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I’ve been lurking on this site for several days. I’m on the patch which is the only reason I haven’t joined. No oral nicotine for 5 days. I was using nicotine lozenges at work and home but still using tobacco in the car or when outside – anytime I didn’t have to hide it. If no lozenges, I would go through a can in 2 days. If only lozenges (4mg), I would eat 10-12 per day. So I figure I was getting around or above 40 mg of nicotine per day. The patch is 21mg over 24 hours, but I take it off at night. can’t sleep well with it on. Minus 8 hours means I’m only getting around 14mg of nicotine per day now. Significantly less than half what I’m used to. All that to say that it’s been tough. Surely not as tough as going cold turkey, but tough nonetheless. Fogginess, cravings, emotional, irritable, etc.

I can’t trust myself with oral NRT as I’ll just take as much as I need and I’m not breaking an addiction. If I follow the patch plan and keep stepping down, I think that will get me through without completely losing my mind.

I underestimated the oral habit on top of the addiction. Yesterday I ordered some herbal dips. Not sure when they’ll arrive. I decided to try and make my own. I used fresh mint and chopped it up real fine. I broke open some black tea bags. I mixed in some sugar water and boiled it down until the green mint was brown. I mixed in just a bit of whiskey and then added some habanero powder (I like to dehydrate habaneros and crush them up). The fake dip I made tastes mostly like tea, but the burn with just the right amount of pepper feels a bit like nicotine on my gums. Of course nicotine was never spicy on my tongue, but my gums seem to like the burn. When I first put this in my mouth I was surprised at my body’s reaction. My heart raced and gums and lips felt satisfied. My mind was tricked. Of course it didn’t alleviate fogginess or emotions, but it sure helps that twinge craving of having something between my lip and gums. I’m excited for the other stuff to arrive. Probably tastes better than my homemade stuff.
Five days ago I told my son that I’d be quitting and might be cranky. He’s 12. I’ve been dipping since my wife got pregnant – maybe before then. Actually had my first dip when I was 16 in the parking lot after work. But mostly I smoked from the age of 18 to around the age of 30. At one point, while studying abroad in Ireland, I was a two-pack-a-day’er. I’m 44 now. I hate the smell and taste of cigarettes. But I sure would love a big ol’ pinch of Stokers Straight about now. I’ve used many brands and flavors of dip and pouches. Mostly I like them all. Come to think of it, I think I have a can of Stokers Natural in the truck somewhere. That was the only nasty dip I’ve ever tried. I may have taken 2 pinches and then put it in my door pocket where all my trash goes. Not even tempted to use that again. I’d go buy nicotine lozenges before using that can. Anyway should probably clean out the truck and throw that stuff away.

I’ve tried to quit so many times before. About 18 years ago I promised myself to not buys cigs again. I smoked other peoples butts out of the ash tray outside my work building. Not proud of that. My last serious attempt (there’s been many half hearted attempts) was about 11 years ago. I had switched from cigs to dip and eventually to nicotine gum. I quit for about a year. I had recently come back to faith in Jesus. Jesus said “do not get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” I applied that to my tobacco fix. Instead of buying more gum, I bought a new Bible. Every time I had an urge I turned to the Bible or to prayer. Not sure why I ever started again. Bought a can, thought I could handle it, you know the story.

A while back in church, I decided to give my addiction to God once more. I prayed for healing and for a miracle to be cured. I’ve heard of people turning to Jesus and they never had a craving again. I do believe that He can and does grant those miracles. I believed at the end of that service that He had given me that miracle. Eight hours later I was yelling at my family and on my way to the gas station for some Skoal Cherry. I believe now that God does not want to give me that miracle because he wants me to turn to Him in times of need. I am pretty content with life (more or less) and probably don’t need Him for much on this earth. He has blessed me with so much. Of course I’m a changed person since returning to faith. Without Him I was angry on the inside – not full of peace and love. I have struggled with my relationship with my wife even after coming back to faith. We were almost divorced a year or two back. In that struggle I was turning to Him. My wife and I are in a very good place relationally right now. I think God wants me to struggle with addiction and for me to draw near to Him through this struggle.

Anyway, back to my 12 yr old son. I was surprised that he never knew I used dip! Of course I tried to hide it from him but not as much as I hid it from my wife. I’d sneak it in the truck while he was riding in the back seat. I’d have loose dip (not pouches) in my mouth while we camped and fished. He just thought the stuff on my teeth was good or dirt. Well, it’s good to be out in open with him and have conversations about why he should never try tobacco. He knew I smoked before he was born. When he was a toddler he could smell my wintergreen dip in the truck when I opened a can. He said, “daddy what’s that beautiful smell?” When he was 4 or 5 he noticed me buying a can and asked what it was. I told him sternly that we don’t talk about that. So ever since then, I figured he knew I did it and that he just knew not to talk about it.

My wife used to nag me and we’ve gotten in many fights over it. I’d quit, tell her I quit, start again and not tell her, get caught and the cycle continued. She says I lie to her. In my addicted brain I didn’t think that withholding the truth was a lie. I mean if she didn’t ask me if I was using, why tell her? Within the last year but after our big relationship issue was better, she saw some tobacco stuck to my lip. I’ve gotten good at keeping it off my lower teeth and/or hiding my lower teeth with my lip. Also, I don’t produce much saliva while dipping. Maybe when I first put it in I’ll spit once or twice. But after that I just don’t salivate much. Anyway, she thought I had dirt on my lip but then asked if I was dipping again. I said yes and fear went through my veins. She asked how long and I told her it had been on and off for several years. I told her that I hadn’t been off nicotine for over 10 years. She knew I used nicotine lozenges because she’s found them, but we never really talked about it. I thought that now she was going to flip out again over the tobacco. She didn’t. For the first time ever she was calm about it. I don’t know if she’s given up or if she’s had a change of heart with how she should handle me. But from my perspective it was encouraging. I hate how she feels she can’t trust me. I hate that I’ve lied to her and made her feel that way. I hate that I hide it from her and can’t talk about it.

