What To Expect When You Quit Dipping
So you want to quit dipping and you would like to know what to expect when you do. We’re not going to pull any punches around here, it’s tough. That’s why we’re all here. This timeline has been put together over the years with the input of THOUSANDS of quitters. It has been shown to be remarkably accurate from the time you STOP USING NICOTINE.
Days 1 through 3 – Pure hell. You will walk in the fog. Nothing will seem real. Your brain is wondering where the hell its fix is and it is going to punish you until you come up with it. 72 hours, that’s all you need to get the nicotine out of your system. This is where you start to deal with the physical withdrawal associated with quitting dip. Drink lots of water. Read, post, read and post. Don’t take your anger out on your loved ones. We always tell everyone………Make this quit about YOU. If you quit for your wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, kids, mommy or daddy, you will resent them during this period. Quit for yourself and come in here to rant. Yell at us. Bitch at us. We can take it. We’ve been there.
Days 4 through 20 – Here comes the mind games. The nicotine is out of your system now. You will still have some physical things to deal with.
- Cravings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Inability to Concentrate
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Constipation, gas, stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Sore tongue and/or gums
Yep, you have this to look forward to. Your brain is rewiring itself. It isn’t used to being in an oxygen rich environment. Your body is responding in kind. Everything is a mind game now. All the cravings you have are actually due to triggers. Triggers are events where you are in a situation you would normally dip in. Mowing the grass, playing poker online, playing golf, working on the car………you get the picture. Keep drinking water, use seeds, the fake stuff, whatever you need to keep the dip out of your mouth. Remember, oral fixation is part of our habit, something you will eventually need to break. For now though, use all the tools you have.
Days 20 – 50 – You’re winning. Life isn’t great, but you probably had a couple of nights where you actually got some sleep. You might notice you’re going to bed earlier than you normally do. Not staying up to get in that last dip. You may notice some sores in your mouth. You’re thinking, “great, I quit dipping and now I have cancer.” You almost certainly don’t. Your mouth is healing itself. Tiny ulcers you’ve had for a long time are healing. We recommend you visit your dentist around the 30 day mark. Don’t be a pansy, just do it. He or she will be very supportive and they can explain the sores much better than we can. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t go out drinking with the fellas or the girls. We also recommend that you don’t drink for at least the first 50 days. Drinking is a huge trigger event and it weakens your resolve.
Days 50 – 70 – Cruise control. Life is really good. You still think about it, but this is good stuff here. Some people may suffer anxiety attacks during or a little before this stage. Some doctors say we dipped to relieve anxiety anyway. Some people can push right through this, others need a little help. Talk to your doctor before you quit or immediately after you quit. They will know what to do. Some give Wellbutrin or Lexapro. Lots of people in the support community take or have taken these medicines and can help you with the affects. Don’t wait till you get to this stage of the game to talk to a doctor. You’ll cruise through this stage much easier if you know how to take care of the anxiety or at least know it’s coming.
Days 70 – 90 – Late term craves, the doldrums, the blahs, the blues. Some people end up feeling like they are right back at day 1. The fog, the haze, the craves. It can be a tough time. You need to let people in your group know this is happening. Time to circle the wagons to get through it. It usually only lasts a few days. Fight through this and make sure your order your HOF Knife or Coin. Here are a couple of articles about this time period which we refer to as “The Funk”
Days 90 – HOF – Houston, resume the countdown. Enjoy the hell out of these last 10 days. You will be celebrating with your group as you all enter the HOF. It is a great feeling and an accomplishment you should not take lightly. Do something special for yourself and your family. They put up with your sorry ass for the last 90 days and they deserve something too.
100+ Days – Stay vigilant. Use the tools you have, to continue beating back any cravings or urges. You will still experience dip dreams and longings, but you are fully qualified to beat them down. Continue to post roll with your group. Get into the newer groups and help somebody out. Pass it along. Live the dream.
Hey guys Sorry I haven’t been back and posted in a while I’ve been so busy studying for my Law School Classes, which normally studying for 4 hours a day is at least a 2 tin day. But today is day 60 for me and I feel like i am never going to go back. Not because I am just that strong but these are the steps I’ve taken: I have quit drinking as well, because i know when i get a few drinks in me I will want a chew, so I have not even let myself drink until I know I can resist. 2nd and the thing that has saved me and helped me so so so so so much is smokey mountain snuff. It just replaces the physical need and thats the need that i needed to be replaced. The final and last thing might not apply to all but I know for a fact this has been the reason Im doing so good. I have prayed. I pray the cravings go away, I pray that if I ever do get tempted or get around chew i get so sick i can’t even be there. I honestly just say God please help me to be so bad at chewing. Ever since I’ve been doing that i have just been smooth sailing. Hope I can help in anyway, and I’m sure once i hit another rough patch ill be right back here looking for help. Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome Back Zach….good to see you’ve continued with your quit. Keep up your battle….as well as your studies. It only gets easier as you get further away from the can! Take care,
-JP
Day #304
Day 19 after 20 years Skoal and Cope. Still with bad morning anxiety but starting to feel better overall. Still with weird jaw and mouth symptoms but saw the dentist today and everything looked good. So happy to be on the road to breaking this addiction.
I have the exact same feelings. I’m on day 20 of quitting a 15 year habit. Why do my mouth and throat feel worse now than when i was chewing.
Just healing I guess. I got Biotene mouthwash today and it has helped a lot with dry mouth.
Day 20 and counting.
Mel and Jeff T, you are right that is your mouth healing but it definitely messed with my head too.
Congrats to both of you for getting to day 20, no easy task.
I went to the dentist around day 25 and I recommend everyone do that. They will be on your side and if there is an issue then they will fix you up.
Good luck and always come here before you do a dip.
Steve
Day 193
Thanks Steve. Did you have a lot of anxiety symptoms and if so when did they go away and did you take any meds? My anxiety seems to be getting worse not better.
