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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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Mar 12, 2007 - 01:39am PT
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JL, I've got the SuperAddictive gene (my grandpa was a 40 year member of both AA and GA, mortgaged his house on the sly to cover his gambling debts, seriously self destructive behavior) in spades and I keep thinking the only way to truly clean the self is cold turkeying everything.
Good friend of mine did it last year, straight edge for the last 18 months or so and he claims to not want a cup of coffee, not want that bongrip, not want to drink. Said it took about three months to feel that way. And he's a hardcore partier for sure.
I think the lack of coffee would leave the biggest hole in my psyche.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 01:43am PT
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For me the worst part of being substance free was that the appetite depressing effects of caffeine were gone and my weight ballooned.
After getting stable, off nicotine for a while, I felt I could drink coffee again, enjoy it without it being being a terrible crutch.
There was no way I could end my smoking problem (10 cigs a day)
while using caffeine.
For me personally I feel I've reached a realistic balance and feel good about where I'm at.
Now if I could just do one-arms again...
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slobmonster
Trad climber
berkeley, ca
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Mar 12, 2007 - 01:57am PT
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F*#kin' A. I have a lipper in right now, and must cop to having one in most of this whole gosh-darned day. I started chewing Beech Nut and Levi Garret cutting trees in New Hampshire, and soon thereafter discovered the positive performance enhancement (*sound like an Enzyte tagline?*) that Skoal provided to my studies, climbing, test-taking... sh#t, if I had a hankering to take a dookie, in goes the dip, and I'm almost immediately on the toilet.
I quit once, for nearly six months. Cold turkey, I dumped out the remainders of two cans in front of my very recently-ex girlfriend; it was an action symbolic to both of us, I think. Later that year I got canned from my job, and driving home bought a can without any hesitation whatsoever. Now I'm back on.
It's gross, an antisocial behavior, and will probably rot my lip one day. At this point in my smokeless tobacco "career," I can keep in a dip without most people noticing. Not quite as disgusting as an old guiding buddy who swallowed all his spit, but close. The moments without Skoal, my mouth is full of either Doublemint or sunflower seeds.
At times, I think having something in there helps me keep my damn mouth shut...
Good luck with your resolution John. Keep me posted on any tips and I'll publish them in the next Falcon "How to Quit" manual.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 02:29am PT
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If someone told me that they knew for sure that no matter what I did, I'd be dead in a year - and there was some way I could believe them (ie: clear evidence of divine knowledge) - I'd light up for sure. I doubt, however, that I'd drink.
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Anastasia
Trad climber
California
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Mar 12, 2007 - 04:17am PT
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My father smoked since he was twelve. Right before he quite he was smoking three packs a day. Then after an illness he quite cold turkey when he was fifty-one.
It was very hard for him, but it was worth it for he is still around today at the ripe age of Seventy-Four.
Note: He replaced his cigarettes with butterscotch candies.
You can do it Largo, just keep that in mind when the urges hit.
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Josh Higgins
Trad climber
San Diego
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Mar 12, 2007 - 07:38am PT
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You can do it! My dad quit 2 packs/day and gained a huge amount of weight eating that he never really lost. Watch out for that pitfall! Mind over matter. You're strong.
Josh
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TradIsGood
Happy and Healthy climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Mar 12, 2007 - 07:43am PT
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I read somewhere that at one time there were only two US magazines that contained advertising that did not take advertisements from tobacco companies - Reader's Digest and Hustler.
A guy told me once about quitting. He read that the urge (to smoke) would only last about 45 seconds. He asked himself what kind of man would he be if he could not stand the "pain" for 45 seconds.
The chemistry of the brain is pretty powerful. Might be helpful to see a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Mar 12, 2007 - 08:49am PT
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Hey Largo,
I have had a lova affair with nicotine since I was 13, nearly 24 years. I have found the only way to kick it is to quit all of it cold turkey. In the past I had tried to quit smoking via dip, then I'd be in a bar and not want to dip so I'd have a smoke. Beer and a ciggie, I still miss it, even better a beer a tequila a ciggie and a dip, now that's living. Anyway I wrote this very effective contract to quit.
Nicotine Cessation Agreement
Between
Guy Robert Kenny Jr.
And
David Hoyt, Derek Chowen, David McCormic, and James Mabee
I Guy Robert Kenny Jr. do here by declare that I will not willingly and knowingly consume cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or cigars. The penalty for the aforementioned violations will be the payment of $200 for each offense to each of the 4 people listed and signed below. The only allowable exception to this rule will be a 1 hour window directly following ejaculation of (my own) seminal fluid that was NOT caused by manual stimulation. During the period of time directly following ejaculation I may enjoy as many cigarettes as can be consumed in 1 hour WITHOUT penalty of payment.
This contract is valid starting at the time of signing through September 1, 2004.
Date_
___
Guy Robert Kenny Jr.
___
David Hoyt
__
Derek Chowen
___
David McCormic by proxy via Derek Chowen
__
James Disney Mabee by proxy via David Hoyt
It worked like a champ.
Good luck
Prod..
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TradIsGood
Happy and Healthy climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Mar 12, 2007 - 09:20am PT
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stich - disease model stuff is way out of date.