Lately, I’ve had problems in the bedroom. Low desire mostly, but a bit of ED to be honest. She told me that she was reading that nicotine can be a strong factor in ED. I don’t even know if she knew I’ve been using dip lately or if she thought it was only the lozenges. I guess it doesn’t matter. 40+ mg of nicotine per day is going to have negative health consequences no matter how I get it. It hurts by body, my marriage, and my relationship with God.

Don’t get me wrong, God loves me no matter what I do. Jesus forgives my lies and my addiction. But until I turn to Him for all my needs, I will never truly live the abundant life that He promises.

it’s time to let it go. It’s time to Kill the Can!!!

Before writing this post, I was reading posts from spouses dealing with their addicted husbands. I was almost brought to tears knowing that I have done the same to my wife. I tend to think that this sin of addiction only hurts myself. But that is so far from the truth. I can see why my wife won’t talk about spiritual things with me. How can I call myself a child of God, a follower of Christ Jesus, when I’ve hurt her and continue to hurt her in this way? Jesus forgives my hypocrisy, but I wouldn’t forgive me.

I hate that I tried tobacco in high school. I hate that I turned to tobacco when I lost faith. I hate that I continued tobacco when I came back to faith. I hate that I hide it and lie about it. I hate personal that I’ve become by using it. I hate all the heartache it has brought. I hate how I’ve disappointed my parents, my wife, and my son. Why should my 12 year old boy have to be my accountability partner!!!!! That’s not right. I should be a better father than that.

I doubt anyone has read this whole thing, but I just needed to say it. Thank you for this place where I can share, KTC.

I just had a tooth pulled and an implant inserted. I have been bed ridden for four days as I try recuperate.

This reminded me of how I quit on Sep 15, 2015. I was able to do all the snuff I wanted and it was not helping me a bit. It was making me super hyper and I realized I had to stop. I tried stopping multiple times over 40 years.

I decided to just stop. To do that, I just rested in bed and ate and slept. Not everyone can do that. We all quit our different ways.

I finally was able to sit up like a normal human being, eat without dip and went about my day. However, I was in a deep forg for at least 30 days.

To quit you need to just stop.

I quit with you today.

Dundippin day 1611

It has been 122 days since I quit.

If you are here reading these posts, it is because you also want to join the league of champions. It takes a massive effort to let go of the life you know. This site and the people can provide you with the weapons to start the battle. It aint easy, but if it was, then you wouldn’t be here.
Good Luck.

Oz1.

Day 15

Smoked all throughout highschool, and smoked and dipped all throughout college. Been at a can a day and/or pack a day since I was 16. I’m 26 now, had a cancer scare last Friday, decided to quit. I’m on day 5, and am up to a pack of gum per day. Not nic gum, just Orbit. Going good so far. Don’t want to lose my jaw to cancer. Anyone have any advice on how much longer these cravings will last? I’m tired of being on edge all the time.

Good morning everyone, I’ve been a 2 can per day Copenhagen dipper for almost 30 years now. I’ve quit on a few occasions but always went back to it. The longest I managed to go was in basic training where I lasted for 6 1/2 weeks. I have to tell you that this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever tried to do in my life. I quit a couple of months ago but have had several ‘slip ups’ and end up really discouraged. I’m recommitting today that I’ve had my last tobacco. I have four girls (20, 17, 16 and 2 1/2). Although I am quitting for me, I’m doing it because I want to be around to see all my girls grow up. I wish everyone on the forum good luck and plan to post almost daily to make sure my commitment stays recent in my mind.

On 24 hours of no snuff and I’m having a foggy day, That common on day #1? I quit out of the blue yesterday, cold turkey and mentally I feel great about quitting. I’m being calm and not aggressive, I’m not eating or hungry though. I chewed for 20yrs and I’m 33 yrs old.

Trying to quit myself. Any advice ?

Day 2 and feel like a piece of shit. I am in for the long haul.

im thinking of quitting, but i have been chewing since i was 14 and im 26 now, i started chewing more when i was deployed to afghanistan, because it was extremly stressful and the nicotine helped. i cant go more then a few hours without having a chew in, and i go through about two to three cans of grizzly chew a day. i want to quit but im kinda scared to go through the withdraws specially since i have extreme anger issues and ptsd issues, i am on meds for thar stuff but the nicotine is also part of what keeps me sane…idk what to do help

Took a break from New Years and caved on the 13th due to some heavy drinking. Tossed the can away in the morning and read a lot on this site and I am serious about my quit so I am going to not drink for 50 days.3 days quit

2nd day after 33 years . ready to kill somebody lol
Oh boy this sucks!

5 minutes into my quit…so far so good. How do I join a quit group because I’m pretty confident this isn’t gonna be pretty

Ive been chewing for only 2 years im only 14 starting to quit tomorrow and im scared of like anger toward friends and family just stick to it and quit

Great website been 5 days no chew and loving it. Thanks