Hey Jeff, yes I had really bad spells of anxiety. At one point I was convinced I was having a heart attack till I posted on here and learned this was common. I also thought if I had a dip I would be fine, no heart attack it sounds so ridiculous when you really think about it but it made sense till I really thought about it.
Working out helped a lot with my anxiety!
I did have meds but rarely used them, I met with my doctor before quitting and he gave me a script for Xanax, he gave me 60 I have 57 left.
Anxiety is very very common at this stage, it does get better but you will likely have another tough bout of anxiety in a month or two. I had some right around day 100. It’s all part of the fun, you can beat it though.
Steve
Day 30… same thing here DLA. 25 year Kodiac and not looking back
Franco
Congrats on 30 days of freedom….as stated above, everyday will get easier to stay quit!
Good Luck!!
-JP
Franco the Kodiak was tough to kick, sounds like you’re kicking it’s ass! Try smokey mountain, I like it and I was a heavy K-bear user.
Steve
Day 20 and starting to feel a little better. 30+ year Cope habit RIP!
Days will only get easier DLA, keep up the fight!
-JP
I don’t think i an alone in this but I am on day 48 of my quit after 14 years of chew and I am finding my self periodically saying hey its okay it was easy for you to get this far, you can have just one dip and quit again because my first few days were not pure hell well at least i don’t remember them being so bad, but when I go back and actually look again I remember wishing a mental nicotine withdraw on my worst enemy and not me. Does any one else face this?
Hi Jon,
Absolutely! Those “craves” will pop up all through the first 100 days. They will continue on after that as well, but they will be much fainter than at day 48. You just have to continue to say NO!
In my experience, there is no such thing as “one dip”. One dip will only lead to 2 dips, then to a can, then right back to where you were prior to the quit. And I can tell you, you will be sitting around a decade later, kicking yourself for taking that “one dip”.
I quit in the mid 90’s, went on a fishing trip, felt I could have “just one” and blew 6 months of quit. I learned from that….there is no such thing as “one dip”.
My 30-40 day fog (that I do not recall having back when I quit in the 90’s), was so intense, I don’t plan on ever going back to that shit again.
But to answer your questions, YES! Those craves will rear their ugly heads, over and over. You just need to continue to beat them down, one crave at a time my friend!
Good Luck and Keep Quit!
-JP
Day #302
Thank you, I didn’t think I was alone, I guess just irritated that it keeps coming back like a bad case of herpes. I’m kicking my self for even starting lol, but thanks This site and reading all the comments is a big help, It would seem like i am in good company. Thanks again all.
Hahaha….”a bad case of herpes”…good analogy!
No problem, I agree, this site has helped me immensely as well. Sure wish it was around back when I quit the first time.
Take care!
-JP
I’m 16 hours in on quitting a 25-year habit. I’m done with it for the right reason finally, but I can already see the next few days are gonna be hell
Hey Dan, you are 100% correct the next few days are going to be pure hell!! But it really does get easier so stay tough. What do you have in terms of replacements? I was a heavy user of smokey mountain early into my quit, between that, sunflower seeds and cough drops I always had something in my mouth. I also worked out a lot in the early stages.
Let us know how we can help. The quit is possible you just have to want to WIN!!
Steve
Day ~6 months and 1 week
So far, cold turkey with some seeds. Honestly, not doing too bad. I was using Grizzly pouches for the past few years and slowly tried to get so that I was only using a can every few days. Not gonna lie, I’ve been thinking about it almost constantly for the past few days. But I’m tired of it and I’m ready to move past that. I haven’t really wanted to try the replacement dip because I think the habit of having something in my lip is almost worse to.break than the addiction. The cough drops may be a good idea. Thanks
Hearty congrats Rick, I am very happy for you.. Sorry couldn’t post earlier. My VISA term is coming to an end and I have to travel back to my native place in another couple of months. I am really busy with selling out my things and making preparations. Oh, BTW this stress was a major trigger for me which I am chugging through without falling back to Nic daemon :(. Hope it goes out soon.
Damn Shiva, sorry to hear about that. Glad to hear you are staying strong though, don’t let her win. Any idea if you will be able to come back down the road?
Steve
Thanks Steve, I am doing much better now. I realized that it wasn’t actually a craving. I stepped out of myself for a few hours and tried thinking from the perspective of a never-smoker/chewer. It then hit me that I would still be going through the same level of stress and it was nothing to with nicotine. It was my small part of brain that was trying to convince me that if I had a chew all these stress would go away and make my life better. Thankfully, I didn’t listen to it :).
As per USCIS rules, I have to wait for at least a year (cool-off period) before I can apply for a VISA again unless I have applied for a green card (which I haven’t). I would love to come back again but who knows what is in store for me? I love travelling, going to new places, making new friends, learning new cultures etc. Will probably give couple of months and would plan for some other place.
Regards,
Shiva
Rick
Congrats my friend! Super proud of you. I wish you and your family the best, your a true success story, quitting before the birth if your child! You did it! Total stud
Jeff
270
Hello everyone. Dipping has taken me on a 30 year journey with only two quits under my belt. The first one was back in 2006 – after 22 years of dipping – and lasted for a little over a year. I then found myself in Iraq, stressed out, and everyone around me dipping, so I caved. I am now on my second and final quit because it was taking it’s toll on my digestive system and I am currently sitting at 36 days without nicotine. I decided that cold turkey was the only way to give it up that would work for me.
I am now getting through it with the help of Smokey Mountain Classic. However, I have found that I am actually craving the “fake stuff” now. I know it is just the oral fixation taking over but I can kick that habit too. I am just going to have to pick a day, make the decision, and quit that cold turkey too.
Basically, I am done with dipping and never going back. I just wanted to get on here and say that this was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever done. It’s not over and I feel I will be battling this in some form or another for the rest of my life. However, if I can quit dipping, anyone can!
