A very close friend was recently diagnosed with a liver disease so we’ve decided to quit Ms. Nicotina together. I’ve been ingesting nicopeen competitively for around 15 years, ever since I worked as a busboy and couldn’t take a break unless it was for a ciggy (thanks food service industry!!!!).
Genetically I’m fucked from an addiction standpoint. My dad’s mom is 84 and gave up on quitting 20 years ago and her mom didn’t quit until she was forced by the nursing home after she went blind and started a few fires. Both women are living/had lived very long lives but they never successfully got off the nicoco.
However, I have a good feeling about this time because this is the first time I feel I have a good reason outside myself to motivate me: my friend’s health. In the past my attempts at quitting were either motivated by the fear of disappointing a partner or my general lung performance. The former never worked out cos I couldn’t wait to cop a pack as soon as the break up hit (or a big fight for that matter) and the latter worked up to a point but there’s plenty of ways to ingest nicorobin without putting partial-combustion bullshit or even mystery vapors in your air sacks.
Anyway, if you’ve been there tell me how it’s going! What are good nicofleen replacements as a habit or tick? I’m not too worried about oral fixation but I’m considering keeping a surgical steel needle on hand to poke myself with. In your opinion, do I need to turn down grabba/backwoods blunts from my friends? swishers? Is my partner about to be living with a huge baby for a few weeks??
Thanks!!
Thanks for sharing! what kind of treats worked for you? like a snack thing? I have a pretty good idea of where my triggers lie, I just need to be ready when they come up.
Also, you reminded me that one of the biggest hurdles I need to get over personally is not completely giving up after the first slip.
Not the poster but jellybeans were great for me. Just a pure sugar hit to self sooth. It's ok to have a vice for a while as you quit.
This is a huge and necessary step mentally. It's not a given you will use the drug again, but you might. If you do there is no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. any break is progress and helps to decondition your brain. Stumbling is part of life, we learn to walk by figuring out all the different ways to fall over.
Even if the worst happens and you resume the addiction, take a compassionate and critical eye. What worked? what didn't? how can you do better? You've got some past attempts under your belt already and those are not failures they are valuable lessons. You know yourself better, you know some of your triggers, you will do better this time.