Quitting Copenhagen Today

CoolCarl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2010, 10:22 PM

As the title states today is day one of no more Copenhagen. I've been dipping for about 20 years now. About 10 years ago I made a decent attempt at quitting. It lasted 6 months. Got drunk one night and started right up again.

3pm today was my last one. I have the patch on my arm right now and am chewing bubble gum like a mad man.

Hopefully it will stick this time. It's been long overdue.

Wish me luck.

Carl

vector1 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 04:44 AM

good luck! i've read it's harder to quite copenhagen then it is to quite heroin. been there done that. i relapse to skoal every once in a while but try not to touch the copenhagen. takes me about 2 wks to get the stuff out of my system but then there is always the monkey that rides on my back after that for a while. people are very habitual so that makes it all the more difficult. might as well quit cold turkey, the patches just prolong the agony, you'll probably look like the front of a fridge in a couple more days.

Bill Bess · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 07:04 AM

Very smart decision. I have friend that is suffering with mouth cancer due to that stuff and is now going through a lot of pain and may lose in the end. Don't put yourself, family and friends throu the pain and hell.
Get hooked on life and positive thoughts.

Best of luck, Bill

CoolCarl · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 11:39 AM

Day 2. The patch seems to be working. No cravings yet (although its early morning still). Its the oral fixation thats driving me nuts.

vector1-the only success I've ever had with quitting for a prolonged amount of time has been with the patch. The few times I've tried to quit without the patch lasted less than a day.

CoolCarl · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2010, 11:57 PM

End of day 2: ok, i'm serioustly jonesing. I so want a dip right now but I'm not gonna cave. I've had a few cocktails and the urge is kicking my arse. The patch is doing its job and i'm holding strong.

P.S. the funny thing about last night is I went to bed with the patch on my left shoulder. I woke up and the patch has moved to just under the right breast.

P.P.S. I'm considering the beef jerkey that is shredded and looks just like copenhagen

Bill Bess · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 06:44 AM

BE STRONG...YOU HAVE THE POWER. JUST KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

Maybe some of that string bubble gum the kids use might help?

Keep it going, Bill

vector1 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 06:50 AM

stay away from alcohol and caffeine during this time, it's gonna make it worse.

how does dirt look, you know there is the tiniest bit of nicotine in dirt, almost imperceptible?

keep reporting back, we'll either tease you or piss you off, maybe this will help.

392cobra · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 07:53 AM

I think you made a good move coming on here telling everyone you have quit.

I did that 37 months ago when I quit smoking after 40 or so years.The encouragement meant a lot. I also knew how much I'd hate to tell the guys here I had failed after the support they gave. I haven't smoked again since and no desire what so ever.

Celebrate every minute-hour-day you go without a dip.

Not by drinking though,it hurts the effort to stop.That will get you kicked off "the wagon" just like the last time.

Not easy at all to stop ! BUT you can and are kicking it's ass right now !

CoolCarl · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 01:42 PM

Afternoon day 3. Not a hangover but somewhat cranky from last night. No more patch (at least for now) and I'm not chewing gum right now. We'll see how the day goes.

Dirty Harry · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 02:41 PM

Hang in there. This is important. Keep fightin'.

Buzz · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 06:03 PM

I quit smoking cold turkey at age 39 after 25 years. I was in Barbados on a business trip and ended up partying hard in the hotel lounge at 2am with a bunch of English folks. I happened to look across the bar into the mirror and saw myself puffing on a cigarette while the older follow sitting next to me - also holding a cigarette - was hacking and coughing up a lung. I had two left in my pack and I decided those would be my last.

I never smoked again and that was almost exactly 10 years ago. The toughest part I found was the physical aspect of habit. I was so used to having a cigarette in one hand, particularly when I had a drink in the other, that for a time I didn't know what to do with that free hand. It was far more of a factor than any chemical dependency based cavings.

Focusing on the negative aspects of the habit - crappy jungle mouth in the morning, stuffy nose, smelly clothes after a night out and the constant awareness of the health risks - helped me stick to my resolve every time I felt like lighting up.

It didn't take long to feel a big improvement in my endurance and general sense of well being and for that alone, I could never go back. The cravings went away surprisingly quickly. Some of my close friends still smoke and one of them was rushed to Martinique last Friday for emergency heart surgery. He will be ok and he's promised to quit smoking once and for all.

If you want to quit badly enough, it can be done. Good luck.

CoolCarl · #12 (**permalink**) 10-11-2010, 09:49 AM

morning day 4.

No more patch. Didn't use the patch yesterday and it was fine so I won't use that anymore. I only ended up using 3 or 4 of them. Feels like I sorta wasted 30 bucks but in the big picture 30 bucks is a small price to pay to be done with it.

I might be done with the physical addiction part but the mental aspect I still notice.

Bill Bess · #13 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 06:30 AM

Carl, keep it up! I think it's like going on a diet..the longer you do it the easier it is to stay on it...but what do I know. Food is my addiction, my wife is a good baker and cook and continues to make things...I eat them..can't help it. What I do to keep off the weight is to just not have food sitting around, if it's there, I throw it out, kind of pisses off my wife but she understands.
I'm going to keep checking on your progress each day.
Bill

CoolCarl · #14 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 01:40 PM

Another day...

I'm pretty sure the physical cravings are done. I haven't used the patch in a few days and don't really notice that aspect.

Like others have mentioned, now the issue is the habit itself. That's the hard part.

- A chew after a meal

- A chew after waking up

- A chew during EVERYTHING in life

5 days later and still no copenhagen.

Tom Wells · #15 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 05:00 PM

CoolCarl,

Keep up the good work!

That's a mighty fine present you're giving yourself.

Tom

CoolCarl · #16 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010, 10:31 AM

Day 5 morning:

Still nicotine free.

I've noticed I'm sleeping better without any nicotine in my system.

Silverback51 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolCarl

Day 5 morning:

Still nicotine free.

I've noticed I'm sleeping better without any nicotine in my system.

Just wait until the food starts tasting better.

And congratulations.

392cobra · #18 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolCarl

Day 5 morning:

Still nicotine free.

I've noticed I'm sleeping better without any nicotine in my system.

As the dip residue wears off your teeth/mouth I'd hope your nooky scorecard would have a dramatic improvement too.

Unless your wife still dips.

CONGRATS !!

CoolCarl · #19 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 12:23 AM

Day 6

Today I shaved off my goatee. I think I had been using it subconsciously to hide my face when I chew.

I still get about 4-5 urges daily to take a dip. They don't last but a minute or 2. Not that big of deal I'm thinking.

Buzz · #20 (**permalink**) 10-15-2010, 08:38 AM

Way to go Carl! Sounds like you've just about got it licked. For those difficult moments, find yourself a real disgusting picture of cancerous mouth ulcers and study it well. Focus on it every time you get the urge. Positive reinforcement is always a good thing, but when you really need to kick a craving for something (or someone), a bit of negative reinforcement goes a long way. Keep updating us on your progress.