Hey Jody,
Don’t feel bad about “craving” the Smokey Mountain…it certainly is a good tool to quit with. There is no addictive substance in the stuff, so I would much rather have a craving for that then the tobacco! I used a can a day of the fake stuff at the start of my quit…I am down to 1-3 chews a day now. Things will slows down, just keep on keeping on! You’re right, it probably is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done too, but I am doing it!
Keep up the fight!
-JP
Hey fellas been a busy couple days but just wanted to let the board know my wife delivered a healthy baby boy! Thanks for all the support in being tobacco free on this great day!!! Now the real fun begins……
Rick
167
Congratulations Rick!!! Enjoy that little guy. My youngest of 3 boys turns 1 today… it’s an amazing ride for sure!
Thanks chewie its awesome man and I realize now how precious sleep is….holy hell! 3 hours in 2 days!
Congrats RICK!
Glad to hear your son made it safe and the wife is doing fine. Welcome to fatherhood!
-JP
Day #294
Thanks jayp. These last 7 months have been pretty crazy but I’m so happy I made it to this day nic free. I’ll tell ya though when we were heading to the hospital I def had a strong craving for some snuff. I didn’t listen though and am better off because of it. Thanks for being here man its truly amazing
Rick
168
I bet you did have some craves Rick,
You’re going to find a lot of stress with a newborn, but its also very rewarding too. I guess there is certainly a parallel there with quitting the dip. It’s stressful but also rewarding to do it as well.
Just remember why you wanted to quit…your original reason(s) for quitting. For me, I was just sick of being a slave to a chemical, this is the real reason why I quit. Not for my wife/.kids/health/finances….I quit because I was tired of being a slave. It feels Awesome (capital A) to be free from it. Any cravings I have, are just that of a handful of seeds or a Triumph and they are less and less as the weeks pass.
Anyway, Yes, these past 7 months have been a roller coaster, keep up your quit and enjoy being a Dad. They say “they grow up so fast”, but until you actually are a parent, you truly don’t know what that means!
Take Care,
-JP
Hey quitters
Day 267 here, a few craves now and then, but not looking back. I am can handle the craves must easier, and I go weeks without a thought of a dip.
I still thank this site for my quit:). Jayp. Good to see you still motivating the rookies, rick, shiva, Steve, and even DDD, hope your still kicking the hell of the nic bitch
Jeff
267
Hey Jeff!
Glad to see you’re still whooping ass as well!
I too am taking craves…one at a time.
Actually, at day #294, I had a dream last night, I bought a can of Skoal Wintergreen LongCut. I remember walking sown a sidewalk, looking at the can and thinking “I’ll just have one, I’m sure it’ll be fine”…but also remember feeling guilty for buying the thing too. Any way… am glad it was just a dream, I am still tobacco and nicotine free and plan on never going back.
Take care my friend,
-JP
day 58 still craving dealing with it never going back
Great Job Scotty!
Those craves should be tapering of very soon. Then they will just be hit and miss!
Keep up the fight!
-JP
I’m new to the message board, just thought I would post I’m on day 251 quit back in August of 2014. The funny thing is just in the pass week I started having dip dreams and cravings again. I thought for sure they would be done by now, but I also dipped for 16 years.
Hi Steven,
You’re not that far behind me in your quit. You’re well qualified by now to beat those cravings into submission. I think the craves will always be there. Hell, I have friends that quit15 years ago, and he tells me he STILL has dip dreams and the occasional crave. My Dad also quit smoking almost 15 years ago, he too says he misses it. I think it will always haunt us, 16 years is quite a while with the can (I was at 25 years).
But you’re only as strong as your latest crave. I use the fake stuff, Sunflower Seeds, Gum…anything to keep that toxic shit out of my mouth. And I am WINNING the battle, one crave at a time. I will admit, back a few weeks ago or maybe around where you’re at now, I had a STRONG want for a dip. I got through it though….just a strong passing thought that seemed to linger for 20 minutes. But I got past it.
We’re all addicts here, if you accept that, then I think when the craves come, you can understand “why” they occur and are better equipped to beat them down, one by one as they come at ya.
Or…come here, we all want to help each other!
Take Care and Keep Quit!
-JP
Day #290
Just looking in on this message board, good to see some other quitters posting out here. I am still beating the shit out of my former habit, one day at a time. I honestly don’t see myself ever going back to the tobacco. I have came wayyy too far to mess up the good (and HARD) work now. Of course, that doesn’t mean if I “want” a dip, it won’t come in the form of a fake one, or a handful of seeds, but I am THROUGH with the tobacco and nicotine. I am so much healthier without it and am happy (great full) I made it through a 25 year habit without any serious problems…and I am now free at last!!
You new guys keep punching away, every day you commit to the quit, that habit gets further and further away, in the rear view!
-JP
Day #288
Just starting Day 4 and can’t believe how different I feel but I do need the emotional strenght to stay true. This site was, is, and will be a huge help to my quest..
Thx for the help, I will stay in touch.
Cheers
Mike
I am currently day 3, my 1 st day back at work!! I have kicked the habit before… Once was because of a medical condition, lasted for 2+ years, the other was because I wanted to stop! It lasted nearly 4 years. Guys, the urge will come back, fight it and do not give into it!! I hope I can say this is day 3 of the rest of my life! It was a rough day.. Guys were not sure who I was, I was definately not myself!!
I’m 12 days in… I’ve been reading the posts so I figured I should post. I know to expect a rough ride since I quit for over a year before, although I have know idea how or why I started back up… Days 1-3 are brutal and then the mind games start. Reading the comments and articles have helped motivate me to make this my last quit. Between all the cravings, triggers and irritation I have a feeling of euphoria that keeps me going. Being free of chew keeps me going. i don’t want to go back to days 1-3…
good luck and peace
Franco
Day 15 an this is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever did. I been dipping for 35 years, my wife says just start back up lol.
