Anyone else addicted to nicotine chewing gum?

[bright.ton42]

I quit smoking about 4 years ago and tried everything, but what really worked for me was the nic chewing gum.  Now 4 years later I still chew it though don't smoke.   As my doc said I'm still addicted to nicotine but he's pretty tolerant and is proud of himself  that I did quit as we never thought I would. ( yep, lol I did all the work .....but have to admit I couldn't have done it without his support ) He says that now my lungs would clear and other benefits but wants me to wean off the gum, which I hope to soon. 

Anyone else?

[gleee58]

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

I quit smoking about 4 years ago and tried everything, but what really worked for me was the nic chewing gum.  Now 4 years later I still chew it though don't smoke.   As my doc said I'm still addicted to nicotine but he's pretty tolerant and is proud of himself  that I did quit as we never thought I would. ( yep, lol I did all the work .....but have to admit I couldn't have done it without his support ) He says that now my lungs would clear and other benefits but wants me to wean off the gum, which I hope to soon. 

Anyone else?

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No, sorry, no help at all but good for you and good luck with the next steps.

[j*oono]

I think you are still addicted to a completely different habit.  Nicotine is easy to give up.  It's the habit that is harder to shed.

Three years for me now cold turkey.  I have a pack of sugar free Jols lollies in my bag at all times.

[cat_mioux]

You are addicted to nicotine as you know. But the good news is that after 72 hours, after you stop delivering nicotine into your body, all nicotine has left your body. After that, you are dealing with the addict in your brain who will do anything to get you to give it it's fix. It's called junkie thinking. It may sound like this:

I'm too stressed to give up

It's only gum, it won't kill me

I'll give it up when my life is better/less stressed/next birthday

It's my only vice

Breathe through those withdrawal symptoms. Have some sugar free gum to chew instead. You may have some digestion issues for a week or two like 'flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps'. You may feel a tad cranky.

But if you give up the nicotine, you'll be free.

PS I gave up smoking cold turkey 1 year ago.

[lind9650]

Doctor gave me Nicotine patches. All they did was make me smoke more.

Tried Nicorette chewing gum. Burned my tongue and throat. Was awful.

I have been smoking for 58 years. I can still hear Tony Barber singing; Light up a Viscount, and see the Marlborrough man riding his horse in the Wild West.

Giving up is easy. Have done it hundreds of times, only for something to trigger the cravings again.

Now I use E-cigarettes. Helps me to curb the cravings and slowly kick the habit of lightine up after a meal.

Old habits are very hard to change into new habits, but I am trying.

Erica

[bright.ton42]

Good for you Erica and all the others here.  I don't know much about ecigarettes but heard good reports. I can't stand Nicorette chewing gum either but use the other one.  There's some good advice here and I'll make an effort again.  After 4 years I've never been off the cigarettes for so long so I know I'll never go back to them as it was too hard to quit for me.I really applaud anyone who could do it cold turkey. 

[imastawka]

Cold turkey is the only way to go.   Just cut down slowly on the gum each day.

Do something else to keep busy and keep your mind off it.  The craving

goes away.   I read scientists reckon a craving only lasts 3 minutes (they reckon).

I used this info to give up cold turkey 8 years ago.  I found it's true.

Don't dwell on the craving - get occupied - it goes away and you forget.

At least it worked for me.  Just keep busy.

Good luck - you'll never look back

[imastawka]

Oh, and I forgot - sounds silly, but drink water.

Not litres of it, but sip it when you feel a craving.

That helps, and the water will help clean out your system too

[bright.ton42]

OK, I'm going to drink some water now.  Amd I'm doing a lot of deep breathing.

It all helps.