Bee, 40. Escape Nicotine and Return Back to Normal.

Bee's Background

"I started at age 16 with Skoal and cigarettes and smoked cigarettes throughout my 20s. I still remember the buzz of those first cigarettes, so incredibly intense. I have ADHD and my brain is wired in such a way that it has an extremely high affinity to nicotine.

I switched to snus in my 30s and then Zyn when that came out. I was using around 1 and a half cans of the 6mg when I stopped. I basically had one in all the time unless I was eating or sleeping. I quit shortly before my 40th birthday. As of writing this I’ve been nicotine-free for 284 days.

What finally made you quit for good this time?

Even though I had convinced myself that Zyn was a "healthy" way of consuming nicotine I could still feel it negatively impacting my health more and more as I got older. For example, I noticed cardio was getting more difficult, directly dependent on the amount of nicotine I had already had that day. I have a wife and 2 young kids and I didn't want to wind up with heart failure or having a stroke because of this addiction.

Zyn was getting a lot more popular (and therefore more expensive). I was also just sick and tired of being so beholden to nicotine, the constant worry about having enough, needing to find it when traveling, spending money on it, etc. So I made the decision to quit before I turned 40.

What was the darkest or hardest moment in your quit and how did you get through it?

The first 3 weeks were incredibly hard. From the moment I woke up to when I went to sleep I was constantly thinking about nicotine. I wasn’t able to concentrate at work and felt depressed. Basically nothing during that time was triggering any release of dopamine in my brain.

I got through this phase by keeping in mind that it would get better. My body and brain functioned just fine before I started using nicotine and they would do so again, they just needed time to heal. I read lots of stories from others going through the same thing, I also read lots of research about what scientists have found is actually happening in the brain. This all helped me keep things in perspective and tough through that difficult first few weeks. I also chewed an insane amount of gum!

What mindset shift or belief helped you the most in staying quit long-term?

Reading Allen Carr’s philosophy about quitting smoking really shifted my mindset about addiction. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Carr) His point is that when we quit we’re not really giving anything up, we’re simply escaping and getting back what we had. Also that the only thing cigarettes (nicotine pouches, etc.) do is just create more withdrawal, not make us feel “better”. So really, while using nicotine we’re just in this constant state of withdrawal, being prolonged by continuing to use it. I had always put off quitting by saying I didn’t have the time to deal with the withdrawal. His approach helped my see that the withdrawal was always there.

What’s something unexpected you’ve gained from quitting that no one talks about?

There are so many benefits people do talk about that I’ve experienced. Better endurance/energy levels, sexual performance, more money, blood pressure/heart rate, sense of taste and smell, healthier gums/teeth, better sleep, less impatience/anger/guilt, better concentration, etc. They’re all there for the taking, you just have to be patient, stay away from the nicotine, and let them come.

I guess one unexpected thing I noticed after quitting is that I don’t really get hangovers anymore. I’m not a big drinker, but previously if I had more than a couple drinks in a night I would feel awful for most of the next day. I link this to an improvement in overall anxiety levels, which is a known benefit.

If someone came to you, one day nicotine-free and struggling, what would you say to them?

Do whatever it takes to keep going, just don’t cave. Go on a walk, grab some gum, exercise, play video games, read a book, watch a movie, whatever works as a distraction. Remember these cravings are temporary, you had a life before you ever used this shit and you can again. Set up a tracker to show how long you’ve quit and how much money you’ve saved. Set short-term goals, when you hit one, set another. Whether it’s 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, it’s all time your brain and body need to heal. There will be ups and downs but the real relief will come, you just have to be patient and stay strong.

Lastly, this is my 3rd and longest attempt at quitting. In the previous 2 attempts I convinced myself that I could go back to using it occasionally but that just doesn’t work. In no time at all I was right back to all day every day. Nicotine is not the kind of substance that lends itself to casual use."

Bee's story is incredible. Let his story inspire you to "get back what you had." Real stories like Bee's can motivate us when we think it's not possible.

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