Notices

Gotta Quit Chewing Tobacco

Old 01-28-2020, 06:54 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 87
Gotta Quit Chewing Tobacco

Hi all,

I have successfully quit drinking and am over one year sober. Now its time to lick my other addiction. I have used chewing tobacco off and on since I was 18, I'm 47 now. I had quit for a few years and started up again when I stopped drinking, I guess to lessen the blow and at least have something I could turn to. As bad as chewing is, it was by far the lesser of the two evils.

I feel like sometimes chewing worsens my anxiety and in the times when I was without it for a while, I had a calmer mindset, at least before my drinking got really out of control.

I guess I will take the same approach as when quitting drinking and the times I stopped chewing before. A) Chew paper or 'jerky chew' to get over the physical part of the addition B) Treat myself with foods that I love, like ice cream, in exchange C) Try to do more meditation

Anyone else who stopped smoking or chewing have any words of wisdom to help out?

Thanks,

SC
SuficintCrlsns is offline  
Old 01-28-2020, 02:43 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,056
Best wishes SC

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 01-28-2020, 06:01 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 535
Originally Posted by SuficintCrlsns View Post
Hi all,

I have successfully quit drinking and am over one year sober. Now its time to lick my other addiction. I have used chewing tobacco off and on since I was 18, I'm 47 now. I had quit for a few years and started up again when I stopped drinking, I guess to lessen the blow and at least have something I could turn to. As bad as chewing is, it was by far the lesser of the two evils.

I feel like sometimes chewing worsens my anxiety and in the times when I was without it for a while, I had a calmer mindset, at least before my drinking got really out of control.

I guess I will take the same approach as when quitting drinking and the times I stopped chewing before. A) Chew paper or 'jerky chew' to get over the physical part of the addition B) Treat myself with foods that I love, like ice cream, in exchange C) Try to do more meditation

Anyone else who stopped smoking or chewing have any words of wisdom to help out?

Thanks,

SC
All addictions serve an emotional purpose. You have replaced drinking with chewing as an anxiety reducer. I replaced cocaine with Sees dark chocolate to some extent. I get the same rush of contentment when I decide to go to Sees as I use to get when I decided to score cocaine. Anyway, I'm getting off track there but the bottom line is we need to find more direct healthy behaviors that empower us to regain control over our emotions (feelings) that make us feel anxiety. Exercise works for me and is certainly better than candy. Find something else that work for you that is less harmful.
The bottom line is controlling and managing our emotions how we feel, specifically about certain circumstances in life that tend to make us feel overwhelmed, helpless powerless, trapped and out of control. The antidote is to recognize the trigger behavior or circumstance (themes in our lives) regain control or reverse the helpless-anxious-frustrated feelings with a more direct high value behavior that empowers us!

What all humans really seek is a sense of control. People like to feel in control. We are biologically wired to seek control.​ What we really seek is not a drink, a drug, porn or a bet, but a sense of empowerment, especially in the face of feeling overwhelmed, helpless, trapped and powerless (out of control). The root of all conflicts in life is that we want to be in charge. We want to eat the forbidden fruit of knowledge, we want to be God. We want to call the shots.​ Exactly how we choose to empower ourselves and regain control of our emotions (feelings), our life, is what needs to be discerned, understood and then managed.

Shalom
CRRHCC is offline  
Old 01-29-2020, 07:25 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Member
 
Steely's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,281
Have only just seen your post Suficint. I don't know that I have any words of wisdom, but thought maybe nicotine replacement therapy might help. Patches for example, and just chew normal gum?

I have no experience with chewing tobacco and don't know whether the nicotine chewing gum might help? I don't know what separates it from chewing tobacco. Must be something.

I just reached a point where I knew I had to stop. Was so tired of smelling like an ashtray, feeling like a pariah, and bolstering the bottom line of the tobacco industry. My sense of smell has really improved. I smell better too and have started swimming as my lungs were in bad shape.

I'm using those white plastic inhaler things. Not e-cigarettes. They seem to serve the purpose of the ritual. Shaped like a cigarette, and comforting to hold. Omg that is so pathetic can hardly bring myself to say.

