Just quit smoking

[Cackalacky]

Well this is about the most depressing thing I've read in a while. 3.5 years sober and you're in the struggle? The longest I lasted without a dip was a couple of months, but I work in customer services so something always drives me crazy enough to pick up a can. If I have the rest of my life to deal with this shit I might as well give up trying to quit and be happy.

Well hold on now, no one said anything about being sober... haha, I just don't smoke now. The cravings crop up every now and then but now I don't even think about it. And if I do I have no problem passing. My many failures always stared with being quit for some time then thinking I could have one or a few. Then I didn't and was back smoking full tilt again.

I apologize if that came off as depressing. But its the truth IMO. You never really stop being a smoker or user, just a former one.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Virginia up 14-12 at the half and no offensive TD's by the Irish, sooooo.......

 

[WestCoast]

Virginia up 14-12 at the half and no offensive TD's by the Irish, sooooo.......

You picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue.

 

[Circa]

Mack Brown replaced Holtz like scripts replaced realizm.

 

[IrishLion]

Anybody make a New Years Resolution on this front?

*Raises Hand*

I decided to quit on New Years Eve. Decided that the pack I had bought before the NYE party would be my last. I finished my last cig last Monday.

The first three days were absolute hell. The first day was like torture with the cravings getting more and more frequent as I didn't feed them. The second day saw the cravings decrease a bit, but I got WAY more agitated when I had to tell myself "don't go buy a pack" every two hours. I wanted to punch things. The third day saw the cravings make a fierce comeback, but I held out.

Since then, it's been wayyyyy easier to ignore the cravings. The worst is walking past people that are smoking, or sitting on the couch bored late at night. Rather than stay up through the cravings, I just go to bed earlier and sleep through them haha.

I had a momentary relapse on Saturday while tailgating before the Bengals game. I started drinking early, my first "real" test, but I was doing fine. The cravings started to return as I got more buzzed, and then a friend showed up and started lighting up. I gave in and asked for one, smoked half of it, and then felt guilty and stomped it out. Resisted the urge to go buy a pack again on Sunday afternoon.

It's only been a week, and I've already discovered that I can't drink in a social setting with smokers yet, but I'll be 100% honest and say that it has been easier going Cold Turkey than I thought it would be. I already feel like I'm in a place where I can ignore the cravings without becoming a total asshole, and I worried that I would continue to feel massive cravings each day, but they are already beginning to fade as well.

I will qualify it by saying that I was never a "pack-a-day" guy. I tried to limit myself to 4 or 5 per day (it was usually more on weekends). I also smoked American Spirits, which I've heard are good for people that are hooked but also want to limit their chemical dependency. *Supposedly* there are fewer additives in Spirits. So perhaps that's why I've had an easier time than I thought I might (that, and the cig on Saturday probably helped the edge come off. Does that make me a cheater?).

 

[Classic Irish]

Anybody make a New Years Resolution on this front?

*Raises Hand*

I decided to quit on New Years Eve. Decided that the pack I had bought before the NYE party would be my last. I finished my last cig last Monday.

The first three days were absolute hell. The first day was like torture with the cravings getting more and more frequent as I didn't feed them. The second day saw the cravings decrease a bit, but I got WAY more agitated when I had to tell myself "don't go buy a pack" every two hours. I wanted to punch things. The third day saw the cravings make a fierce comeback, but I held out.

Since then, it's been wayyyyy easier to ignore the cravings. The worst is walking past people that are smoking, or sitting on the couch bored late at night. Rather than stay up through the cravings, I just go to bed earlier and sleep through them haha.

I had a momentary relapse on Saturday while tailgating before the Bengals game. I started drinking early, my first "real" test, but I was doing fine. The cravings started to return as I got more buzzed, and then a friend showed up and started lighting up. I gave in and asked for one, smoked half of it, and then felt guilty and stomped it out. Resisted the urge to go buy a pack again on Sunday afternoon.

It's only been a week, and I've already discovered that I can't drink in a social setting with smokers yet, but I'll be 100% honest and say that it has been easier going Cold Turkey than I thought it would be. I already feel like I'm in a place where I can ignore the cravings without becoming a total asshole, and I worried that I would continue to feel massive cravings each day, but they are already beginning to fade as well.

I will qualify it by saying that I was never a "pack-a-day" guy. I tried to limit myself to 4 or 5 per day (it was usually more on weekends). I also smoked American Spirits, which I've heard are good for people that are hooked but also want to limit their chemical dependency. *Supposedly* there are fewer additives in Spirits. So perhaps that's why I've had an easier time than I thought I might (that, and the cig on Saturday probably helped the edge come off. Does that make me a cheater?).