Hang in there Eric – you’re dealing with the “Two Week Weakness” – it gets better!
https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/2-week-weakness/
You’re doing awesome Eric, a 35 year veteran and 2 weeks into your quit, keep moving on without the nicotine, I promise, it gets better! I wouldn’t take the wife’s advice and “go back”…2 weeks removed from the chaw is a huge accomplishment. Keep us posted and Keep Quit!!
-JP
Day #284
Thanks JP an Chewie, the most support since I started on this journey. I do feel better an feel better about myself.
Eric you’re doing awesome, the first two weeks are awful so don’t throw that away! The next couple weeks are much more manageable but still tough for sure. Keep doing whatever you’re doing since it seems to be working.
Steve
Almost 6 months
Hi all, I’m the wife of a man who decided (on his own) to quit cold turkey yesterday. We’re at hour 29 currently. I was wondering how I can help him? I hate seeing him like this, but I hate the chew even more. He is feeling hot, having a hard time concentrating, can barely sleep, and looks a little wild-eyed quite frankly. I kept him distracted all day, but the evening has been difficult for him. He hasn’t become irritable, but I realize that could still come. Anyhow, any advice for me? Thanks
Hey Amber,
How is your husband doing? The first week is miserable, so is the second but it starts to get better. I’m trying to think back to what my wife did for me or what I wouldve wanted Her to do. Honestly just give him his space, have him go to the gym he really needs to be busy. The gym was big for my quit. Not to be crass but my wife did “put the moves” on me quite often in the early days to keep me from snapping.
Is he using fake dip at all? Seeds?
Steve
I have been nicotine free for 7 days now. I have been in a fog for 3 days when does the fog go away?
Hi Mike,
Congrats on dropping the patch! While its great you put that can down and got away from that habit, unfortunately, you were still pumping your brain with nic through the patch. Now, you truly can start the recovery process.
The FOG! Yes, I can definitely remember that hanging around for a while. I had a bout with Anxiety, before I quit chewing last year. When I decided to quit, that fog came to me and it felt like my anxiety was returning (it wasn’t), because I had dealt with some “fog” during the anxiety too. The good news, I think it only lasted a couple weeks. My suggestion is to get to drinking a lot of water, this will flush any left over nicotine residue. If you exercise (I run), get out and get active, this also helps with the fog. But I promise you, as everyone else will here, it WILL lift. Just stay the course and it’ll lift! I also had what I call “brain-zaps”. These annoying “dizzy-jolts” that partnered up with the fog. Just to let you know, if those come along, they too will disappear after a while. Your brain is PISSED you chose to do this to yourself, so this is where the FOG comes from. If it becomes too much to deal with, go see your doctor and let him/her know what you’re doing, they will be happy you made this choice and can give you something to help. Just roll with it, come here and bitch about it, we’re all here to help Mike, good luck!!
-JP
Day #276
Thanks JayP for the advice. Everything you said is exactly what I am going through. It’s good to know eventually these feelings will go away.
Hey Mike, no problem. We all want you to succeed here, so if you are feeling shitty, bitchy or turning back, come here and let us all know. Everyone here is willing to help, we all been through what you’re feeling. I had a lot of help at my start, so I will do what I can to help the new ones get rolling so they can help others. Keep up the fight and keep us posted on your progress. Yes, all these “feelings” will pass, PROMISE!
-JP
Day#279
That’s great to hear. Thanks for the help. Shit sucks now, fog is pretty much gone, which is great! I am still getting these jolts or zaps throughout my body and I feel weak most of the day. My sleep sucks now. Running and walking helps during the day but if you got any other tips to help please let me know.
His you hanging in Mike? Quit still??
-JP
Are you “still” hanging in there Mike, is what I meant. I visit this site on my mobile phone….fat-fucking-finger syndrome I guess, lol!
I quit dipping 86 days ago. I went the nicotine patch route and have been nicotine free for 7 days now. I dipped for ten years and dip about 2 cans a day. I used fake stuff to get me through the days. I feel great but recently I have been in a fog for the last 3 days, mostly in the morning and mid afternoons. How long will this fog last and how can I get rid of it? Thanks
Mike – even though you’ve been dip free for 86 days your body is just NOW going through the withdrawal from nicotine. SO… if you’re looking at this timeline you’re at day 7
Thanks Chewie. Kind of felt these feelings a while ago when I first quit dipping but I’m ready for them now. This fog feeling is tough but I’ll beat it. Great website!
My Hubby is almost at one full week. He had a crappy dentist appointment and it scared him. So he’s going cold turkey and has hit the insomnia point…(this is the second time he’s quit btw, the first time was for 2 whole years!!)
I hope he can remain quit this time K.G.D.
2 years….I am not even to a year yet (closing in tho) and I just don’t see myself going back. There are plenty of alternatives that he can use if he really wants to “dip” without using tobacco. I use Herbal Chews a few times a day and it is a tobacco, nicotine and guilt free for a dipper to enjoy one without all the terrible chemicals. I wish him all the luck, tell him to come here and join the army of quitters!
-JP
Day #276
Day 7 of the quit. Haven’t been this long since I was 14. Sleeping fine, down to about three cravings a day. Using fake nicotine free snuff, sun flower seeds, and regular trident gum. Foggy in morning, slightly irritable, and getting really tired of constipation. All and all though I’m happy. I cut back for about a month prior to quitting. Went from a can of Grizzly Straight a day, to 1 can every three days that helped me a lot.
Great Job TLQUITIN…that is pretty much the way I started my quit too…tapered it back to almost nothing…then used the fake stuff, seeds and a little gum. You’re doing awesome. Keep us posted on your progress!!
Thanks for help! I got 5 cans of smokey mountain straight on the way!
Hey guys my name is Zach. I chewed for about 6 years. I chewed at least a can a day and some days 2 cans the last couple years or so. I am on day 30 of my no booze no chew lifestyle. The booze is super easy for me compared to the chew. I get cravings so bad still that I have to look up cancer pictures and persuade myself not to give in almost every night. I work out a ton and play hockey a couple nights a week. The only real way for me to not crave chew is to be doing something active. How much longer of this foggy hell?! I miss my morning, evening, and especially after meal chews! These cravings are painful.
