I guess I'll start how most people here have. I'm 27 and started smoking at 12.
It began with one or two cigarettes a day and by 15 I was close to a pack a day. At 16, I started dating this really country girl who hated that I smoked, but her family all chewed so I made the switch. I was introduced to "real men's dip" at work and through her family and developed a 1-2 can a day habit of Copenhagen Snuff. All through highschool and then college I dipped and smoked depending on the outing (hard to do shots while dipping). I have gone back and forth for the past few years from a 2-3 can a day habit and scaling back down to one can. Currently I am at 1.5 cans a day.
I just graduated from Grad school a few months ago, got married, and got my first professional job. Working in an office all day is not exactly the same as working at the tire shop or in construction like I did while in school. I'm pretty much a superstar at work. I work for a County as a Budget Analyst and after a few months I'm well known for my attendance (early to work, late to leave) and the quality of work I produce. However, that didn't stop my boss from pulling me into the office one day to suggest that I consider not dipping at my desk.... I felt like an idiot and I'm sad to say, I've done it a few times since then.
My wife had always expressed the idea that she wanted me to quit, but recently said she hesitates before kissing me, to determine if I've had a dip in recently.
I moved down to Florida from N.C. and the cost of tobacco almost doubled. I have a lot more disposable income than I've ever had in my life. But still I find myself scrounging change to buy one last can of dip before pay day.
My dad smokes 2 packs a day and I'm sad to say he is dying. I'm 27, he is 57 and he looks 70. I'd tell you guys he has cancer but he is too afraid to go to a Doctor to know one way or the other. He can't sleep in the bed anymore and he can hardly work without "feeling a heart attack coming on". I've all but resigned myself to the idea that he will die within the next few years and that makes me more sad than I can even begin to express.
I Googled "I need to quit dipping" and this site came up. I spent hours last night looking around, reading posts, then I went out at 4am and bought a can... Just reading stories about quitting caused a near panic attack. 24 hours later and I'm feeling one come on again.
But this time I'm not going to do it
I've got to quit to:
Not have any more blemishes on my record at work.
Not end up like my Father.
Not disgust my wife.
Not disgust myself.
Not waste $2,700 or more a year on killing myself.
Not have a panic attack before going to the Dentist.
What do you all say, will you have me?