Congrats! Take it a day at a time.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Congrats! Take it a day at a time.

Exactly. Having a cig (half of one in this case) while quitting isn't something to get discouraged about. Most people see that as "eff it, I'm back." Think about the positive leap you've made, and keep building on that.

 

[Cackalacky]

Anybody make a New Years Resolution on this front?

*Raises Hand*

I decided to quit on New Years Eve. Decided that the pack I had bought before the NYE party would be my last. I finished my last cig last Monday.

The first three days were absolute hell. The first day was like torture with the cravings getting more and more frequent as I didn't feed them. The second day saw the cravings decrease a bit, but I got WAY more agitated when I had to tell myself "don't go buy a pack" every two hours. I wanted to punch things. The third day saw the cravings make a fierce comeback, but I held out.

Since then, it's been wayyyyy easier to ignore the cravings. The worst is walking past people that are smoking, or sitting on the couch bored late at night. Rather than stay up through the cravings, I just go to bed earlier and sleep through them haha.

I had a momentary relapse on Saturday while tailgating before the Bengals game. I started drinking early, my first "real" test, but I was doing fine. The cravings started to return as I got more buzzed, and then a friend showed up and started lighting up. I gave in and asked for one, smoked half of it, and then felt guilty and stomped it out. Resisted the urge to go buy a pack again on Sunday afternoon.

It's only been a week, and I've already discovered that I can't drink in a social setting with smokers yet, but I'll be 100% honest and say that it has been easier going Cold Turkey than I thought it would be. I already feel like I'm in a place where I can ignore the cravings without becoming a total asshole, and I worried that I would continue to feel massive cravings each day, but they are already beginning to fade as well.

I will qualify it by saying that I was never a "pack-a-day" guy. I tried to limit myself to 4 or 5 per day (it was usually more on weekends). I also smoked American Spirits, which I've heard are good for people that are hooked but also want to limit their chemical dependency. *Supposedly* there are fewer additives in Spirits. So perhaps that's why I've had an easier time than I thought I might (that, and the cig on Saturday probably helped the edge come off. Does that make me a cheater?).

Keep it up. It really does get easier. I am over three years now. Every now and then I have a cigarillo but don't inhale, and these are only on special occasions when I am out with my boys.

 

[bkess8]

So I have been doing really well since the beginning of the year. I'm taking chantix and it works great and I am not experiencing any of the side effects that most people report. I however am very scared about coming off of the medication and moving forward. I know I still get a craving atleast once a day. Hope you guys are doing well!

 

[IrishLion]

So I have been doing really well since the beginning of the year. I'm taking chantix and it works great and I am not experiencing any of the side effects that most people report. I however am very scared about coming off of the medication and moving forward. I know I still get a craving atleast once a day. Hope you guys are doing well!

I planned on trying Chantix if cold turkey didn't work out, but thankfully I've been good so far. I was getting cravings every day after work (which was my first cig of the day normally) and again throughout the evenings once I settled in at home.

Now, I get one craving per day, and it's usually late in the night once I realize that I haven't thought about a cigarette all day... and then of course, thinking about NOT thinking about a cigarette makes me want a cigarette. But the craving goes away much faster now, and it's easier to put it out of my mind and forget it. Recognizing the transition/decreasing cravings was a huge victory to me once I realized it.

 

[Henges24]

I didn't feel like making a separate thread for this so giving this one a try.

I've chewed since I was about 16 - I wouldn't say that I'm hardcore into it or even addicted (okay maybe a little) but I do it occasionally on my way home from work or while gaming. It's more of just something to do for me.

Anyways, I'm attempting to escape the "addiction" and have bought a alternative called Grinds which is basically flavored coffee grounds in a pouch. It isn't terrible but I would much prefer a long cut or a non-pouched alternative. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Freeman Ara]

I didn't feel like making a separate thread for this so giving this one a try.

I've chewed since I was about 16 - I wouldn't say that I'm hardcore into it or even addicted (okay maybe a little) but I do it occasionally on my way home from work or while gaming. It's more of just something to do for me.

Anyways, I'm attempting to escape the "addiction" and have bought a alternative called Grinds which is basically flavored coffee grounds in a pouch. It isn't terrible but I would much prefer a long cut or a non-pouched alternative. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

You may want to look into beef jerky chew... Basically shredded beef jerky in a chew can.

 

[Section20Row27]

I didn't feel like making a separate thread for this so giving this one a try.