Hey Zach – that fog sucks… I remmeber it well.
Here’s a pretty good timeline of what to expect: https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/what-to-expect-when-you-quit-dipping/
And here are two articles that speak directly to “The Fog”
https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/the-fog-of-quitting-dip/
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/ask-the-experts-faq/im-really-dizzy-foggy-how-long-will-this-last/
Hang in there!
Hey Rick, it’s been quite sometime we heard from you. How you doing?
Struggling man. Day 150 here. Bought a can last Wednesday and dumped it. Did the same thing Friday. Wasted 5 dollars on shit. I feel like I’ve been going in reverse the last couple of weeks.
Wtf!!! Ive always had a tough time admitting that I need help but I do. I feel like I’ve learned nothing.
Keep coming around Rick,
Isn’t a dam thing wrong with admitting you need help, WE ALL DO! We’re all addicts here, no different than an alcoholic.
This place is a good place to pop into when you feel the urge, use it!
I hope you stay strong, 150 days is quite a feat!
Stay Strong!!
-JP
Hey Rick, hang tough man I’m in the exact same fucking boat right now. And we are close in days so this may be another rough patch. I think for us it has to do with the seasons changing, I’ve read it takes a full year because there are different triggers at different times of the year. Before it was shoveling now it is mowing/raking, different crave.
Lately I’ve really wanted one, just one. Kind of to see what the fuck I ever liked about it, honestly I forget the smell and taste so I don’t know why I want one so bad. The feelings pass but they are definitely more frequent then even before I hit day 100. Big thanks to my friends (that will never read this) for not letting me do one the other night when I was hammered.
Sorry everyone for the radio silence, work picked up and it finally being nice in Boston I want as little screen time as possible. I do read the posts so I’m glad to see Shiva and JayP still coming in here, it doesn’t seem like there has been a consistent new guy so hopefully Zach or Mike can keep the torch going.
Steve
Day ~170+ maybe (6 months 5/3)
Thanks guys. I know it will get better. Just hanging tough. Its nice out today. Good day for a run!
Rick
152
Hey guys , I’m 19 and have been dipping for 2 years , tin of pouches a day, and I think I’m ready to put it down for good
Congrats on a great decision Nick! Let us know how we can help!
I quit 6 years ago for 4 years. I took one chew with my buddies out drinking one night. About a week later had a couple chews. Next day I was right back to a can a day.
I just finished day 2 of no chew . I don’t remember it being this hard last time. I don’t remember having insomnia. I will stick with it. I have my motivation I need to get me through this.
Hi Jeff, I wish you all the luck this time around with the quit….I had a similar relapse myself, about 19-20 years ago…it lead me on a 25 year habit instead of a 5-6 year one. At least you know you cannot have “just one” now. Quit means quit, is what i learned. I am wiser now and will not go back. So many “good” alternatives these days…I won’t need that stuff anymore. I have read the second time around quitting is much tougher than the first….so I wish you luck and know you will succeed….you “know” what it takes and think you will be stronger knowing you cannot do that stuff anymore….quit is quit!
Good Luck!!
-JP
Good to see a lot of new quitters joining the good fight out here. I’ve been plugging away at my own quit as well. I will say, I am a very happy man without needing the nicotine anymore. Sure, I’ve gained a little weight since the quit, but have since lost half of it….and I feel like I can accomplish anything since I shook that habit of 25 years….and all you new guys can do it too!
Billy, I will tell you what you’re doing….kicking the nic-bitch’s ass!
Brad, I hope day 1 of your quit is treating you well and you were brave enough to quit today and beyond!
Harold, come here and come often to vent and share your stories with all of us, everyone has their own battles they fight each day, we want to hear them!
Brass, hit your doctors office, get yourself checked out. And when you find out you have a clean bill of health, get back here and start your quit!
OF#13, I would say get yourself some fake chew to get you by when you are feeling the triggers. I would also encourage you to come here, on this site and share your quit stories with us. We are here to help each other!
Scotty, It sounds like you are ready to be free from this nasty habit and I hope you chose to stick to your quit. Let us know how you’re doing!
Graffin, how did that Smokey Mountain Straight work out for you? It should be “similar” to Cope, but not the same. Again, these are just there to help you get by, they will not replace that poison we’ve abused for years! I think Classic is close to Cope as well. Let us know!
Shiva, Jeff, Rick and Steve, hope you all are doing well with your quits too!! Be good and continue to
Commit to the Quit peeps!
-JP
Day #261
Hey 5 days clean still feel like total asshole. I hate life dip is amazing what are we all doing? Who are we kidding? Dip is delicious. Damnit I hate this !
Hey guys I am 21 and I have dipped since I was about 16. I have tried quitting a couple times and I never really stuck with it. I decided that I needed to be done with stuff for good. I have been tapering down and I plan to start my first day tomorrow without any nicotine.
hey guys I’m new goin on 27 Y/O dipping for 5 tried to quit a few months ago but now I’m ready any advice?
Welcome Harold and congrats on a great decision. If you haven’t yet, I’d suggest you join our community at http://forum.killthecan.org where we’ve got over 23,000 members that “get it”. It’s the best place on the web to get support and questions answered from folks who know what you’re going through.
How long have you been experiencing those symptoms?
This is my first day after quitting chew. I am 52 years old and I am concerned about throat cancer. I started when I was 14 years old. I have been trying to quit for the last 5 years. I get headaches, my throat hurts, my neck hurts, and I am disoriented. I hope that im not dying from this stuff.
Ok, so there are “triggers” that urge you to dip, something you associate dipping with. I’m a college baseball player, and obviously we have practice or a game everyday. I associate baseball with dipping, so how could I quit when baseball is present literally everyday? Even in the off-season I am still out on the field long tossing, batting, etc. Advice would be appreciated.
