Quitting Vaping

[firefly1978]

So, I quit smoking cigarettes (15 year smoker at that point) using Chantix about 8 or 9 years ago. It went great for about a year until I relapsed. From then until about 3 years ago it was back and forth on and off cigarettes and struggling. I have been able to stay away from traditional cigarettes with vaping but now I am so hooked on the e-cigarette that, other than not smelling bad, it seems just as bad as regular cigarettes (Spoiler; it is still the same nicotine addition). I am constantly sneaking puffs, hiding it from family and friends, and realizing that I really need to get unhooked from this nicotine monster for my physical and mental health. My plan is to quit on September 1st. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to try and vape less by breaking some of my habit smoke spots (for example, no sneaking puffs in the bathroom anymore is the first one). I'm considering using a patch or gum/logenzes to slowly lower my nicotine levels once I stop the device use until my final quit date. I've never used the patch or gum before. I will beat this dang nicotine monster once and for all!

Any encouragement or tips are appreciated!

[JACKIE1-25-15]

.  Congratulations on making the decision to quit vaping. With the help of the to EX Community you can have a forever quit.  Start by educating yourself about addiction to nicotine. If you  Go to My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX and Quitting E-cigarettes | Guides & Tools | BecomeAnEX review the videos and learn more about what your triggers are and how to prepare when the urge hits.  I am a firm believer education is the key to success. I was advised to read Allen Carr's Easyway to Quit Smoking which can be found on pdf on the web.  Another good site to get info which was very helpful to me is  www.whyquit.com.  There are several articles to read.  Nicotine 101 and Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home.  To get help on navigating the site go to. Community Help‌.  Make quitting your number one priority.  You have the right idea to get rid of all vaping paraphernalia.

You can do this if you make up your mind that you can.  Relearning your thinking that you do not have to smoke is a good beginning. For a while, you will think about vaping but that does not mean you have to act on it.  You can talk yourself out of smoking.  No matter what never ever take another puff.  NOPE.  Take vaping off the table as an option and do something different. 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke SINAO smoking is not an option.  That is NOPE concept Not one puff ever. Be willing to do the work.  Quitting is the easy part.  As you already know sttaying quit is work. 

[sweetplt]

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s firefly1978 

I am so happy you found our support site...I am so sorry you traded one addiction for another...time and time again we are seeing this because the advertisers tried to convince people that one can quit smoking with e cigs, vape etc., and sure quit cigarettes and on to the next...you can do this hon...and cutting down is a start...Please read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX were you will gain knowledge and preparation for your quit date, cravings and urges.  Then work towards that quit date like no other...have prepared things (healthy)  to do instead of smoking.  Here is a list of suggestions.../blogs/Maggie_quit_8-1-2010-blog/2012/03/19/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoking?sr=search&searchId=8... Be sure to throw all smoking paraphernalia away the night before your quit...Also, keep close to the support site.  WE are in this journey together...now get working...Happy Friday ~ Colleen 255 DOF 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Nicotine addiction is nicotine addiction - no matter the delivery device - and how to beat any of them is about the same. Every time you read :"cigarette" in the information I will give you, just sub "vape."   The one thing different I would recommend is that you first start to reduce the nicotine content of the pods.  Start with a lesser amount in, like, one in every four, then three, etc. until you are only using the smallest amount. or - you could just move down weekly to one with less nicotine.   That way the physical withdrawal should be more manageable. Cutting back drastically before you quit is not necessary, and it's not a good idea to use an NRT before you quit.  Read all about this addiction to understand why.

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 also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a read.

 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort after you have tried to delay and distract.   I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time.
 

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

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! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. 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), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, 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 from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...
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.

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

[constanceclum]

Hi and welcome! I use the patch and lozenges (lozenges for the 1st weeks) which is now recommended by just about every organization including the states Quit Now program for heavier smokers. The first 3 days were still fairly difficult, but then it got so much better. Stick close to this site, follow the suggestions, and you are on your way to being an EX.

Connie

[elvan]

Welcome to EX, nicotine addiction is wicked, it holds on tightly but you sound like you are ready to kick it to the curb.  Please do the reading, know that even if it is directed at cigarette smokers, it is the same addiction.  We will help you all that we can.

Ellen

[AnnetteMM]

Whatever your plan is, it's most important to commit to it wholeheartedly. Coming here every day will help you do that. So welcome!

[PrimeNumberJD]

Welcome!

While whatever method of quit gets you away from nicotine forever is my usual message, I would caution you to do a little research. If you decide to stay with patches and lozenges, then do that but ensure you have a set plan and stick to it. My caution comes in because you've already replaced 1 nicotine administration method with another; while patches or lozenges may be healthier, they are not intended to be used forever. I would hate to see you quit vaping and look to quit lozenges or gum in a years time because it is your new hook.

In my research, one important item I see that is mostly overlooked is counseling. Clinical trials of all NRT and medications provide heavy counseling. I have utilized this site to substitute counseling. Not that anyone here is a licensed counselor (maybe the are) but someone here has gone through what you ate about to go through, experienced what you are about to experience, and still successfully quit. This is like peer counseling and everyone who I see that participates truly cares! 

Biggest piece of advice, this one I hope you keep with you, keep the Sexy Exers close and lean on them whenever you need to, and definitely before you go to slip or cheat! Somebody will pick you up and carry you along if they have to! 

Luck is preparation meeting opportunity, prepare for your quit day; Good Luck! 

[maryfreecig]

    While we are addicted, it seems impossible to change. But the truth is that your active addiction can be put in the past. You can recover from it. You can get to the point where the end-all be-all hits of nicotine on demand no longer have power over you. It takes a while to change the mind from dependence to freedom, but it does not take forever. The journey is so worth it.

    The recovery path looks something like this--come, come to, come to believe. Stick with Ex and all it has to offer by way of addiction info, recovery, community. It'll be here 365. And your community may offer support too; hospital programs, local meetings.

     One day at a time, you can do this.

[AnnetteMM]

"Sexy Exers"! That's a new one, and I love it