Quitting Zyn

[Fossey11]

Hello everyone! I have been using Zyn and other brands of the tobacco free nicotine pouches for about 3 years now. Up until yesterday I was using about 1 whole can of 6mg pouches per day (about 15-20 per day). I decided to give it a go with completing cutting it off and going cold turkey. I don’t want to use things like the gum or lozenges because I’m afraid I’ll just replace my addiction to the pouches to those. I am having a tough time today. The random brain fog has been absolutely horrible. I even think I may have hallucinated a little bit today. I have a light but irritating headache. Things that don’t usually bother me are starting to really bother me! Any tips on distractions and things that help with the irritability and brain fog would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! 

[Snowdoggie]

@Fossey11 Good for you for quitting. Really cold bottled water helped me. Take sips every time you want Zyn. I sipped a lot of water. When I got irritated I would put my head in the freezer and take deep breaths or take a bath/shower. Make sure you follow the advice the elders give you. They will be along soon.🚭

P.S. I used the gum for about 3 weeks and then got off of it. It really helped take the edge off.

[Barbscloud]

@Fossey11 Welcome.  If you're able, walk and walk some more.  Even short walks are a great way to distract and you get the added bonus of replacing lost dopamine from quitting.

Barb

[Fossey11]

@Snowdoggie @Barbscloud 

Thank you both for the tips. I woke up a lot last night but I do already feel better than I did the day before. Luckily I have a job that is a mix of office work and outside work. I will take advantage of the outside work whenever I start getting the need for nicotine! 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

The information I will provide indicates smoking, but quitting any form of nicotine addiction is the same.  Just sub yours as you do the reading.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.”    You can purchase a digital version online or borrow it at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: Nicotine and Your Brain

I quit almost ten years ago on my first and only attempt at it, and I base my overall recommendations on my experience and that of others over the years. if you decide to use a quit aid, I recommend those that don't let the addict control the dose such as Rx drugs and the patch. Each cigarette you smoked contained about 1 mg of nicotine. If you use more than one form of NRT, be sure you aren't getting more than when you smoked.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! .  Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit “Games”: The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the page.

Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke - EX Community

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

You might want to join other site members by taking the daily pledge when you quit. IT helps to hold yourself accountable and also accountable to others here. Find it at Home (top left), then first blue box.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[tburton1004]

@Fossey11 , congratulations, and you’re doing great! The physical symptoms at first are definitely real (hello, brain fog!) but hang in there and they will pass. I had headaches and sleep disturbances for a short time at the beginning, besides some MAJOR irritability!

You will read this a lot: your quit is your own; do it your way. If you search other blog posts for nicotine replacement therapy, you’ll get a lot of perspectives. I used the patch; for me, it instantly took the edge off and just *may* have prevented a homicide! What I liked about the patch was that it’s a system of tapering over a set period of time, then you’re done. If used correctly, it shouldn’t cause a continuing addiction. Here I am, talking like a doctor or something 😂.

But the best advice you’ve gotten so far is to stay active; it’s a great time to clean the house, sort your socks, anything that is distracting and absorbing. Your brain needs to be directed to a new direction!

Keep coming back to this forum and checking in. I’ve been doing that for 134 days now. Good fellowship and support, and GREAT advice from people who’ve been there, done that. It helps to know you’re not alone, and that others “get” what you’re going through.

One day at a time; breathe. Another day, and another — they’ll add up! And it absolutely WILL get easier.

Best, Terry 134 DOF 

[Snowdoggie]

@Fossey11My sleep got disrupted when I quit. I used the guided imagery from the "Casper Sleep Channel" to go to sleep. It helps me. You can Google it.

"ASMR rain and thunder cozy room" are other good ones for sleep.😴

[Fossey11]

• Hey everyone! Thanks to your tips I am still going strong! There have been times where I’ve been extremely tempted to head over to the gas station but so far I’ve stopped myself from doing so! The brain fog is becoming less severe for sure as well as the irritability. I still have the occasional flash where it all hits me at once but for the most part my symptoms are down to a constant light headache and a little bit of trouble sleeping. Thank you all for the tips and please keep them coming! 

[Barbscloud]

@Fossey11 Here's something else that helps a lot and you can do it anywhere.  Deep breathing exercises.

[anelson1843]

It's not fun and is very challenging.  I am on my 3rd attempt at quitting, I'm on day 2 and I have heavy brain fog and am extremely irritable.  I'm literally going minute by minute.  Hang in there, we can get through this. 

[anelson1843]

Feeling better today than I did yesterday.  It's not easy but I know it will be worth it.

