Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!!!
When you’ve made the decision to quit dipping you need support. You’ll get it right here at KillTheCan! This site is dedicated to helping people QUIT dip, smokeless & chewing tobacco! It will be a long & difficult road, but we are confident that you too can be successful and quit dip!
All articles on KillTheCan.org are written by members of our forums. These are people who understand what it means to quit. They write these articles from the perspective of a quitter. Don’t believe the “experts” that you find out there on the web – believe someone that has successfully QUIT DIP.
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25 days until my YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! Been a long, hard year but soooo worth it. My health hasn’t been this good in years and I’m no longer a slave to the tin. Jake’s fake stuff has worked for me and dedication to living and eating well. Put your focus on other things. Find a hobby that doesn’t trigger your addiction. Tell yourself you WON’T DIP TODAY!! And then wake up tomorrow and tell yourself the same thing. After a can a day for 25 years I had to make a decision. Continue killing myself or to start living my life to the fullest. Quitting is was the best thing I ever did.
Thanks! I have since stopped carrying any with me at work. There’s one at home but so far I stay away. Idk why I find it comforting in some weird way to see the one can at home on the night stand. Just like knowing it’s there. Next week Thursday will be one month!
I’ve been chewing nearly daily for about 4-5 years now (can’t exactly remember when it truly started). It helps me relax from the bullshit of my home life (parents on verge of divorce; alcoholic, unemployed dad who refuses to see he has a problem). I know I need to quit and want to quit but damn it’s just so hard. What has worked for you guys to quit? I’m only 22 but I can’t keep dipping and knowingly taking the risk of ruining my health. My friend who actually got me into dipping when we were getting ready to go to college quit and he keeps telling me you just have to do it. I’ve tried and I only last maybe a day or two before I give in.
Have had a few good “test” days at work. Was training a new guy and absolutely NOTHING was working right on the machine. Another day was just stressful period. I’m proud to say I made it through all of it without caving! Found myself reaching for it a few times but I haven’t been keeping it that close by. Getting easier I THINK.
I was Skol fine cut dipper, it has been1742 days since my last dip, I was able to kick it you can too.
Great work Copenhgnbarbie. If I may make a suggestion, if you have a can anywhere near you ditch it immediately.Know your stress triggers and stress release techniques well. Take it one day at a time, keep an open mind and learn from others here. @Sig45
Day 1000
I still remember day 1, it was living hell.
But remember, first you start with a second, then a minute, then an hour and then a day.
The next thing you know you are at day 100 and then at day 1,000.
Great community here.
We do not all think and speak the same, embrace those you connect with, ignore those who irritate you.
Thank you KillTheCan
I quit with you today,
Dundippin, day 1,000
To two of my favorite people – Sigman and Steve no Happy.
Congratulations
I normally would not admit this on a website but I am a recovering alcoholic with over 2 years of sobriety. Although the road to sobriety was rough I can honestly it was a breeze compared to quitting dip. Holy cow!!! This addiction is brutal. Granted, I was a hard drinker for about 15 years and a nicotine addict for about 30 years. Thanks for all the comments and posts, they really do help. I am only 3 days into being nicotine free and am feeling awful. This is far worse than when I was trying to get sober. The pangs and aches wanting me to dip are relentless and non-stop.
Two days to go to hit the big 1,000. Still feeling some pangs especially in times of high tension like running for office.
Hey If any of you live in Harford County MD – Please vote for me for County Council President. Frank “Bud” Hines.
My wife is running for Maryland State Senate District 7. Donna Hines
You have to advertise any way you can.
I quit with you today.
Dundippin day 998
Hi everyone – I am trying to be patient and I am still struggling big time. I went 9 months with no dip and in a stupid moment of weakness, I put in one dip. That was it, just one. I didn’t go buy a can or put in another dip. It has been 75 days since that relapse and I am having a really hard time. I have put in ONE FREAKING DIP in 11 months and I am still having weird symptoms. My chest gets so unbelievably tight, I have anxiety, I get dizzy, I cant concentrate. I have been to my primary doctor and the ER. Have had multiple tests run: EKG, Blood pressure, blood sugar, bloodwork, chest xray and all came back normal. Besides needing to drop a few lbs, doc said I am pretty healthy overall. I wish these chest pains would just go away. The tests said there is nothing wrong with my chest, but these pains say otherwise. I guess it could be related to stress/anxiety but I can manipulate the pain when I flex my pecs or touch my elbows behind my back, the pain increases so I didn’t think it was stress related since certain movements make it worse. Ever heard of this from someone quitting? Looking for a light at the end of the tunnel…
Hi Doug,
I quit April 25, 2018. Some of the systems I have had sound similar to yours. My doctor told me it was gas trapped in my upper chest and anxiety. I was put on some kind of GERD medicine. With this chest discomfort I also had a lot of burping. I continuously burped for days. One thing I do when I get anxiety is to walk around and drink water. It sounds weird but it works for me. Hope you feel better!
