100 days is here. Some reflections from 23 years of non-stop tobacco use include the first time I chewed on a dare (and the resulting sickness), the first time my grandfather gave me a pinch, the first time I fell asleep with a large dip in my mouth, the first time I got caught by my co-workers, the first time my gums bled, the first time I tried nicotine gum, the first time I felt withdrawal from nicotine, the chew I washed out 1 minute before getting married, accidentally drinking someone else's spit...several times, being ashamed about my habit, lying to people--'no, I don't use tobacco', feeling indestructible...I could go on forever.
I have been nicotine free for 100 days. For the first time since the age of 14, I am not dependent on a chemical. Thank you for creating this website. It is a terrific tool to get people started on the long journey of addiction recovery. Good luck to all of you that are trying to quit. Do whatever it takes---if you have to be handcuffed to the sink, then do it. Remember---5 days of physical withdrawal symptoms, no matter how long you have been chewing--then it is all in your head.
The visual and mantra that worked for me was reminding myself of Tom Berenger in 'Platoon'. Some poor guy is lying in his own blood and guts on the jungle floor of Vietnam, screaming his lungs out. Tom Berenger's character sweeps in out of nowhere, covering the guy's mouth with his hand, and says 'take the pain...shut up and take the pain.' When you are thinking about breaking your streak...just shut up and take the pain.