[Barbscloud]

@anelson1843 You're right about that.  Keep up the good work.

Barb

[anelson1843]

Definitely having a MAJOR craving right now.  Post lunch, work stress, mid week, day 4.  This is a process...

[Barbscloud]

@anelson1843 Glad you reached out .  These early days are a challenge, but you will get to the other side.  Use your tools and new associations to get your through.  Deep breathing exercises really help.

You got this!!!

Barb

[Snowdoggie]

@anelson1843 Hi, hope you got through your crave ok. I used to stick my head in the freezer and breathe in the cold air. If you can try to change your location it might help. Sounds like you were at work when it hit. Try standing up or sitting down ( the opposite of what you were when the crave hit)  going to the break room, or bathroom if you can for a few minutes. I also put a rubberband on my wrist and would snap it hard when a crave hit. Gum or candy helped, also.❤️

[JohnRPolito]

Congratulations, Fossey, on your decision to break nicotine's grip upon your mind and life.  Hope you're still with us.  Nicotine's 2-hour half-life guarantees that within 3 days that your nicotine-free brain will have no choice but to begin the process of restoring natural dopamine pathway sensitivities.   Feeling a bit better with the worst behind you, it can take up to 21 days to down-regulate receptor counts to pre-addiction levels.

What's most important is appreciating that once established,  nicotine addiction is as permanent as alcoholism.  On lifetime probation, while science calls it a "chronic relapsing condition," there's one way to absolutely guarantee that this quit is a keeper, the last you'll ever need.  While IMPOSSIBLE to relapse so long as all nicotine stays on the outside, brain scan studies teach us that just one puff and up to 50% of our dopamine pathway receptors become occupied by nicotine.

While most walk away from trying to "cheat" feeling like they've gotten away with it, it won't be long before they find their brain wanting, plotting to obtain or even begging for more.  Thus, there was always only one rule, Fossey.  For us, one hit of nicotine will be too many, while thousands won't be enough.  Yes, just one rule ... no nicotine today!   Baby steps, just here and now, that next challenge if any, yes you can!!

Breathe deep, hug hard, live long,

John (Gold x23)

[anelson1843]

@SnowdoggieIt's kind of like riding a see-saw.  There are some good moments and there are some tough moments and it is always changing.  Thank you for the support!

[Fossey11]

• I am still here! Going on 2 weeks without it now! The brain fog went away for me after about 5 days. I still have the occasional mental craving but the physical ones are gone thankfully. @anelson1843 keep up the good work! I can tell you first hand that my body and mind feel significantly better than they ever did while I was using zyn! 

[anelson1843]

I am on day 11 and for some reason I am having MASSIVE cravings.  I know it is all work related stress as things have been intense over the last few days.  UGH!

[Fossey11]

@anelson1843 Congrats on making it 11 days! The mental cravings for me seemed to peak around there as well. They did vastly improve after the 2 week mark though! Stay strong! It will all be worth it soon!

[Barbscloud]

@Fossey11 & @anelson1843  Congrats on your success.  Keep moving forward.  Stay the course--it will get easier.

Barb

[anelson1843]

Thank you, EVERYONE! Feeling fortunate.

[anelson1843]

18 days!  Can't believe it!

[Barbscloud]

@Fossey11 Super congrats on 18 days.  I know the feeling.  

Celebrate those successes by doing something special for yourself.  You deserve it.

There's still work to be done, so continue to stay close as you move though your journey. 

Barb

[anelson1843]

23 days and counting!  It is getting easier each day.  Thank you for the support.

[Barbscloud]

@Fossey11 

 

Barb

[Rprice]

I use the gum and when the gum gets old I put a hard candy in my mouth or a toothpick or I suck on a lemon 

[Mcljr26]

4days 10 hours Zyn free.. having good and bad days, today is really bad, brain fog and unstableness I feel like I could rip forward if I stand for too long.. I don’t want to call it dizzy but unstable motion sickness best describes it. I can feel my brain playing tricks on me that just one Zyn can cure my problems but reading here tells me the Zyn is the issue not the withdraw. I just wish I knew if this brain fog and unstable feeling in my head will go away and when and if there’s anything I can do to help it… no nicotine today is the goal 

[CommunityAdmin]

@Mcljr26 That feeling is normal as your body adjusts to not using nicotine, it's most common in the first week or two and should pass. Here's an article that might be helpful: https://www.becomeanex.org/ex-resources/about-quitting/stay-quit/why-does-my-brain-feel-foggy-after-...

Feel free to make your own separate posts to get more tips from the community on dealing with these symptoms. And congrats on 4 days quit!

- Danielle, EX Team