If I relapse...

[flashinglights]

I haven't smoked or dipped in 7 days. The cravings are still there. Living without nicotine isnt unbearable but Id really like to just do it every now and then. Is it too much of a slippery slope if you start back up again? If i bought a pack and quit the next day would it be 5 days of pure hell afterwards like it was a week ago when I first quit? I'm proud of myself for making it this far. I dont want to go back to being unhealthy but I miss having dopamine in my brain lol

 

[Built]

You are almost certain to go right back to your addiction if you do this.

Maybe talk to the doc, get some wellbutrin for a bit to get you over the hump. Maybe take some nootropics to get that dopamine going? Weird suggestion, but have you tried ephedrine caffeine? It stimulates catecholamine, might get you a little dopa... ?

 

[Gazhole]

First "Just one" will be nothing.
Then "Just one pack" will be nothing.
Before you know it, it'll be "Just another year".

You've made it this far, the whole point of quitting is to quit, not to quit part time. Get some patches if you have to, but you owe it to yourself not to start up again

 

[Built]

Just taking a quick google... L-Tyrosine is a dopamine precursor. You can also purchase L-Dopa as a dietary supplement.

 

[vader]

you can quit man, there are people who weaker in every way than you and they managed to quit. Just be strong

 

[flashinglights]

The worst part is over. Im just going to stick to cold turkey. I've came too far to go back. Just wish I could concentrate more and be happier like when I was smoking/dipping. Still, I know it's not worth damaging my body and getting cancer. I've been taking a little klonopin to get through the anxiety. L-Dopa is too expensive. I can't afford that.

Thanks for the support everyone.

 

[largepkg]

The worst part is over. Im just going to stick to cold turkey. I've came too far to go back. Just wish I could concentrate more and be happier like when I was smoking/dipping. Still, I know it's not worth damaging my body and getting cancer. I've been taking a little klonopin to get through the anxiety. L-Dopa is too expensive. I can't afford that.

Thanks for the support everyone.

Please be careful with the benzos. They can be highly addictive as well and quiting once you are can be life threatening!

 

[Built]

Tyrosine's cheap. Maybe try that.

Another weird thing I'll offer is just do a few sprints - they stimulate the release of catecholamine, of which dopamine is one.
Plasma catecholamine and nephrine responses to bri...[Amino Acids. 2009] - PubMed Result

 

[flashinglights]

Thanks everyone!

 

[flashinglights]

It's like day 9 and I'm still having hardcore cravings It's hard for me to socialize. I can't pay attention to anything. I wish my adrenaline and dopamine levels were normal. It seems like they should be by now. Maybe they've always been bad and I've been self medicating with nicotine.

 

[Built]

Try a couple of very short sprints. 15 seconds, rest a half a minute or so, another 15 seconds. Walk back to your computer. Tell me how you feel.

 

[Chubby]

Try a couple of very short sprints. 15 seconds, rest a half a minute or so, another 15 seconds. Walk back to your computer. Tell me how you feel.

Sounds like you are trying to punish him for his unsuccessful attemp to quit.

 

[presto1]

I'm not sure how long you've been using nicotine but just like any other drug, your chances of going "cold turkey" and staying off of it are not good. Addiction of any type goes deeper than just putting the stuff down and you really should talk to your doctor about this. There are so many things available to you to help you through the craving stage, why not take advantage?

This has nothing to do with being "weak" or "strong" or any of that bullshit. You're dealing with a medical issue and together you and your doc can help you through this thing for a permanent solution, which should be the goal.

Cravings are absolutely normal when dealing with the physical withdrawl from such an addictive drug. Ask for help, take the steps neccessary, and enjoy a long and tobacco free life!

Oh, and using only "once in a while" just isn't realistic so scratch that one off the list.

 

[lola1182]

the first two weeks are the hardest. it gets easier after that. but you'll still have cravings for a while. you just have to fight it. easier than it sounds, huh? you can do it!

 

[flashinglights]

I don't really get cravings anymore. I guess it's been like 4 weeks or something like that since I quit. I do try to bargain with myself sometimes but I end up realizing how stupid I'm being by thinking "what if I just smoke one cig". But what would be the point of that anyway? It's just a temporary feeling.


Aside from smoking and chewing tobacco, my other vice is painkillers. I know a few people who always have them and I'll get a few off of them probably 1-2x a week. I enjoy how they make me feel but I haven't gotten hooked on them because I don't do them very often and they're too expensive. I think that more than anything I'm just worried about how people percieve me. I quit dipping because I got sick of people's comments. People always talking about how disgusting it is that I do that. I guess I can't blame them. My brothers and a few of my friends do it so I never thought much of it.

But what bothers me is how people who smoke will talk about someone being an alcoholic; someone who drinks all the time calls someone a stoner; a stoner talks sh!t about someone who does coke, etc. How the hell do we even know where a line should be drawn on what's technically immoral or crossing the line? Its not like there's some equasion involving frequency, addiction potential, potency, toxicity, etc. If that were the case, alcohol and cigarettes would probably be right up there with heroin.

 

[Chubby]

I had a friend who used to be a heavy smoker. I used to make her feel so bad by telling constantly that how bad smoking is for her. Later she told me that she gave up smoking because she couldn't stand me anymore. And instead of smoking on her breaktime, I saw her eating sunflower seeds- one seed at a time. I am so proud of her.

 

[Built]

Sounds like you are trying to punish him for his unsuccessful attemp to quit.

Sprinting stimulates the production of catecholamine. Helps you think better - works the same way as ADHD meds, in the sense that it makes more catecholamine available at the synapses. ADHD meds work in part by acting as catecholamine reuptake inhibitors.

Plus sprinting's fun.

 

[flashinglights]

I unintentionally do sprints all the time. I walk and take the bus almost everywhere I go. The main streets where I live are 8 lanes wide plus a center median with heavy traffic and I'm always sprinting across to make sure I don't get hit. I don't mean walk - I have to sprint. Walking would take probably 2 minutes to get across. American cities are so poorly designed.

 

[flashinglights]

Btw, Built, Ephedrine is banned in the US I think. It's Ephedra right? It's a no go if thats the case. Nicotine came in handy when I would read, write or when I wanted to get creative and start designing stuff - I felt alert and could focus but I think Taurine works good for that. I hope my addiction doesn't transfer to energy drinks or coffee lol. I'm just glad it doesn't feel like my brain is on fire anymore.