I've chewed since I was about 16 - I wouldn't say that I'm hardcore into it or even addicted (okay maybe a little) but I do it occasionally on my way home from work or while gaming. It's more of just something to do for me.

Anyways, I'm attempting to escape the "addiction" and have bought a alternative called Grinds which is basically flavored coffee grounds in a pouch. It isn't terrible but I would much prefer a long cut or a non-pouched alternative. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

take a look at killthecan.org a lot of great information and people over there who will help

 

[Irish#1]

I didn't feel like making a separate thread for this so giving this one a try.

I've chewed since I was about 16 - I wouldn't say that I'm hardcore into it or even addicted (okay maybe a little) but I do it occasionally on my way home from work or while gaming. It's more of just something to do for me.

Anyways, I'm attempting to escape the "addiction" and have bought a alternative called Grinds which is basically flavored coffee grounds in a pouch. It isn't terrible but I would much prefer a long cut or a non-pouched alternative. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Good luck on quitting.

 

[irishog77]

I didn't feel like making a separate thread for this so giving this one a try.

I've chewed since I was about 16 - I wouldn't say that I'm hardcore into it or even addicted (okay maybe a little) but I do it occasionally on my way home from work or while gaming. It's more of just something to do for me.

Anyways, I'm attempting to escape the "addiction" and have bought a alternative called Grinds which is basically flavored coffee grounds in a pouch. It isn't terrible but I would much prefer a long cut or a non-pouched alternative. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Dried-out horse or cow manure. There's no tobacco in it...but yet you still can put a huge wad in your mouth.

I don't recommend using wet manure.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I used to play summer league ball with a few guys who had a plug in all the time. Two of them got cancer in their lips. Please quit ASAP.

The nicotine is the country's "relaxant" (along with alcohol and pot.) It is a mild depressant which folks desire to take the edge off the "non-ideal" nature of the speed and "attitude" of much of America's way of living. Our "culture" is the main reason why these three persist in the form of long term addictions.

Part of quitting these addictions therefore is "getting one's life right." Dumping "toxic" aspects of it when possible, changing one's attitudes about what's really important (usually having to do with chasing "stuff") , joining into real life (i.e. community and family activities), and pursuing interests and/or hobbies, especially if they're not self-centered obsessions. Having a strong dose of regular spiritual involvement is not a bad choice as a antidote for America Materialism and Uncare either.

It is however, for most, not a swift and easy road. I have a VERY good friend, who is a very good man, who says that he stills gets a sense of craving every time he is around people smoking --- 40 years later. But he at least achieved the state where he is no longer really tempted to light up.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

You may want to look into beef jerky chew... Basically shredded beef jerky in a chew can.

I've been chewing on and off for about 8 years, but have quit in the past for extended periods and this helped. Most any gas station/party store will sell the Jack Link's jerkey chew.

Sun flower seeds also helped. Just kept a bag in the car all the time with a water bottle.

It'll never be the same "satisfaction" as throwing a wad in, but it'll help take the edge off.

 

[Henges24]

Thanks for the input guys! I did a little more research and found killthecan. There’s a long cut alternative that I bought a couple tins of just to give it a try. Might just grind through the edges if these don’t work. I’ve quit a couple times in the past so I’m not worried about it too much. We shall see though.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Thanks for the input guys! I did a little more research and found killthecan. There’s a long cut alternative that I bought a couple tins of just to give it a try. Might just grind through the edges if these don’t work. I’ve quit a couple times in the past so I’m not worried about it too much. We shall see though.

I'm with you on long cut vs. puches. I've used nicotine pouches to try and quit before and it's just not the same. You take this little thing that is like 1/4 the size of a regular pouch and throw it in your upper lip, didn't do anything for me.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Used to chew as an ND student back in the 80's. Was a common thing, chew, drink coke and study. As I was going to med school thought the optics weren't good. Discovered quitting was harder than I thought.
Turns out there is a part of your brain called the default mode network. Probably was used for predator detection way back when. Most addictions including nicotine work thru this. DMN turns on when your not goal directed. so down time. It tells you some nicotine would be good. The best way to quit is to percieve yourself as someone who doesn't chew. Using alternatives will likely lead back to nicotine.
I tell patients who want to quit smoking/chew. Give say $1000 dollars to a trusted friend. If you chew once in one year the money goes to the place you least want it to go. An Ex, Trump, Hillary you get the picture. At the end of one year if you have followed thru with your goal the money is yours. Suspect if you chew regularly it will be about that much.
Good luck. Hope this helps