You need to look at modern stuff - the role of dopamine, serotonin, etc. Tons of research has been done specific to brain, chemistry, and neural response since the 1980's.
Sure the addict needs to commit, but doing it with the understanding of brain chemistry can help, and a physician may be able to provide information specific to the addiction to improve probability of success (if the right physician is chosen).
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roslyn
Trad climber
washington
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Mar 12, 2007 - 09:34am PT
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that nicotine is addictive stuff for sure. My mom smoked insto her seventies, it wasn't until a bout of pneumonia that she quite cold turkey.
if it's chew you crave (other than the nicotine) you can get herbal chews
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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Mar 12, 2007 - 10:10am PT
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I tried the herbal alternatives, jerkey chew, mint chew, etc, while trying to quit previously. Just acted like a gateway back to the real deal.
I can't remember where I read it but something about changing the culture of your addiction, i.e., when you'd normally dip, go do a set of dips or pushups and your mind is distracted from the urge, eventually your mind associates the your new culture with your old urge.
Worked for me anyway.
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Mar 12, 2007 - 10:44am PT
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Dammit Largo, take it easy on the cold turkey thing.
What about the patches or gum?
The whole family watched for 20 years as my mom struggled with quitting. This was before it came to light that nicotine is as addictive (more, maybe) than heroine. So her inability was viewed, even by her, as a weakness. The old girl finally pulled it off, and she's still kicking.
Of course you can do it. I'd just hate to see you go postal* on us during withdrawal. Obviously we're all pulling for you.
I'd say 'good luck' but there's no luck involved. It's steely nerve from here on out.
 Bill McMahon
* To our ST friends in the postal service, no offense intended.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Hell
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Mar 12, 2007 - 11:15am PT
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Quitting is a life-long withdrawl. I'm down to a cig or a dip every 2-3 years. I started quiting about 15 years ago.
My peak usage was wake up in the morning, before I could see straight pop in a Cope and suck down a Camel straight. After breakfast I moved on to the hard stuff. Blech.
It took me a year of sobriety before I could get serious about getting off the nicotine. At that point I was sucking those pouch dips - mostly so my wife wouldn't see the chew bits in my teeth. I went on the patch and chewed the sh!t out of my pencils at work for a few months.
Tapered the patched until my last week, then started cutting the patches in half, then cutting those in half, then cutting those in half, etc. I've still got a 1mm by 1mm patch in my wallet "just in case".
As for the "once every could of years with a cig or a dip", I'm serious. I'm not totally quit yet but I'm slowly and surely getting there. It's pretty good now though.
Now I can quit other "bad" stuff too. I've been off coffee and on green tea for two years now. However a prostate issue encouraged that.
I'm so feckin lily white it makes me want to puke.
Whatever happened to the good old days of being young, stupid, indestructable, and able to pump hard cracks off the sofa?
Brwaha.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Mar 12, 2007 - 11:59am PT
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Google oral cancer. You'll quit. And quit cold turkey. Patches just keep reinforcing the habit.
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asioux
Trad climber
pasadena,ca
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Mar 12, 2007 - 12:06pm PT
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Good luck with dealing with the temtations and withdraw. A friend of mine quit smoking and took up chew. He finally quit that. What helped him was chewing gum. The nicotine gum, and then finally regular chewing gum. He also carries tooth picks with him and chewed on that. Good luck John, stay strong and never give up. Nictotine is a terrible addiction. Drink tea and stay positve. Armando
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder
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Mar 12, 2007 - 12:09pm PT
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I say we get a couple pitchers and some hand roll.
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Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 12, 2007 - 12:13pm PT
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Wow, the oral fixation part of this sort of caught me off guard. I''ve got this keyboard smoking, a squeeze bottle of herb tea on my left, a sleeve of carefree bubblegum on my right (and a couple sticks in my cakehole) along with various tic tacs, jujubees, lozengers, et al, and aside from getting up every few minutes and circling around like a dog before it lays down, I guess it's all good.
JL
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Mar 12, 2007 - 12:57pm PT
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I must not have some gene or have a different brain. I could smoke and smoke cigarettes and never get addicted. But Opiates, that warm fuzzy feeling.
JDF
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TwistedCrank
climber
Hell
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Mar 12, 2007 - 01:03pm PT
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Wow, the oral fixation part of this sort of caught me off guard.
The oral fixation is one thing. The oral fixation with a hand pumping a smoking stick up and down to the lips is in different league altogather.
I thought quiting nic from dip should be easier that the butts for that reason. YMMV
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mcKbill
climber
Grundy Center, Iowa
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Mar 12, 2007 - 02:15pm PT
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Good luck with your quit John. I've been off nicotine (cigarettes) for over 8 years now.
SHORT TERM nicotine replacement is a great way to wean yourself off. Read the instructions (nicorette gum is a 12 week program).
I noticed where someone said they have been using nicotine gum for 12 years, and I hope that was a typo.
You've already done the hard part, which is getting started and telling folks in your reference group.
If you need more focused support there is a great online support group I found during my first year: AS3 = alt.support.stop-smoking (folks can read/post there via. Google groups).
AS3 on Google
Everyone is welcome around that campfire, but keeping up with the group is exhausting.
Good luck to you and everyone who is struggling to break their addiction to nicotine.
mcKbill
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