How did a crave feel then and how about now?

[jimmykeeper]

Day 50


My craves are subtle, and it's more that I just start "reminiscing" about various flavors I've tried (I always liked sampling new shit). Then I snap out of it and remember how much more healthy I am now not dipping.

When I go to a gas station I'm not going to lie...I do give a quick eyeball to the tin racks behind Apu as he's ringing me up. So many cans! So many flavors! So much absolute shit. I hate that fucking shit. Fuck that shit.

[J2b]

J2b - 186

I was a "timing" chewer, so every 2 hours I had a chew in. If something broke that up, I got real agitated and kept clock watching. Essentially, my first month was like that. Agitated, watching the clock, waiting for my next fix.

Now, craves (just had one yesterday) are worse in some ways. I was driving to the store with my little one, when out of the blue a massive crave dumped on me. Bitch was whispering the "just one" mantra, and I was white knuckling the wheel, grinding my teeth. I almost pulled over. Then I almost decided to skip the store altogether. It was quite literally the worst physical crave I have had since day 30 or so. But it was also very short lived (5 minutes). By the time I got to the store and got my son in the cart, it was gone.

Most of my craves are the "slow and low" type, where I get this tickling in the back of my head that I am "forgetting something." Those are easy to get by, but the sudden strong ones are a motherfucker.

They are getting further apart though.

[tazmed]

I think I agree with CodeMan...for me it's something to do, not necessarily a need to relax or de-stress. I find that the craves hit the hardest when I'm bored. It's this feeling that "I should be doing something right now...think I'll throw a dip in." I think it's similar to people eating when they're bored.

Physically speaking, the only thing that I've felt differently is my left ear. I keep getting these sensations of something crawling into my ear. And before you think it, no...there's nothing actually there. I had a full physical 30 days into my quit and my doctor looked; she didn't see anything in the ears. But, I still get the sensations...really weird.

I still have the feelings that I should have something between my cheek and gum...don't know if that's a crave or just a random feeling because I usually had something there for 30+ years. I do find it strange that when I get those feelings, a wad of jerky or mint chew takes care of the feeling. Am I addicted to those things now? 'archer'

[codeMan]

Having quit for 6 years in the past, I have some experience with both. Initial cravings for me are something I feel my body needs to continue through the day. More of a physical need. It makes it feel like everything will be OK, your mind will clear and you are ready to meet anything head on if you just take that hit of nicotine.

The cravings later on are much less physical and more psychological. You also start throwing in the ole "I quit once for this long, I can do it again" lie. Those cravings hit mainly by triggers.... driving on long road trips, going fishing, basically anything where I would sit for long periods of time with not much to do.

For me they never completely went away. I would go months without ever thinking about nicotine and then something would trigger the need.... sometimes that need was intense but most of the time it wasnt.

I caved at 6 years because my wife had just had our son... he had severe reflux the first year of his life and sleep was very rare for us. I was under a ton of stress. Read up on how safe snus was and like an idiot bought into it.

[LLCope]

I have been wanting to post this topic to see how CRAVES feel for different people. If you answer this post, please put your days quit and then describe how a crave felt to you in the first month and then now(of course newbies are in the first month). If you are a vet and have not craved in a while please share that too. Also, I am talking about post physical withdrawl craves after day 3--the ones brought on by the psychological triggers.

I will start.

Day-92- A crave to me in the first few weeks was an anixious nervousness that I felt in my gut as a physical sensation accompanied by a lost depressed emotional state or anger. Now the physical sensation is much less and so are the emotional feelings of anxiety/depression/anger. It is much less intense and is weakening every day.

[per034]

This is a great post. Gave me chills. Proud to be a Quithead with you, LL.

[Scowick65]

goo stuff brother.

[dante]

From one latecomer to another...glad you are here! You are doing great!

Glad to have you for a quit brother!

[Souliman]

Good for you LLC. I'm real happy you got this. Way to bring the quit.

You kick NB ass brother. I'm a big fan. Stay quit.

[Jtricher]

LL, proud to be quit with you today!

Ditto.

[jaygib]

LL, proud to be quit with you today!

[parry8587]

Well said LLC. #3 is my favorite. And it is also probably the hardest thing to get through to those who are stuck in the suck. A little bit of faith though, and like you said, before you know it you are witnessing improvement on a daily basis.

[LLCope]

To All,

Day 41 of my quit was a very bad day where I almost caved--but did not!. I was on my own for the first 41 days of my quit--hanging on by a wing and a prayer! However, I need to thank my AWESOME wife for being my main support during this time. Luckily, I was looking around the internet for chewing tobacco cessation on day 42. I found KTC--- I thank God that I found KTC. This site has saved and strengthened my quit. It has saved my life.

Today I am on day 73 and this is what KTC has done for me:

#1 I realized that I am truly an Addict. In the first 41 days, i thought I was just kicking a bad habit.

#2 I realized that I must make a choice to quit every day. In the first 41 days, I was fighting with the concept of "forever". The concept of forever really does not matter now--the only way I can live life is one day at a time---and that's the only way I can quit too.

#3 I finally realized that for 18 years I surrender my freedom to a drug and that it was up to me to free myself from this drug daily and gain my health back that it was stealing from me.

#4 I realized that I have blood brothers in this fight. I have a real community of support of brothers/sisters who are going through (or who have gone through) what I am going through.

#5 I realized that it is my responsiblity, as I win each day and as I pass each milestone, to pay it forward. I feel as if I have a mission to help others free themselves as I am doing every day. I WILL PAY IT FORWARD!!!!!! Helping others makes me stronger.

I AM SO HAPPY TO BE FREE TODAY--I WILL NEVER FORGET THE PAIN THIS ADDICTION HAS CAUSED ME---NEVER!!! For all you Newbies reading this---It will get better---I promise. The only thing you need to do, is to not use TODAY and everything else will come into balance. Your body will heal and so will your emotions/mind. I still struggle---but I see the vast improvement daily.

LLCope---peace out

[miles]

Glad you found KTC.

The support, friendship and comradarie here has been priceless.

Post roll and let's get this party started.

[LLCope]

Thanks for the advice and support. I am ready to make my pledge day by day. One day at a time!