I am wishing you get through this easily. I think you’ve an amazing plan with the herbal snuff. You’re absolutely correct to stay away from nicotine replacements.
Way to go. 
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Was good for most of the day. Using the herbal snuff. Noticed I’m in a bit of fog right now, but overall I’m hanging in. 5 hrs and I’ll be have the 1st day down. If I can do one, I can do 2
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Yesterday was my 9 year anniversary of quitting smoking cigarettes. I was a 1 to 4 packs a day smoker (4 packs a day after my 1st husband’s death) for more than 30 years. Nicotine is a real bitch, but once you get it out of your system life does get better. It was incredibly freeing quitting smoking. I wish you great success and strength.
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I’ve had short quits from dipping before. Always used the gum or lozenges to “step down”.
First time cold-turkey. Was ok for the first day. Didn’t have any cravings or noted withdrawal. That changed last night. Head started to get a bit cloudy, like when you have a bad cold.
This morning, I was having difficulty doing anything that requires thought and action. I have a class on Saturday mornings for a professional license I am seeking. No way I could do it with my mind a mess. I hit the store and got 4mg lozenges.
I’ve hit reset on my “nicotine counter” and will continue to reset everytime I use nicotine.
For me, alcohol withdrawals were nothing compared to this. Nothing but respect for those here who white-nuckled cold-turkey nicotine.
I’m failing forward, determine to quit the dip.
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Hey. How you holding up on the progress now?
Doing Good. Had to start using nicotine lozenges. Cold Turkey was killing me. Brain literally quit working. I was thinking this must be what Alzheimer onset must feel like.
So, I’m weaning. But, I am 9 days tobacco free.
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I want to share a visualization from the Alan Carr book I used to quit smoking 18+ years ago that I think you will like. The physical addiction to Nicotine is like a little monster perched on your shoulder. Now that you have decided to quit he is desperate. He will sink his claws in and whisper in your ear. This is because his death is close at hand. For every craving he sends at you you wrap your fingers around his neck and squeeze. In days he is getting weaker and you stronger. After a week he is in his death throes and you are nearing victory. After 2-3 weeks he is gone from your body forever. I had so much Fun quitting smokes. Choke the F**ker to death Stevie.
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Thanks. I’ve given myself 2 weeks to wean using the lozenges. Have dropped from 4mgs to 2mgs. Then I’m done with nicotine for ever. No way I want to feel like I did last week.
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Glad to know. I guess we know how serious it is only once we try to quit it. No?
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How are you doing Steve?
Ive been considering to stop smoking ciggs as well but curious of ways others have done it sucessfully? I’ve used patches before it slows my smoking down but never stopped or did all 3 steps of patches… so maybe a half ass effort on my part there…but i have never tried any other method. I work in construction so im not limited to when i can light up unless its a state facility. And almost everyone i work with smokes.
I am doing well. Still using the lozenges. Only relapsed once when I was on the road for work and ran out them. Bought a can but tossed it as soon as I got home and could get more.
I think you are right. Determination to quit is everything. The patches, gums, and lozenges are aids to that. I don’t consider myself “quit” as I am still using nicotine, and will for another 2-3 weeks, but I am off tobacco. Once I go to zero lozenges, I’ll consider that day one, and start counting from there.
I wish you success. Don’t stop trying. Nicotine is way too much underestimated, it is a very tough path. Goodluck.
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When I was in the process of quitting smoking, I had a few spells of using the lozenges…thy definitely kept the nicotine craving alive…which was the true addictive substance, not the tobacco…but it is all part of the process. It was a real rough ride quitting nicotine, but I would continue to quit after relapses and just kept pushing forward. At my final quit I took Wellbutrin for about 90 days…I slept like hell and could barely poop, but I was off the cigarettes. There were a lot of changes to my routine I had to switch up…smoking is so ritualized…the association of driving and smoking was one of the worst. I was still drinking then, so that was rough as well.
It can be done…just keep quitting, it will stick. Peppermint Lifesavers are literally that as well.
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@Yoda-Stevie @SassyRocks
Hi so I’m a pack a day smoker 20+ years. Never really considered to quit until last week. Smoked my last cig on Friday night. I’m cold turkey in it at 40 hours right now. Feeling ok with bouts of energy then tired. Hard cravings at the 20 hour mark. I’m just a little anxious. Does it get much worse from here? Did I really want to quit in the first place? Now what?
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I used smokeless tobacco for my nicotine fix. Some people, like my wife, can just quit and that’s it. She found out we were expecting, and was done.
Me? I used lozenges to step down my nicotine dependence, because cold turkey was brutal for me. What I did was follow the instructions to the letter, which meant every 2 hours, then 3, 4, 6, 8, and several weeks later I was able to just stop.
The first few weeks nicotine free, I craved when I woke, and after a meal, but this was managed with cinnamon gum.
If you are 40 hours in and managing, awesome. If you get stressed, it helps to have something to get you through the craving, like gum.
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Oh man, bless you, I know it can be rough.
I highly recommend sugar free life savers and a lot of them. Cinnamon gum sounds yummy as well. Walks were super helpful for me, as was running. If I was going stir crazy with a craving hitting the road for a short run helped a lot.
You can do it!! You are doing great!!
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Hi Emily, there’s a thread here you may find helpful:
Take care love and never give up. You’re a good person who deserve a safe, sober life where you can be your full self.
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I quit smoking 3 years after getting sober. In all my attempts, I found the tipping point was 72 hours. Once past that, the physical craving gets better.
I tried lots of methods, all the nicotine replacement modalities (except vaping, but if existed back then I would have tried it) and Welbutrin. What finally worked for me was 1. Not being able to take a puff without going into a coughing fit, 2. Chantix which is not for everyone and 3. The steps of AA applied to nicotine. I found I used smoking and stimulation to handle anger, so I had to come up with a new strategy there.
Good Luck, Emily. 
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