[Survivor Series] I was addicted to chewing tobacco for 35 years but am helping others quit the habit now

My identify is Ok R (identify modified) and I’m a 65-year-old married man. I stay in Mumbai and are available from a household of people singers. I had a really pleased childhood and by no means gave any bother as an adolescent. My dad and mom had been very loving, and gave me every little thing doable inside their means, and all the time inspired me to be unbiased and accountable.

When I used to be 30 years previous, I began chewing tobacco. It first began after I was going out with my associates. Everybody was doing it and I succumbed to see stress and began utilizing chewing tobacco from time to time. Then it elevated to a few times every week.

A change of job after I tried beginning a enterprise put lots of stress on me and I started to chew tobacco day by day as a result of I believed it helped relieve the stress. It began with me choosing a packet of khaini (chewing tobacco) on the finish of every day to alleviate the stress of the day. I quickly satisfied myself that it helped me carry out higher at my work and made me extra focussed.

Ultimately I used to be chewing tobacco all through the day. I used to be so addicted that I believed that I’d carry out badly at work if I didn’t chew tobacco. It was a matter of time earlier than my behavior took its toll on my well being. I began having extreme lung and throat infections that impacted my singing. I’d have a continuing burning in my abdomen and expertise extreme bouts of despair. This started to influence his marriage as effectively.

My doctor referred me to cessation counselling with the LifeFirst programme, which gives tobacco deaddiction counselling.  After I first met my counsellor Grishma Shah, I used to be very defensive and cussed about admitting that I had an issue.

I even tried to persuade her that I didn’t have a extreme downside and that the scenario had been exaggerated.

However she patiently debunked the delusion that smokeless tobacco was innocent and all my misconceptions had been slowly defined. I made a decision in a single day that I’d change my methods and slowly began working in the direction of a extra wholesome life-style. My restoration course of started with me slowly lowering the quantity of tobacco I chewed every day. I then began chewing azadirachta (a sort of neem seed), carom seeds, Kanthil (a natural product that’s used to deal with cough and colds), fennel seeds, and consuming water as substitutes each time I felt the urge to chew some tobacco. This actually helped minimize down my consumption. After which the pandemic broke.

Through the lockdown, I continued with telephonic counseling, which saved me motivated on my journey to give up. In every session, a practical objective was made with small steps to attain and reinforce the ultimate goal. 

Through the counselling classes, numerous life-style modifications had been mentioned to assist my

journey. I began following the correct food plan and began doing common train to deal with the psychological results of withdrawal. I even began studying books once more. 

On June 10, 2020, I used to be lastly capable of give up and August 10, 2020, was my final counseling session and I used to be capable of speak about how optimistic I felt.

Since then, I’ve determined to assist the neighborhood and I began a rainwater harvesting undertaking in my space and some different atmosphere conservation initiatives. I’ve determined to dedicate my life to the welfare of society and can take no matter alternative I can to encourage folks to stay a tobacco-free, wholesome life.