Best,
Lance
Thanks Lance, I appreciate the insight but I dont believe mine has anything to do with reflux. No burping for me. Mine is more along the lines of muscle tightness. It gets so tight, I can bend and crack my chest, like you would your knuckles….but that did not start until I quit dipping.
GERD has many manifestations. It wouldn’t hurt to start yourself on a daily PPI. They re over the counter now.
Also, i’m a physician.
Ninja – You think a steady constant pain in my chest could be attributed to GERD? If I flex my pecs or try to touch my elbows behind my back, that is when the pain manifests itself. Doc thought it could have been a small tear in the connective tissue that connects ribs to sternum. I have been to the doctors – EKG and all bloodwork were normal and chest xray was normal…Occasionally I do have a harder time swallowing than I used to.
Doug,
Anxiety dude, plain & simple. I am no Doc & I am not telling you to not get checked out, but I dipped for over 35 years, quit cold turkey back in Feb 2015. 6 months later out of the blue my chest felt like it was gonna explode, like my sternum was on fire. I was 44 yoa @ the time, ok shape for my age, not a slob. I thought I was having a heart attack or some shit. Went to the ER, then to the cardiac unit for 2 days. $5,000 later, NOTHING was found, Zilch….. Saw my general Doc, determined it was anxiety, depression, a little of both probably. That dip shit masked whatever the hell bothered me prior to dipping. Contemplated dipping again, for real. Fuck it, never caved. 3.5 yrs later, still nic/tobacco free. Still get those same pains, just not as often & not as severe. Usually flare up when I get stressed out. I workout & walk a lot, have got my weight under 200 lbs, feeling pretty good overall. Have never taken any anxiety or depression meds, wouldn’t be totally against it if needed. I know I can be a real ass to my wife @ times, so she may get fed up one day & tell me to look into, which she kind of already has. LOL. So my response is, time does help.
Thanks Dan. I am hoping it’s just anxiety.
Here it goes. Another Day 1 starts tomorrow. I’ve got my arsenal of fake pouches. Got a bunch of different brands this time. Grizzly wintergreen pouches has been my go to for YEARS. It’s been 8 years total since I really started dipping. The worst part is, I had it beat early on! I dipped for 3 months then all of the sudden the stuff made me sick to my stomach even smelling it. Didn’t touch it until one night I almost got in a bad car accident because of some idiot, and I was so worked up my buddy offered me a pinch to “calm me down”. And boy did it work, I was hooked. 6 months later moved to pouches and 8 years and 5 failed quitting attempts later, here I am. Even though I’ve never made it more than a week, I know one thing I won’t quit is quitting. Even if this one turns into another failed attempt, there will be another. And another. Until I finally kick the can for good.
One day at a time, you can do it man……
What are the statistics of guys quitting dipping and still getting cancer?
Why?
3.5 yrs quit, clear so far……
I found out in 2016 that I had a cancerous tumor in my duodenum (between your stomach and small intestine). I had surgery to get remove it.
I am 50 years old and have dipped/chewed from the time I was probably 8 years old. The check ups that I have had sense are clear and free.
As soon as I got out of the hospital, we went to a store and bought me a box of Smokey Mountain winter green dip and the Nicotine patches. I have dipped it ever sense. I’m trying to figure out how to stop the Smokey Mountain now.
The way to look at it is the sooner you quite, the less likely you are to get it. Good luck.
Tony
I am at day 107 and it is crazy the control nicotine has had on my life. The last 10 days or so I have been in a sort of fog, not like the intitial fog, but a fog non the less. The biggest cravings I have had during this quit came yesterday. Teeth pain and anger. The positive thing is this being clean for 107 days has shown me how stupid I was to start chewing in the first place. It has shown me that the feelings today are due to my nemisis nicotine. This pushes me forward to day 108 free of this terrible drug. Thanks to the daily texters they help.
QUIT ON!
DeanER and SNH-
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/qigong
DeanER….little scary that I’m on day 5 nosing around online seeing how long some of these withdrawls last and the first forum post I read is yours at day 107 and 108. Yikes! But you’ve made it there, hopefully so can I.
