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Give and get support around quitting

AllieAllerson
Member

Day 1 of quitting Juul cold turkey

I have been smoking at least a pod a day since a year ago. I lost a good friend to suicide and as silly as it sounds, vaping at work and at home where no one would know, was really helpful. That little rush of nicotine gave me comfort nothing else did. Now that it has been almost one year and after reading several horror stories I see about the Juul I decided to stop. I wanted to ask if anyone else who has attempted to quit this thing cold turkey has experienced chest pain or pain around the lungs? At first I felt a tightness in my throat but now that it has been about 19 hours since I took my last puff I feel I can't get a deep breath in due to tightness and pain. I am hoping this is all in my head and it's some form of my anxiety but I am also worried I have done serious damage to my lungs and need to go to the ER. Any advice would be appreciated. 

34 Replies
Barbscloud
Member

When I was working I could walk out and smoke pretty much anytime I wanted to  also (especially if I was stressed!)   Nicotine is threefold- physical, emotional, and psychological addiction.  Go for a walk if you can.  It really helps!   It will get easier with time.

Barb

AllieAllerson
Member

Thanks Barb! I am taking your advice and taking walks along with drinking lots of coffee and having snacks throughout the work day. Now that I'm on day 3 it seems the physical symptoms are slowing but I miss being able to step out and have that small thing to look forward to throughout the day. I guess I will have to find new things to look forward to which is hard to think about right now....

Barbscloud
Member

Learning new associations instead of using nicotine is a part this journey.  Walking instead of vaping is the new you.  A feeling of loss is normal.   Everything we did, happy or sad, involved using nicotine.  Don't put off learning new things to do instead.  Especially since your job sounds so stressful.    That's part of you backup plan when you're have a bad day.   https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2008/05/03/things-to-do-instead-of-smoking...  Congrats on day 3.  You're a winner.

Barb

Giulia
Member

Good going on the three days Allie!  You know, we don't think about it, but when we smoked or vaped we took long, deep breaths.  Doing that without a cigarette or JUUL can also be satisfying and definitely calming on its own.  Purse your lips, take a slow inhale then blow it out slowly through pursed lips.  Do that five or ten times and see if helps any.  We still need that "looking forward to" treat, and just taking a few minutes to do that might just be that treat.  You're still taking time out for yourself.  And that's really what we miss.  My NRT wasn't a nicotine replacement as much as an inhalation replacement.  I wadded up a little piece of paper and stuck it in a straw and "pretend smoked" those for a couple of weeks.  Then had to wean myself off of those!  The nicotine addition is one thing, the  behavioral aspect another.  The more you can change your focus, the sooner the cravings will leave.  Takes practice.  Stick with it! 

AllieAllerson
Member

Thank you Giulia!! I may just have to do that myself. My co-workers will think I've lost it but at this point anything will help.  

Giulia
Member

Just tell them it's a special dopamine high technique!  You might get everybody in the office doing it!  HA!

PrimeNumberJD
Member

Totally tell your co workers it is an eastern meditation technique that improves blood flow and increases dopamine release... 

mireya223
Member

Just want to say I am in the exact same spot as you. I started with cigarettes in high school after my friends suicide, then moved to juul and then to another vape called the nord. I’m on day 5 of my quit now and you are definitely not alone in the symptoms you are experiencing. The horror stories are what caused me to quit, and my anxiety has been very severe all week, especially after quitting. I’ve been experiencing daily nausea and a lot of trouble sleeping, as well as some weird dreams. All side effects besides the anxiety have started to lessen for the most part, and i’m trying out a new medication for my anxiety. I’ve been exhausted and lazy and just all around not in the best mood since quitting, and have 2 interviews tomorrow for possible new jobs. I’m trying to manage my symptoms as best as I can so I can get back to work but it is definitely hard. One day at a time. It’s always comforting to have people on here to relate to and just talk to. I’m proud of how far you’ve come, keep going! We can beat nicotine.

AllieAllerson
Member

Thank you so much for sharing that! I am ashamed to admit I had been doing so well until I got home from work yesterday. I thought about smoking all day because it was such a shitty time at work. When I got off I got some cigarettes at the gas station I got my Juul pods at. They are light menthols and I had one last night and then a second again tonight after work. I feel like I lost the five days I had and it just makes me feel like an idiot for not having more self control. You are right though about one day at a time! Good luck on your job interviews. 

Barbscloud
Member

How is it going?   You didn't lose five days.  That's five days without nicotine in your body and hopefully you learned what went wrong.  You've already proven you can do this.  Admitting here that you slipped, means you still want this.  Hope you're back on track.  Try to turning that thinking around next time and reach out next time before you give in to that crave.  That's what we're here for.  Cheering you on.

Barb