Juul Addict (day one)

[elaynaborn]

I have been addicted to my juul for the past 2 years after switching from cigarettes. I found myself addicted to the juul much more than I was to cigarettes. Today, I threw away all of my juul pods and devices. Any helpful suggestions for staying off juul?

[indingrl]

Welcome - CONGRATS DAY ONE - yahooooooo - WAY TO GO - educate YOUR self -  read all info offered here from EX and the blogs YOU choose are HELPFUL just for YOU to learn and grow and get a NEW MINDSET -  just for YOU - NICOTINE ADDICTION - is NICOTINE ADDICTION -  whether juul OR cigarettes OR cigars OR chewing it OR flavored liquid NICOTINE pods - it is still sucking on DEATH  - A drug is a drug is a DRUG NICOTINE -  please I am talking about ME not anyone else - please take what HELPS and let go of the rest - to be HELPFUL is MY only aim - thank you -  I once swore to MYSELF I would QUIT smoking for GOOD - I wet the pack of cigs - threw them in garbage and the next moring - I raced to dig those cigarettes I threw in the garbage - I dug those cigarettes out - they were garbage soaked and had coffee grounds on them and I laid them out on paper towels and blew them dry with MY hair dryer and begged MY husband to go get ME 2 packs of Marlboro reds while- I stayed and I smoked one after another until HE got back - TODAY only by God's grace in MY Lord Jesus - 9 YEARS NICOTINE FREE - I am a RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT -  just for TODAY - it is all I have to live through this DAY only - it was SUGGESTED to ME - please blog BEFORE YOU take that first PUFF over YOU - gentle hug

[elaynaborn]

Thank you for your support. Already feeling the crankiness and a slight headache, but gum and mints are getting me through this morning. Congratulations on 9 years nicotine free! That’s amazing! 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

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.”   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.  The information contained was the foundation of my now 7+ year successful quit.   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.

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

[MarilynH]

Welcome to the community please read the links suggested above me and keep reading everything you can because there's a wealth of information right here on this site to strengthen your resolve to kick this horrid addiction to the curb permanently it won't be easy BUT thankfully it's doable.... elaynaborn and we're all here to help you in any way we can....

[Barbscloud]

Just wanted to add my welcome to the Ex.  You've gotten some great advice.  Educating yourself about nicotine addiction and creating a quit plan leads to success.  I'm sure this addiction can be more difficult when you can vape practically anywhere, while us smokers had to delay our next cigarettes.  But you can still do it and we're here to support you on your journey.  Just reach out!

Barb

[MartyO]

Following....

Best of luck!! 

[AnnetteMM]

I did the same thing you did, except I didn't use Juul for quite as long. Throwing away all the equipment is your best first step, so congratulations for that!!!

Now, read up on EVERYTHING everyone says to read. It's important! Knowing all about nicotine addiction and being willing to be free of it? Priceless.

See my post about it here:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/AnnetteMM/blog/2019/09/08/how-to-quit-juul-or-vaping-in-ge... 

    I'm already proud of you!

[elvan]

Stay close to the site, follow YoungAtHeart‌'s advice and take this one day at a time, one step at a time.  You CAN do this.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[Deb0220]

Rooting for you!! I too used an e-cig to quit actual cigarettes, only to find myself more addicted with time to those than I was before. I did't use the Juul brand but it's the same thing. I am on day 2, am jittery and not myself, but I have not weakened.  I hope you are hanging in there!! We've got this! 

[green1611]

Congratulations you threw all Juul weapons out.

You are really now ready to stay nicotine free.

All the best!!