Write down some
of your triggers. And write what you'll do instead of dip or chew. It
may be as simple as reaching for gum or seeds, walking away, or thinking
about how far you've come.
What
are your personal Cues/Triggers?
You've made it through
the hardest part, the first week. If you can stay off 1 week, then you
can stay off 2. Use the same strategies and willpower that have gotten
you this far. Cravings may be just as strong this week but they will
be less often and they will go away sooner.
Other signs of progress:
- Your circulation
and skin color have improved.
- Withdrawal symptoms
ease up.
- Food tastes better,
your sense of smell sharpens, and your breath is fresher.
- You become more
confident.
- You can breath
easier with less coughing.
Be
prepared for temptation
Tobacco thoughts and urges will probably bother you for a while. They
will be strongest in the places you dipped or chewed the most. The more
time you spend in these places without dipping or chewing, the weaker
the urges will become. Know what events and places will be triggers
for you and plan ahead for them. A few players describe their triggers:
- 'I get the urge
when I smell the stuff or see someone doing it. I find myself reaching
into my back pocket'
- 'Spring training:
I go without a dip all winter, and once I come into the park I want
a dip'
- 'Boredom, sitting
in the dugout, fishing in a pond, hitting a golf ball'
- 'Putting my cleats
on'
Some players that
have quit describe how they coped with triggers:
- 'Smelling it
still triggers urges, I counter them by thinking how harmful dip can
be'
- 'I still get
urges from time to time when I see someone dipping, so I get up, walk
off, and have a piece of gum or coffee. Out of sight, out of mind'
- 'The best thing
I did to cope was to go for a run. Any physical activity helped'