I’m at day 114, my withdrawals and cravings only lasted about 2 weeks. The only thing I still get are really bad dip dreams where I think i caved, and wake up all out of breath and pissed at myself. Everyone is different !
My doctor thought tobacco use was hiding anxiety issues,but it wasn’t. The anxiety SLOWLY went away.Try you’re best to be patient , give yourselves time. This may take longer than you expected.
Do your best to avoid anxiety medications and their side effects. Butt if it gets too too bad , take em . Whte ever it takes to get through this mess is worth it.
Good luck mates .
ello DUNDIPPIN & Sig
SNH, aka TRDT,
Always on mark mi amigo. DeanER, It sounds rough but this quit shit and stay clean of all NIC is the real deal. Slow and steady progress is in your future. Try to get plenty of exercise, drink lots of water and OJ (ode to Dun) don’t beat yourself up and overthink the details, KISS. My suggestion for the stress induced anxiety is to try Xi Gong.
@Sigman45, aka Shep
Steve – I am trying to be patient and I am still struggling big time. I went 9 months with no dip and in a stupid moment of weakness, I put in one dip. That was it, just one. I didn’t go buy a can or put in another dip. It has been 75 days since that relapse and I am having a really hard time. I have put in ONE FREAKING DIP in 11 months and I am still having weird symptoms. My chest gets so unbelievably tight, I have anxiety, I get dizzy, I cant concentrate. I have been to my primary doctor and the ER. Have had multiple tests run: EKG, Blood pressure, blood sugar, bloodwork, chest xray and all came back normal. Besides needing to drop a few lbs, doc said I am pretty healthy overall. I wish these chest pains would just go away. The tests said there is nothing wrong with my chest, but these pains say otherwise. I guess it could be related to stress/anxiety but I can manipulate the pain when I flex my pecs or touch my elbows behind my back, the pain increases so I didn’t think it was stress related since certain movements make it worse. Ever heard of this from someone quitting? Looking for a light at the end of the tunnel….
I’ve tried quitting several times, and had full support from loved ones but it never worked. After seeing the effects of this terrible habit I hope that this is what prevails and keeps me from caving.
Matt,
You have to really want to quit. Once you make that decision the rest is easy.
That allows you to stop the conversations in your head as to whether to do just one more. If you do just one more then you are back to square one.
Next, you need to be able to switch your focus from wanting that dip to anything else that you enjoy.
This ability to change your focus is critical.
When you dip, your brain releases ensorphins. You will no longer be getting these.
Drink OJ for sugars to replace these.
Eat three square meals a day.
Exercise.
I quit with you today.
Dundppin Day 998.
I am quitting today for good. No more nicorette gum, patches, or vape. Just quitting nicotine.
The story about Randy really got to me.
Congrats on a great decision to quit Richard – you’re not alone!
I quite cold turkey on 4/1/18. The first 7 days were very tough. I now go a good amount of days without any significant urge, but there are some days that are difficult, which is exactly why I’m writing this today.
Day 100!! Wow longest I’ve ever gone without in almost 30 years. Only occasional cravings now, subsided with a stick of gum or hard candy. This site is great for accountability and goals. Only the beging of a long chew free life.
Beginning not begging dang spelling..
Two years cold turkey mangs !!!
Happy Memorial Day
Salute ( o Y o )
Congrats Steve No Happy!
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for inspiring so many with your words of wisdom.
I quit with you today.
Dundippin day 987
Hi All,
Quit dipping on April 25, 2018. Some of the things I noticed in the first month was the anxiety, pain in different parts of my body and the different feelings I guess I never noticed before. The most recent issue is the continuous burping. Just wanted to know if anyone else was dealing with similar issues.
God my acid reflux has gone up tremendously since i quit. my anxiety is thru the roof and i think Im sick. But I know there is nothing wrong with me. Just haven’t been like this every. Been about 30 days dip free
Dudes…I’m a year quit today. Good news and bad news. Good news is, the burping, reflux, anxiety, pains, weird feelings, are all just part of the process. Bad news, it can take some time for it all to go away. When I first quit, I had this awful sensation in my throat. Almost like it was swollen. All my neck muscles hurt, even my my jaw muscles. All the weird pains make the anxiety worse because you can’t explain them. My anxiety was through the roof. Maybe even depression. I feel way better now. I went to an ENT Doctor for the throat thing, thinking I had throat cancer. Nope, he said he thought it was reflux and put me on 40mg omeperazol. I was on it for 8 months. All the reflux, throat issues, etc are pretty much gone now. I still get a little bit of anxiety here and there, but nothing like before. My option is that what you’re going through is normal, but I will advise that you go see your doctors and tell them everything your feeling. Even the anxiety or depression, they can help you. Best of luck and hang in there. Stay quit, Dudes
I know quitting is all on me and I really just need to buck up and get it done but here is my struggle.