DEFINITELY! Triggers are a HUGE part of what you’re going to deal with during your recovery. Below are a couple of articles / posts about them
http://blog.killthecan.org/2009/10/fall-is-upon-us-here-come-the-seasonal-triggers/
http://blog.killthecan.org/2010/04/triggering-a-look-inside/
https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/seasonal-triggers-hunting/
The triggers aren’t going to go away… to be successful you need to learn to deal with them. If you haven’t yet, I’d suggest a good non-tobacco, non-nicotine alternative. It’ll help big time – it did for me: https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/smokeless-alternatives/
Thanks for all the comments and advice! Prob not gona drink for a couple more weeks I think its to early and I don’t want to ruin my progress. The fake chew never worked for me in the passed I would always buy it chew it for a day and then right back to the skoal ! Been using gum,mints,and toothpicks and it’s helped. I think about chewing everyday it sucks but I never felt this good in a while I have tons of energy! ( it’s probably bc I’m not drinking!!)I will continue to be strong and hopefully by day 50 I won’t be thinking about skoal everyday.
Any tips chewed cope long cut for 14 years today is my first day of attempting to quit made so far
Graffin, I chewed Skoal Long Cut Wintergreen, for about 20 of my 25 years (Kodiak prior to that). BUT, I dabbled with Cope, just didn’t like the fine cut and never tried the Long. BUT! I think Smokey Mountain Straight is very close to the flavor of Cope. Again, NOTHING will replicate the worm dirt we abused for years, but the idea is to find something close. And I have always contested, Smokey Mountain Straight, is as close to Cope you can get with out getting back into the bad shit.
Good Luck!
-JP
Lee, it lasted me for about 20 days
Good going Scotty!!! You are at a stage where Nic and it’s metabolites have gone out of your system and hence you feeling great. The mind games are bit tricky and you’d still get psychological craves for some time. The problem with drinking now is that your brain still remembers the days when you were still dipping and drinking and it will start convincing you to do the same. I would suggest to wait for few more days/weeks. But the good part is that if you drink and still do not cave in then it is a strong extinguisher. Like JayP said, it is all about training your mind now.
Good luck again, quitting completely is the best ever decision in your life
Shiva
I have 13 days today without skoal classic long cut mint horseshit! Feeling shitty with dizziness when I turn my head a certain way, Very annoying indeed. I knew it would be tough to stop as I had made a conscious decision to quit cold turkey and realize that half measures will avail me nothing. I had a pinch going in my mouth from morning coffee to bed time each day
. Even though I have 28 yrs of sobriety in A.A. , I feel that this has nothing to do with quitting chewing tobacco. Not having a dip seems fairly easy…It’s just the dizziness that fks me up. I know it’s the FOG and part of the deal but what is the normal length of time for the dizziness?
Bro, get something, sunflower seeds, toothpicks, candy to help you out.
Day four right now feeling no satisfaction at all eating everything in site even craving cigarettes
Closing in on day 20 tomorrow !!!!!! Best decision ever was to quit . My big hurdle is going to be drinking I haven’t drank since I quit. Any advice?
Scotty, in almost the exact same shoes my man. In my 40’s, been dipping for over 30 yrs, dentist told me it was time to stop. It’ll be a month this week since I stopped cold turkey. I tried Jake’s mint chew & it was OK, but I was also still dipping my Apple Skoal, so Jake lost out. This last weekend I was having a few cold beers and I was hurting big time for dip. I didn’t cave in, but instead of making myself suffer, I wanna find a good non tobacco dip for those hard times. I bought some Smoky Mountain today, the flavor was great but didn’t last long. I think I may give Jake’s another shot. Besides.this advice, keep candy and sunflower seeds handy. Really hasn’t been too bad. Good luck.
Congrats on 20 free days Scotty!
Whew….drinking. Personally…I took almost 30 days off the booze until I had a pretty solid handle on the the craves before I drank. I had my fake can of herbal chew in my pocket and a bag of seeds. The minute your party starts the tobacco…the craves will hit like a sack of nicklels. But if you are ready to face another huge trigger, then maybe its time to face it. In would have your fake stuff near…the idea is to train your brain that “this” is what you do now, not the tobacco…and stick to your guns!
Good Luck!!
-JP
Hey boys!
Wow. Allot of new quitters. I love it, and looking at the vets showing the new guys how we roll here.
Congrats to the new quitters! Stick with your quit, use the veterans to help you get to have a successful quit
Jayp, Steve, Rick, Shiva… This is my busy season, all over china these months, then trade shows and traveling all over the USA.
Sorry I have not been here as often to be helpful to the new quitters.
Jeff
Day 222
Start of day 6. Feeling pretty easy just major craves once in awhile. Drinking doesn’t make me want to chew either so that’s a plus. No nicotine in my system for sure now.
Great job Swim, keep up the good work!
Yes, those cravings will continue to hit, some strong, some not so strong….you will have them on and off for this first 100 day stretch. Not going to say they will disappear after the 100 days…but they sure seem much weaker and less frequent. Keep pushing the craves away!
-JP
Hey Jeff! Good to see you dropping through. I’m on and off here now myself. Great to see you’re plugging away still with the quit. Lots of new quitters taking the reins here and I will help them when I can (as you have too) Take care!
-JP
Day #253
I’ve used 4-5 cans per week the last 10 years and am trying to quit. I have lozenges, Hooch fake dip, Grindz coffee pouches, gum, etc. I’m on day 9 and the feeling I’m having is – this isn’t worth it. Suck – I’ve quit 5-10 times but never made it more than 2-3 months. How do you convince your brain it’s bad enough that you really need to stop? My father died of lung cancer from smoking and I can understand how he was never able to quit. He was a 2 pack per day guy for 35 years. I really don’t want that for my family. Anyway, I guess I’m writing on here to keep me going. Day 9 and counting. Oh and I’m a tax accountant – why would anyone try to quit during tax season. Well I always have a reason to look forward to a dip…
JD – the lozenges you’re referring to… are they nicotine lozenges? If so, you’re prolongoing your agony. Evey time you take one, you are reintroducing nicotine into your body and essentially “starting over”.
