Hello everybody,
I started dipping when I was 21 while in college. I always refused cigarettes despite the fact that many of my friends smoked in high school and college. I had no interest in ever smoking or using any type of addictive drug with the exception of alcohol. I never had any friends who dipped and somehow I was ignorant enough to not realize that smokeless tobacco contains nicotine and is just as addictive as cigarettes. I enjoyed the feeling it gave me while drunk and eventually ended up doing it regularly until I was addicted. I have now being dipping for over 8 years and I am on day 4 of my quit (no nicotine drugs).
I have been in the USAF for about 5 years, and I actually quit thanks to BMT/Tech school. Thanks to all the changes in my surroundings/habits, this made it very easy to quit dipping. I dipped once or twice during tech school when I went out drinking with friends in New Oreleans, but never had a full relapse thanks to the no tobacco policy in tech school. One year later I was good friends with somebody who just happened to be the only person I have met that dips, and eventually I asked for one and I became fully addicted over a month period and it wasn't long before I hardwired my brain to associate my new residence/car/local area with dipping.
After reading many posts on this website, I have a few positive things to be thankful for. I don't have problems sleeping at night, which is one of the few things I look forward to because it lets me get away from this hell I'm going through. I never hardwired my brain to associate work with dipping since I only dipped during lunch. My job is generally busy and requires a lot of critical thinking/problem solving, so this is another escape for me since I can zone out and get away from my withdrawals. I never dipped in front of my wife, this means I had to get my dips in while driving, when she left for the store, or when she showered/went to bed early. Because of this, I only went through about a can of grizzly every three days. The weekend is absolutely miserable because I have no escape from my dip withdrawals for the entire day and I am so thankful I don't have to go through these these types of issues that other posters have mentioned.
I quit 4 days ago and it has been absolute hell. When I read websites that say cravings usually only last a few minutes, it makes me laugh. Now that it is the weekend, I literally have been thinking about dip almost every second of the day. I can't focus on anything and I feel high anxiety all the time. I have been fighting off the tricks my brain tries to play and some very powerful urges to go buy a can. Is this how it feels for the entire first month, or are the non-stop urges more due to the short term physical withdrawal?
I'm honestly not sure why I decided to post on this website, I have always been independent and prideful in my ability to accomplish my goals and take care of my problems without outside motivation. Obviously this has not worked when it comes to nicotine addiction. I have felt so crappy today and have been trying everything to take my mind off dip. I said what the hell I might as well give it a shot and sign up.