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Give and get support around quitting

Leliabecker9
Member

How do you distract yourself around other people smoking/vaping?

My biggest trigger is watching other people vape/smoke around me. If any of you have struggled with this, what do you do to distract yourself from wanting to vape/smoke with them?

5 Replies
sweetplt
Member

Hello Leliabecker9 and Welcome to Ex’s...

Congratulations  on giving up the vape.  In the early days of your quit, you should try and avoid all vapers, smokers, etc., Here is a list to keep you busy, /blogs/Maggie_quit_8-1-2010-blog/2012/03/19/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoking?sr=search&searchId=8... /Vaping/Ecigaretttes...Keep close to the support site.

You keep busy...

You Can do this...keep telling yourself...

Colleen 541 DOF 

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to the community!

 

At the start of your quit, it is best to avoid being around others who are using.  Think of it like an alcoholic who has quit drinking (and speaking of drinking, it is not a good idea to do it early in your quit).   If there is no way to avoid it, try some Vicks under your nose to remind you of your quit and to negate a bit of the smell.  Try to change up your thinking - they probably don't WANT to smoke/vape - they HAVE to.  Feel sorry that they are still addicts and you are working not to be one.  If it gets too uncomfortable, make an excuse and leave.  You can always claim to be having a headache, or stomach problem, or don't remember if you turned off the stove.  In the beginning, your quit needs to be your #1 priority.  As you get further along, it probably will not bother you as much.

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 highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware.  I credit it in large part with my success at quitting.   You can search for it online or at your local library.


 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. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for obvious reasons.

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

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex and congrats on your decision to quit.  You didn't say who smokes/vapes around you.  Is it someone you can avoid or is it someone you live with?  

Barb

Leliabecker9
Member

Both of my roommates vape! So I am around it frequently. They normally only vape around me in the evening or if they are drinking so I try to avoid going into the living room/kitchen when they are drinking and smoking. 

Barbscloud
Member

So, it's going to be difficult to avoid them and that takes some strength. Honestly, I never vaped, but I don't thing  it smells like someone smoking a cigarette.  So, that's a plus.  Would they be willing to not vape around you--maybe go outside?  If not, always remember, it's your quit, no one else's.  Since it seems to be during a specific time, then if you can distance yourself during that time.  Don't lose sight of the fact that this is probably temporary for you to distance yourself.. I can be around smokers now without smoking.  

The important thing is to find new associations other than vaping for your normal routine.  They will become the your new normal.  

We're here for you.  Just reach out if you need some support--that's what we're here for.  It worked for me!

Barb