I’m 35. I’ve chewed since I was 19. For at least 12 years of the that I chewed from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed. I wouldn’t take huge dips and at the height probably chewed about 2.5 cans per week. Over the past 3 years I have quit and started again multiple times. The longest was for 7 months, I have quite for 4 month, 3 months twice, for a month 3 or 4 times, and numerous times for a week or two. Even when I do chew now it is typically limited to my 30 min drive to and from work, on the golf course, and anytime I can get away with it with my wife around on the weekends. (She thinks I quit 3 years ago). Despite feeling the benefits, physically and mentally, of quitting I always convince my self that I can just have a can when I go on vacation or ” just for this round of golf” and always end up back at the same old habit. I always have a revelation and throw the can out the window but it never sticks. I convince myself, at least for a little bit, that my consumption is way down and that I am far better off then before. I also read on here about guys that have chewed for 40 years and have quit and they never had problems…plus you hear about guys that chew a can a day and I never did that….so you know….why would I get cancer?
The biggest problem I have is that I like to chew…it relieves stress and I just enjoy it—i mean besides the occasional fear of losing my jaw or tongue—I don’t have any other vices, I only drink maybe once every 2 weeks…maybe…
Don’t really know what I am trying to accomplish by posting this but am trying to find some reason to stick to quitting and just can’t…..
So the struggle is you continue finding reasons not to quit? The answer is simple really. Dump the can & walk away. Find some fake dips to help out, post here for support, exercise, use this place as kind of an AA meeting place. Kudos to you for even posting here because as the Bossman Chewie says, You Ain’t Here By Accident……. Had my 1st dip when I was 10 yrs old, quit 3 yrs ago last Feb, just prior to turning 44. The next step is on you brother…….
JLO-I applaud you for trying to quit, but you haven’t made up your mind that this is the last chew forever. There is no such thing as having a chew at certain times if you are committed to the quit. For you it’s the golf course and the car. For me, it was fishing and the car. Wife would go to sleep and I’d sneak to the garage to my chew hiding spot.
I don’t fish any more. It’s not as fun without a chew. I got use to not having one on drives home from work. Chew was sucking the life out of me. Now, I swim 3-4x a week. Lift once a week. Much better. I missed those days at first but 643 Days into the quit, I am much better off. Had to get on Lexipro for anxiety and depression because chew had masked it for 30 years. I decided I am done with the stuff and have stuck to it for almost two years. Dipped from 1981-2016. Done with it. Not a slave any more. You have to make a decision that is final and every day stick to it no matter what.
When did you get on Lexipro? I stopped for 28 days after a 24 year habit. Anxiety went crazy…I’m dipping again but anxiety is as bad as when I stopped!!!
CAP – I quit in Oct 2016. As is the common theme, Anxiety struck me hard – I thought I had every illness/sickness under the sun. Xanax was the short term answer for the major panic attacks. Back to your question about Lexipro. When I quit I had a pretty major change in my attitude and just my general state of mind. I was constantly on edge and didn’t want to be around ANYBODY – not even my wife and kids. It was bad. Crazy thing- I didn’t crave or want chew. For me, Lexipro has been a Game Changer. I’m my old self again. Couple things to remember about it. It can take a couple months to actually “kick in’ and start working- it’s not an aspirin where you take it and feel better in 20 min. If you are married or got a girlfriend, there are a few potential side effects that can affect your “private” time together. So you will want to discuss that with her. 1 of these side effects is the inability to reach organism. In short, my wife thought I wasn’t attracted to her anymore. We had to make a Doctor visit together to clear that up. So short story long – of the people you love/trust are saying you’re “not the same” take the Lexipro.
When you reach organism, does a tiny mouse sprint out of your urethra?
You still on Lexipro NOMOREBEER? My Doc suggested it for me but I haven’t taken it yet. Just curious your thoughts? I have similar things as you, anxiety & depression, no doubt in my mind dip masked this stuff.
JLO, it would appear to me that you are not all in here. I chewed for 42 years, day 100 was today. I can say quitting has sucked. I feel pretty much the same today as I did day one. I am not going back to the stuff because it hurts your life in so many ways. Health, lying(you lie to your wife and family every day) it controls you. Quitting sucks, but it doesn’t suck as much as have nicotine control me.Everybody tells me it gets better I am banking on it, because I don’t want to go through this again. Good luck man you can do it if you set your mind to it.