Baby steps!

Blog Post created by Hlenglin on Nov 5, 2020

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I figure I will be challenged and today was just that...a challenge. All day I have been telling myself baby steps cause it seems that if there was something to stress me out today...it did. Not just big things...the littlest ones too. I was glad my daughter had come to the house and insisted I go with her....she was definitely a huge help when I felt like I was falling apart due to stress. I know I would have picked my vape up had she not been there. I also had the people on here that helped...even if they don't know it. Tomorrow is a new day and I just need to remember baby steps, one minute at a time.

Outcomes

7 Comments

JACKIE1-25-15 Nov 5, 2020 7:51 AM
Congratulations on not smoking. I am happy your daughter was a saving grace. You can always come here and visit with us. Stay close. Come here often. If you still have any smoking or vaping paraphernalia around it is suggested that you get rid of it to avoid temptation. Education is the key to a successful quit. Never give up, never give in, hang tough.
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Cousin-Itt Nov 5, 2020 8:09 AM
Some times that is all one can do is take things one minute at a time. I'm glad you stayed strong and your daughter supports you in your quit.
JACKIE1-25-15 has some excellent advice about getting rid of all smoking and vaping paraphernalia

Keep staying strong. Remember Things / Days get easier as your quit grows
Wishing you a better day tomorrow

Carl
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Maki Nov 5, 2020 8:28 AM
You are exactly right . "Baby steps" for now . Do what it takes . Those basic steps now will lead to giant steps forward later . We all get where we are going Osaat , Odaat . You are doing a great job ! A great job ! Congratulations . I know the earliest days are the hardest . So proud of you .. you be too .
I am glad your daughter was there for you and so supportive . That was real good timing .
You might find walking will help if you are by yourself .
Having an orange too helps or having cinnamon , cinnamon tea maybe . Somehow they seem to help cravings .. and soothe the pallet too .

You can't vape , right .
You can't vape what you don't have .
You don't have a vape anymore to create temptation when it's gone . You took your power back and quit .
I kept cigarettes around my first attempts for " just in case I changed my mind " but I talked myself into thinking I got more strength with it there , " I could handle my quit " , it was about control for me , however it made it so much harder because I thought about them all the time when I got stressed . They were in control . Smoking would be the easy way out but it never got me where I wanted to be . When I threw them out I felt satistified and empowered . If you haven't thrown your vape out it may be something to think about .

There is " no security " in smoking or vaping . It's a lie we believed . It was a security blanket of smoke that killed our lungs .
Stopping is better for your health . There is much more security in that .

When in doubt , go to a reason check list ..your reason check list .. ask the question why your quitting ... read the answers .
Perhaps you don't want that cost .
Perhaps you just had enough of being addicted .
When you are stressed and vaping comes to mind , remember " Your " reasons are right , and your addictions reasoning to keep vaping are wrong . Right now it will be a battle but drop the rope on addiction and it will fall flat on its face cause no one here is on its side .

Keep blogging . Hint hint

Super congrats on getting through your stress . You did it .
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YoungAtHeart Nov 5, 2020 8:31 AM
Welcome to our community!

Keeping your vape device around is just giving yourself permission to fail. Smash it up and put it in the garbage. You have decided not to do that anymore, so why have it on hand to tempt you?

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. You will need to substitute “vape” or “device” as you do the reading I will recommend. Research suggests nicotine may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Because vaping is available to you most anywhere, anytime, I believe it might be more difficult from which to break free than regular tobacco products - but it CAN be done!

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.

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.” You might find useful information, as well, here: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/quitting-smoking-vaping/quitting-e-cigarettes.

You didn't mention if you are using a quit aid, so I offer my thoughts on them 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.

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-instead-of-smoke

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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Barbscloud Nov 5, 2020 8:38 AM
Good morning Hlenglin Have you taken the first step yet? I know you had a quit date picked. To really make the commitment, it's best to discard any vaping items. It's just too tempting when it's close by. You've shown you can do by resisting the urge to vape.
You can do this one day at a time.
Barb
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sweetplt Nov 5, 2020 8:51 AM
Hlenglin Definitely “baby steps” and usually when one day is hard/bad etc., and you say “NO”...the next day is better, because you are stronger and nico is weaker...wishing you a better day...~ Colleen 703 DOF
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Legend Nov 7, 2020 12:05 AM
Hlenglin I hope you are doing ok today.
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Baby steps!

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