As for whether it’s worth it… I had similar feelings. I can tell you now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it’s 100% worth it. FREEDOM from addiction is an amazing thing. It’s not easy, but yes, it’s worth it.
Day 3 went well. I’ll continue to post daily if possible. I ordered 20tins of smokey mtn wintergreen and I got a ton of gum and seeds. I think I’m set for awhile. stress is lower today that usual I’m just doing one thing at a time and it seems to get done. Huge help was no headache or migraine today. If you guys have any sites on fake caffeine dip that doesn’t taste like coffee let me know! Thanks!
Great Job Swim, welcome to Day 3 of freedom!
I never used the fake stuff that had stimulates in them. I know there are a few that have “energy” in them, and I think they are listed on the alternative page here as well. There is a “Tea” one I think too, I imagine those probably taste like Tea (Captain Obvious shit right there). Smokey Mountain makes a pretty good product, that is where I started myself. Then branched off into the others listed here.
Keep up the good work and let us know how you’re doing!
-JP
Last spit August 7th 2015…….one of the best things I’ve ever done at the age of 56.
Day 4 underway. I chewed grizzly mint for 5 years 5 cans a week. When does it start to get better ? I am working out a lot and making myself tired and also sleeping as much As possible I have baccoff and nicotine gumhave to say it has helped .. At what point will The withdrawal not bother me so much and I can just go on with my day like everything is normal
Dow – you had me until “nicotine gum”. The problem with that gum is that it contains nicotine. Every time you chew a piece, you’re “taking the edge off” but you’re reintroducing the drug that you’re addicted to, and withdrawing from, back into your system. Essentially, every time you take a piece, you’re starting over.
Dump the gum, go 72 hours NICOTINE FREE and then you can truly start your recovery. Until then you’re just delaying your pain.
Dow,
You shouldn’t be having any withdraws if you’re chewing nic gum. Withdraws occur when you totally rid yourself of a chemical. In this case, nicotine. I agree with Chewie 100%, you gotta drop that gum and put on your big boy pants. You’re only prolonging the addiction by using another nicotine product. I suggest getting yourself a can of mint fake chew from Hooch, Smokey Mountain or even Triumph and waive goodbye to nicotine for good. Its tough, but you truly can’t start your quit until you dump nicotine all together. Start by tossing that gum today and come here and post your progress!! Good luck!
-JP
#Day 247
Ya your right a couple piece of nicotine gum a day means no withdrawals wen your used to a tin a day . Get off your high horse
We’re not on a horse, high or otherwise, DOW. We’re telling you like it is.
Yes, chewing nic gum will in fact take away the pain of withdrawals. That’s because you’re not withdrawling from nicotine, because you’re continuing to feed your body the drug that it’s craving.
It would be akin to an alcoholic who’s fiending for his Jack Daniels… would you give him a beer to “take the edge off”?
Day 25 with no dip. Day 21 without the nic gum . All I have to say is fuck you faggot . This site was not support for me… I was blasted down after making it 4 days without a dip because I used the gum to help . Quitting the gum was a hell of a lot easier then dip , I want you all to know that … Chewie and jayp aren’t gods or are they doctors or some kind of genoius. You don’t need those faggots
Dow,
I re-read the entire conversation just now and I don’t see any place where you were “blasted” down. I could only see folks sharing their knowledge with you to help you succeed. Also, I couldn’t help notice the irony that you stopped your nic gum around the 4th day :).
Just to let you know around this time your body will be completely free from Nic and it’s metabolites. But now the mind games starts. The inner chatter was terrible for me around 50-70 days.
Good luck on your progress,
Dow,
I am (nor anyone else here) by no means trying to read you the rite here. You’re obviously here for a reason….you want to quit and I applaud you for that. Just simply pointing out that the nic gum isn’t doing you any favors. It’s like taking just 2-3 pinches of tobacco a day. You’re not quitting, you’re slowing down. Maybe that’s the way you need to start your quit…and that’s fine. But when you’re ready to fully commit to the quitting of nicotine, we’re all here for you. We’re not on any “high-horses” here, just giving you the facts. Accept that you’re an addict and you need some help, we’re all addicts and are here for each other. Good Luck!
-JP
Wow guy….sorry you felt picked on here. But nicotine, IN ALL FORMS, is the enemy on this site. I felt it hard to believe you were having withdraws when you were popping nic gum. In fact, let me hit you with some more stuff. When I quit (and failed) back in the 90’s, I quit on nic gum. I mixed it with regular gum until I was out of nic gum, then just chewed gum. I didn’t have any withdraws, fog, sleep deprivation, fits, weight gain….UNTIL I was out of the nic gum. SO! I was pronging the quit (which is what we told you here). You truly cannot get on the road of “quit” until you drop ALL nicotine. Again, sorry you felt picked on, glad you are into the quit (WITHOUT THE AIDS OF NIC PRODUCTS). I can tell you are off nicotine now, since you flamed out on the board me members here. Good Luck!
-JP
Day #274
Thanks for the help guys. I’m making it through the day and I’m going to pick up some seeds. Today has been easier but I found out I got a concussion so I have another migraine. I’m starting to hate the smell of dip and I hate the sight of it, it makes me sick that some dark leaves control my life. The only thing that’s not helping now is someone may have been knocked up that wasn’t my girlfriend so I’m stressed out from that and college and other life events going on making the temptations even worse but I keep coming on here and reading your comments, which actually helps! Thanks guys
day 2
I can promise you swim no matter what is going on in your life that having a dip is only going to make it worse. because we all know you can’t have just one dip. you might as well stack a thousand cans underneath that one can and tell yourself well I’m going to chew all this tobacco because I’m having this one. speaking from experience your Self esteem will go up and things will get easier!
