Welcome to our community!
Your blog is spot on! You can use it to ask questions or for support, or simply to chronicle your journey. I agree that 11/1 seems a bit too far in the future for a quit date - and wonder if you are putting it off because you are so afraid to start the process. I think when you become more educated about this addiction, you might gain confidence to begin sooner. It is natural to be afraid of the unknown, but education, planning, preparation and support can help allay those fears. Get busy!!!
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 "Juul" or “vape,” or “device.” 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 reduce the amount of nicotine in the pods over time That way the physical withdrawal should be more manageable. You might find useful information, as well, here: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/quitting-smoking-vaping/quitting-e-cigarettes.
I recommend that you educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind To that end, I suggest Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” . Vaping was not a concern when this was written, so you will need to sub “vape”as necessary. This is an easy and entertaining read which can be found online or at your local library. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a read. 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 device use, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each use off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a puff just because you think you do
The idea is to change up your routines so the vaping associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from where you vaped. Maybe switch to tea for a bit. If you always had that first puff 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 vape so the view is different. Take a different route when you are out and about so you aren't driving by your vaping supply shop. Take a quick walk at break time instead of vaping.
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 vaping 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 vape 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 to vape" 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
MY blogging - HELPS- to teach ME - to get a NEW MINDSET - NEW ideas NEW habits - to live as a NON SMOKER- FREE and who is willing to learn from YOU and EVERYONE here to NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER and to accept MY life as it HAPPENS unexpectedly and SUDDENLY and I take it ONE DAY at a time - here is MY example- of MY life on life's TERMS in MY NON SMOKER LIFE TODAY - in less than 12 hours of ONE of MY DAYS - I received NEWS - from 3 different family members - one said - MY brother-in-love 75 yr old died -one said - MY friend's 27yr old son died in a motorcycle accident and MY husband told ME - his MOM 95yr old - was sent home from hospital - doctors have done all they can for her - I practice living in ONE DAY at a time and for ME - I BLOG - that's MY solution TODAY - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER - that's why I blog - I use to smoke over deaths and weddings and STRESS and PEOPLE and LIFE and weather and emotions and victim child feeling THINKING - over MY childhood over anything and everything and TODAY I try to share and give HOPE that LIFE will hit ME in the face and break MY nose and try to take- MY BREATHE away yet - I PRACTICE and REMEMBER what was SUGGESTED to ME - 8 YEARS ago and the tool still works for ME - NOW - to blog BEFORE - I take that - FIRST PUFF over ME - gentle hug
