To all --- THANKS!
I am a quitter --- and will need you to help me through this. It will be difficult, as I am an addict.
Today has been rough, but work is almost done and I am 2/3rds the way through my day 1!
Congratulations, oz! Dumping that can today speaks loud and clear.
You're serious. And, you're quit.
You're going to be doing battle in three main areas as a quitter:
1. Physical
Craves, oral aspects, fog. You're not dipping today. Your body wants
you to know that. Some folks use seeds, gum, candy, water, food,
exercise, naps, sex, or whatever works. Just no nicotine. The craves
and their urgency will lessen, as well their frequency. You may discover
that you can't concentrate on things. That's what we call: fog. The
duration varies...heck, it took me a good two months to de-fog.
2. Mental
You need to own your quit. Feed it. Educate it. Stand up for it. Share it.
And especially on this site, swear in the fucking name of it if the occasion
demands. Stay close to the site. Read read read. Post post post. Make
friends, get phone numbers. Post your promise each day to not use nicotine.
The earlier the better. Visit other quit groups and do the same. Another part
of the mental battle you'll find is that you won't realize your own mental
condition. You're raging. Irritable as all hell. That leads to the next area...
3. Social
Your family, friends, and coworkers are going to notice you're not yourself.
I found that telling everyone about my decision to quit helped. Even your
fellow quitters will notice from your posts that something just ain't right with you.
That's okay. You're raging. Tell them why you're frustrated, e.g.
that you are tired of watching those damned Dancing With the Stars DVDs
your wife bought for "you" for Valentine's Day.
A nicotine addiction often comes with buddies. Family, friends, or coworkers
that you practiced your addiction with, e.g. fishing or hunting trips, card
games, smoke and/or dip breaks. They'll still be there doing their thing.
However, you're going to need to channel most of your social energy into
your quit. The site helps here too. Chat, read quit groups, send PMs, post in
Wildcard (e.g. one word, two word, or three word post). Get involved.
Support others' quits. Attend quitter get togethers. And, if you drink, it
would probably be wise to avoid or severely limit your alcohol for the
first month or two, specially around those buddies.
Remember this: This site and all of the fine quitters here cannot help you if
you don't let them know what's going on with you. Be accountable to them
and demand the same in return. That's how we roll around here.
