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Give and get support around quitting

growth2020
Member

Daily help

Hey all, 

I am 27 and have been smoking/vaping for the past 5 years and I have been trying to quit. After getting rid of everything I always find myself running to shop when my craving gets intense. With signing up with this I am hoping to get help because after doing research. I want to quit so bad and struggle with finding a way to really let this addiction go. My question for you all is when you don’t have support from family or friends is it still possible to quit and is there something that you all use to keep you in check daily? I feel really insecure about my inability to quit and really am depressed and upset with myself at this point. 

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5 Replies
AnnetteMM
Member

You've given yourself permission to run to shop when you get a craving. Stop doing that! Tell yourself "I don't do that anymore!"  Come here instead and read, read, read. You can do this!

which-step-have-you-reached-today-i-wont-do-it-i-cant-do-it-i-want-to-do-it-how-do-i-do-it-ill-try-to-do-it-i-can-do-it-i-will-d.jpg

Also, see:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/AnnetteMM/blog/2019/09/08/how-to-quit-juul-or-vaping-in-ge... 

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Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the ex.  Many folks have quit without having much support (I'm one of them).   That's what we're here for.  Educate yourself about nicotine addiction and create a quit plan.  My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX   You can check in with us daily and take the Daily Pledge not to smoke.   Remember it's your quit no one else's.   Pick a date and take the leap.

Barb

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

WE can be your support group.  It's what we do.  This quitting thing takes effort on your part.  It is a strong addiction, and requires education, planning, preparation and support (all of which we provide here) and your commitment to not buy another device to be successful.

Although primarily a smoking cessation site, I have seen a huge increase in the number of people coming for help to break free from vaping. Research suggests nicotine may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Here is a great article with information about the products: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/vaping/vaping-101-what-know-about-e-cigs-addiction-illnesses-n1054981... There is further information here: https://www.becomeanex.org/quitting-e-cigarettes and here; https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/impact-of-e-cigarettes-on-lung.html .

E-cigarette users can get more nicotine than they would from a tobacco product — extra-strength cartridges are available, or the e-cigarette’s voltage can be increased to get a greater hit of the substance. I understand some pods equal the nicotine in a pack of cigarettes. Because it is available to you most anywhere, anytime, I believe it might be more difficult from which to break free than tobacco products - but it CAN be done!

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

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YoungAtHeart
Member

P.S.  For daily inspiration, you can join our Daily Pledge:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/26325-the-daily-pledge-december-2019 to join others in promising not to smoke/vape that day.

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maryfreecig
Member

You got yourself here. You did something for yourself. You expressed your fears. Again you did something for yourself. This says to me that you me that you already are working on your own behalf. That's fantastic. So please stick around and let this large community of quitters be the kind of support you need. Quitting is a one day at a time process. It cannot be done well if you are looking to tomorrow, next week, next month. You'll end up fearing the worst. We all have our stuff--but as quitters we can learn to live with what upsets us without smoking. You can absolutely learn to live without smoking.

Welcome to Ex.