I had a tough time today had to gird my loins to stop my self from going to buy a pack. Tough time resisting the booze too. I made it, and feel so much the better.

I'm saving heaps of money too.

Give it a go Suficint, you've got nothing to lose and heaps to gain. One day at a time. Good luck.
Steely is online now  
Old 02-01-2020, 07:20 AM
  # 5 (permalink)  
AKA ComputerMan
 
ClarkGrizwold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
YES i quit dipping and its been almost 10 months. I used COPENHAGEN for over 25 years and it was soooo hard to stop. i felt like i was going to die on day 5 I literally had hart palpations and sweating i felt like i was going to die and then on day 15 it started to go away. Honestly i crave tobacco more than i do beer. I pushed through it like a BOSS but it was horrible man! You just have to do it. Let me know how it goes with you
ClarkGrizwold is offline  
Old 02-01-2020, 07:22 AM
  # 6 (permalink)  
AKA ComputerMan
 
ClarkGrizwold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 91
Hey one more thing, get a really big bag of cough drops, it helped me so much Halls is what i used. trust me your going to understand why when you start sweating and get hot flashes
ClarkGrizwold is offline  
Old 02-01-2020, 10:45 AM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
1984Toy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 107
My doctor prescribed nicotine gum to help me quit. Started out at a higher dose, then a lower dose. It helped me. Plus being chewers, the gum seemed to be a better approach than the patches, trying to word it here, had something to do with the sensation between chewing/and the gum.
If you do not have insurance, you can still buy it over the counter.
good luck
1984Toy is offline  
Old 02-01-2020, 10:50 AM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Member
 
1984Toy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 107
Sorry Dee, if I violated any medical advice "laws" here.🤔
1984Toy is offline  
Old 02-01-2020, 03:14 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,056
Sharing experience is generally fine Toy

D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 02-04-2020, 10:51 AM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 87
Thanks for all of the responses. I'm doing it! Today is day 1, wish me luck.

SC
SuficintCrlsns is offline  
Old 02-04-2020, 02:08 PM
  # 11 (permalink)  
Member
 
Libby06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 2,576
Good luck SC. Ive never chewed tobacco, but I'm cigarette free almost 7 months.
Libby06 is offline  
Old 02-04-2020, 08:45 PM
  # 12 (permalink)  
Member
 
Steely's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: NSW - Australia
Posts: 14,281
Wishing you the best luck ever Suficint. We are not going to regret it!

27 days for me. Note how I bold the days.

It is getting easier, though not out of the woods yet. BP improved, skin looks clearer, improved sense of smell, eyes clearer, hair improved. Heaps money saved. Going to treat myself.

Keep going Suficint. We can do it!
Steely is online now  
Old 02-06-2020, 06:02 AM
  # 13 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by Libby06 View Post
Good luck SC. Ive never chewed tobacco, but I'm cigarette free almost 7 months.
I used to smoke in my younger days. I know quitting smoking is just as tough or tougher than smokeless. When I quit smoking and I went right back to dipping, so I just replaced it, but I do remember missing the feeling of smoking.

Anyway, day 3 now and feeling good. I'll be through the worst of it in the next couple of days. I've gained weight because I'm devouring anything with sugar in it, but I'll get back into Keto in the next few days and lose it back.

SC
SuficintCrlsns is offline  
Old 02-14-2020, 05:33 AM
  # 14 (permalink)  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 87
Hi all,

I just wanted to check in and report I am successfully on day 10 of being nicotine free! I think I am through the worst of it. I have a craving every now and then but they fade fast as soon as I focus on something else.

SC
SuficintCrlsns is offline  
Old 02-14-2020, 10:55 AM
  # 15 (permalink)  
Forum Leader
 
ScottFromWI's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Congrats on 10 days SC. I was an all-day smokeless/snuff/chew user for a long time too. Glad to hear you are working on kicking the habit, it is truly one that disgusts me looking back. I did it opposite of you ( quit chew about 2 years before drinking ) but they both certainly were tied together.
ScottFromWI is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:19 AM.