We were not born needing this poison.
Don’t believe the lies.
Nicotine is a lie.
Rick
121
Funny story for the new guys. Well and old guys!
Yesterday I was driving home, long ride for work and I was having a smokey mountain and I tried to remember why the fuck I loved kodiak so much, what was it? I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. I also wondered if I had one today would I even enjoy it? Would I go back 100% to dipping?
It was a reminder how sneaky the nic bitch is, 4 months quit and she’s still trying to slide in the door. Stay on your toes.
Steve
Great Story Steve, I agree, those are just them nicotine ghosts of your past talking. I often wonder why I liked the Skoal Wintergreen Long cut so much. In reality, the stuff did taste terrible…even the smell is awful! I really think it is/was the spitting thing that I liked most…and probably the chemical reaction I was getting too.
Good you were able to just shrug off that thought of “would I even enjoy it?”. I know I am too weak to have “just one”. I learned my lesson long ago, quit is quit!
Take care and Welcome all you new bad ass quitters!
-JP
Day #246
Thanks for sharing Steve. She never gives up. Some days she’s louder than others. I still have my issues while doing hands on stuff around the house and yard. I just take a deep breath andplow through it. The “just one dip” comes up a lot at those times. No such thing as one—might as well be 1001 dips as far as I’m concerned. Jayp back in the 90s salmon fishing. Your were quit for 6 months— was it the thought of “just one dip” that made you ask for a pinch?
On a good note I only have 5 weeks before I become a dad!
They say you have to quit for yourself and I did.
but my biggest inspiration for quitting is knowing that I’ll be around for the family all the time and won’t have to sneak off or leave a family get together early just so I could have a dip. tobacco has no part of my life anymore. I look at it now as something evil. I’m sure it sounds silly to some people but its an evil thing to have to go through getting off the shit.
Wow Rick 5 more weeks it’s going to fly by. Get a couple good nights out of your system now because it’s an adjustment.
You will love it though
Steve
Hey Rick! Good to hear from you, sorry I missed this until now! I am having issues with the lack of Syncing going on with email and my phone! Still cannot figure out the issue.
That fishing trip in the 90’s….yes, it is a shining example of what “just one dip” does. I ruined 6 months of quit, just by having “one”. It was really my first true test if I was committed or not to the quit. All my buddies were thumping there cans, popping the lids, we were all wading in the river….it was all “perfect” for a dip, Spit into the river while it rushed between your legs with the Salmon, still recall it like yesterday, I came home from that trip and was working for Pepsi at the time. I was at one of my stores and seen a guy I knew in the meat department. I knew he dipped, so I caved and asked for another from him (Dip 2). I went to my next store, finished my work there and went and bought a can…just like that, I wasted 6 months of quit. And I dipped all the way up to July 15th 2014. So one small slip up led me on another 18 years of chewing tobacco. I am not that stupid (or weak) anymore. There is NO such thing as “one dip”. I’ve came to accept, I am an addict of nicotine, smokeless tobacco specifically. Either you are quit…or you are not. I view it entirely different these days. I am proud of the outlook I now have on life without the tobacco these days. I no longer rely on nicotine or look to a time I can dip again, I am free and will remain free from that shit. I kicked the habit and know I am dam lucky I came out healthy. I do especially love not having my cheeks full of Leukoplakia (dead skin) from that poison!
But I will honestly say…had that not happened back in the 90’s on that fishing trip, I would of never learned what “caving, relapsing, failure” was all about. I learned from it. So anyone that thinks they can have “just one”…I wish you luck on your next quit, because you WILL start dipping again, believe that!
Hope all is good Rick and congrats on being a new Dad. Life certainly changes when you become one, you lose the luxury of not giving a fuck about stuff. But we all have to grow up someday, right? Be good, stay quit and keep in touch!
-JP
Day #248
Looks like we have some new quitters, welcome guys.
Hudson the first few days are really tough man you got to stay committed, look at Scotty he’s already two weeks in and I’m sure he will tell you that he’s doing much better than days 1-5, my point is it will pass.
Swim I was a kodiak user and smokey mountain has helped me out. Gym was huge for me as well, I was very irritable at the beginning and that knocked the edge off. To my surprise posting on here took the edge off too, I didnt think it would at first to be honest but a great group of guys here talked me down we’ve all Benn thru it before so we really cAn relate.
Steve
Day 134 I think
Anything, try them all see which one works best for you- I did gum. Prepare for the worst 3 days. Tell yourself im worth it and allow yourself to feel good with every hell no you say.
Honestly I feel like such a failure I usually have one as soon as I wake up and all day I constantly have one in. I didn’t have any through college today but now I’m typing this with one in to get rid of this killer headache. It’s all I can think about and I let my gf know to expect me to be edgy. I was very groggy and clouded thoughts all day. All I can think about is dipping all day in class and I got nothing accomplished. The dip I have in is the last of the Copenhagen log I had and I have no way to purchase more so Im set from now on. Please help me with any tips/tricks. I’m thinking about patches to help with headaches because I frequently get migraines that put me out for a whole day and qutting before for a week had effects. I’m going to restart today but I feel like sh*t having taken one more.
I’ll give an update on day 4, I think the alternates would help but 2-3weeks shipping cuts off that deal maybe seeds?
Swim,
Try some Smokey Mountain Straight. I was a Skoal guy, but the Smokey Mountain Straight, to me, taste an awful lot like Cope. I never could get into the Cope, way, WAY to fine for me. But the smell and taste is close (not exactly) to Cope. Again, all these fake chews will not replicate that shitty stuff we abused for years, but it will get you by until the cravings slow down (and I promise, they will).
Walmart carries the stuff, and a lot of tobacco shops do too. Or you can order it from the link Chewie provided above. Give it a try and keep quit!
-JP