all day, and will keep one with me, but I will not take another dip !!

Started back in 1982, tobacco companies left samples in dorm lobby constantly . what the hell, something to do. 33 years later I'm dipping 1.5 cans/ day. Sneaking it at my tobacco free workplace, risking my job, paying an additional tobacco user surcharge on my health insurance.

Today I decided that enough was enough. I AM THE BOSS OF ME AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE !!!