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Share your quitting journey

Trying to quit E-Cigs

Jessmill1987
Member
1 12 354

Hi there! I’m new to the community and wanted to introduce myself in hopes that others with a similar experience can provide some tips. I used to smoke cigarettes (a pack every 2 days) and quit for about 5 years cold turkey, which was super tough. One night while out drinking with friends, I stupidly picked up the habit again and got stuck again. I then switched to vaping about a year ago to get rid of the cigarette smell, thinking I’d eventually quit all together. Here I am a year later and have swapped my cigarette addiction with vaping with the Njoy. Because I can basically vape anywhere, it’s that much harder to quit. I recently tested positive for Covid and have really noticed a big difference in how I feel first thing in the morning versus after I take my first vape inhale. After, I feel foggy and can feel my lungs working harder. I’m a fairly healthy 33 yo, so thankfully Covid symptoms are very mild, but there is a big difference between pre-vape and post-vape. That realization is why I want to quit. I’m sick and still vaping, and it’s not helping my situation at all. I can go a few hours in the morning before I find myself reaching for my vape. I’m ready to be done with it all together.

For those who had been vaping for a while and quit, is there something you substituted your vape for to get that hand to mouth motion? Have you found using smoking cessation items (the patch, etc) helps? I’m trying to avoid using food as an alternative because I don’t want to add pounds while quitting. Any suggestions are appreciated, as I really want this to work.

Tags (1)
12 Comments
Maki
Member

I am so sorry you caught covid but hopefully you will recover from it soon . 

I agree although I don't vape it's best to quit . 

When I quit smoking I did use lots of junk food .. but I also found music helped , frozen grapes , blueberries , dried fruits . I don't like beef jerky but it might help , but eventually yes the hand to mouth habit has to be broken as well as inhaling exhaling the vape or smoke in my case . I recommend lots of walks once you are through covid and okayed by your doctor .,I also think a ping pong ball if you have one laying around , take up a new hobby like playing an instrument or painting to give you an idea . Write , some find blowing bubbles helps ... you can make that out of dish soap . Modelling clay , rubics cubes , oh gee , I'm sureothers will come along soon .. hopefully other vape users can help . You might also do a search top right and maybe something will come up . 

Get better soon . Straws cut into fig lengths stuffed with a piece of cotton ball is another Ive heard . Always keep water handy ? I found just keeping my hands around the cup helped . 

WhispersQSMB
Member

Its the same, i used a straw to quit both. At first i used a real cigg but never lit it, i would just pull on the cigg until one day i smoked it. I cut a straw down to the size of a cigg and would pull on that like a cigg... When a craving hit i would inhale on the straw(air) hold it for 2-3 seconds an exhale until the craving/urge went away.

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

 

 Congratulations on your decision to quit vaping.  It's common sense that anything you put in your lungs that isn't clean air can't be good for you!  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!  If you would like to use a quit aid and would like information on the various ones, let me know.  You can search for particular information from other vape quitters using the magnifying glass (top right).

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.” . which can be found online or at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be

 

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.  Count the lights you it or miss, or the number of white cars of pick-ups you see.   Find a different route to work so the scenery is different.  You can cut straws in lengths to inhale and exhale with, and maybe get a stress ball or rock for your hand.


You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all),, 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.  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

Maki
Member

Sorry Barb , I went back as the stars came as another thought and while doing so you must have posted ...

indingrl
Member

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Hand to mouth HABIT - cinnamon flavored toothpicks OR suckers OR celery sticks OR carrot sticks - BUST a crave since NICOTINE ADDITION is NICOTINE ADDICTION - next time a crave hits grab a lemon and BITE into it peel and all - it BUSTS the crave and YOU wont be thinking of - SUCKING ON DEATH NICOTINE LIQUID POISON- education is SUGGESTED to read blogs and to gather YOUR QUIT TOOLS - have snacks ready - hand to mouth - grab bags of YOUR fav snacks - apples OR oranges OR cucumber slices OR dill pickle spears OR peppermints OR double bubble gum - whatever will HELP YOU STAY a NON VAPER - and please remember YOU are EXperienced of 5 YEARS living as a NON SMOKER is still in YOU - YOUR knowledge - YOUR wisdom living and enjoying YOUR NON SMOKER LIFE STYLE - I believe YOU will live NICOTINE FREE again - CINGRATS and  - I am SOOOOOOO glad YOU are here 

sweetplt
Member

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s...Jessmill1987 

I am happy you found our site.  You received good advice above me...do the work...I will add, we are here to help, keep close to the support site.  You can do this...baby steps...Colleen 805 DOF 

Christine13
Member

So glad you are here!  I wish you the best on your journey!!

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

I am glad that you have made the decision to quit vaping. For the hand to mouth, cut up straws to suck on worked for me. The process for quitting smoking is almost identical to the one for quitting vaping, with the added benefit of being able to fully control the amount of nicotine you use, depending on the e-cig you are using@Quitting E-cigarettes | Guides & Tools | BecomeAnEX To make it easier you have to find distractions that you may enjoy other than vaping. 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke 

AnnetteMM
Member

I used Juul for a few months before I quit nicotine entirely.

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

69HelpQuit51
Member

Hi there! I started Day 1 today to stop vaping. I just found a box of “Nicotine Lozenge” that I had purchased while visiting my “Significant Other” who was in the hospital for a couple of days. Then started vaping again upon returning home. 

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

Hi  and welcome. Use any of the above comments that will be helpful to you. 

YoungAtHeart
Member

69HelpQuit51 

Welcome!

Please read all that I have recommended in my response above.  The better you understand your addiction, the more successful you will be in breaking free from it!  Be sure if you decide to use the lozenges that you have already changed up your routines and distracted yourself before using one.  Use one only as a very last resort.  If you pop one in for every time you want to vape, you will in all likelihood just trade one addiction for another. 

Glad you have found us!  You might write a blog to introduce yourself to the community.  Before your next quit attempt, do some reading and planning!

Nancy

About the Author
I’m a 33 (soon to be 34) yo woman that went from smoking cigarettes to smoking a vape, thinking it would be a good way to quit all together. Boy was I wrong. Sure, you don’t get the cigarette smell, but what they don’t tell you is that vaping actually means you’re smoking more. You can smoke basically anywhere, such as while you’re watching your favorite TV show. It sneaks up on you and before you know it, you’re more hooked on vaping than you were on cigarettes. I recently tested positive for Covid and instantly noticed how much better I felt in the morning before my first vape hit versus after. This is why I want to quit. I want to be healthier and take better care of myself. I’m only getting older.