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Give and get support around quitting

Frida1623
Member

My letter to my health❤️

Hi guys , guess it’s more of a resume lol , sorry. Anyways, Today is my first day of reaching out, as I know for sure I may have passed my quit day by a few days, I’ve been semi reading all the helpful texts, but although I tried to   ignore most , as I felt I had the need to remain smoking my ECIG.

  Im not  sure if this group applies to me , quitting, but I’m trying, & it’s kinda the same .

I use to be a real  smoker for over 20 years  or more. My youngest daughter one day helped me quit a few years ago, by introducing me to electric cigarettes . Anyways my device broke today, maybe g-d’s way of answering my prayers.  I know I can feel better , & I’ really strive to quit.  I’m home from work today (under the weather) & I cant help but cry or be depressed. It’s kinda Hard to focus, or feel good about my self, my life, my issues , On this 1st day .

but I know I want to quit .& I know my health is deteriorating from it all. I’m a single mom now, & just turned 58. I am blessed w 5 children & 5 great grandchildren. But Working long hours to support my self & my  almost 19 year old daughter has become hard. So the smoking is not helping the matter. I was a stay at home wife/mom for 34 years.

any tips to keep my mind focused would be greatly appreciated. 

P.s. That same little girl that helped me quit real cigarettes, is now addicted to Ecigs.

 maybe I can quit & one day motivate her! 

Whooo! That felt good to share!

Thanks!

Xoxo                                                  

Charisse

15 Replies
Mandolinrain
Member

Welcome, I think we are all in the same boat. Nicotine was the ships captain, but we all have decoded to pitch him overboard  SO I feel you fit right in

Stay near the sited active. It really will help encourage you as you read through the common struggles we all share when we boot nicotine from our lives. Im glad your with us

Barbscloud
Member

Glad you found us.  Sharing can be cathartic.  Sometimes this is all you need to be successful.  Having a support group has made all the difference for me.  Smoking or vaping,  we're both nicotine addicts.  I understand this could be hard to quit since it's available everywhere.  Smokers had to wait to find a place to get their fix.  I doubt most people knew how addictive vaping was when they started.  The stories on the news have been very concerning, so now is the time to quit for your health.  Read everything you can on this site about nicotine addiction and create a quit plan My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX   Pick a quit date and reach out for support anytime you need it.  We're here to support you on your journey and celebrate your successes.

Barb

YoungAtHeart
Member

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?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR1_kp1N7b8vLyjqt3M-Onz2hPEUkBBmUYm98bdRJ9EBVKldRbKbvLwP3ss.

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

sweetplt
Member

Frida1623 Charisse Welcome to Ex’s

You are in the right place because we are all about quitting smoking, ecigs, vaping...etc., You see you quit smoking cigarettes, but never quit smoking...We are all addicts and you will go through withdrawals due to the addiction.  I am sorry...but I feel one can help with this quit by reading at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX and reading the blogs here to help keep that quit.  Keep close to the site to encourage others on their journey and to get help.  We are in this together.  Hang in there and don’t smoke...do something healthy in place of smoking....here is a list to get you started /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke?sr=search&searchId=c518... ... ~ Colleen 295 DOF 

Frida1623
Member

Ok , I survived day one! I’m in , let’s do this

( I know I’m sick now w a chest cold & cough now , which made it easier for

me as well, braking my device helped as well!

Looking forward to day 2 w my new friends

Thankyou so much

On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 4:28 PM sweetplt <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

Ann007
Member

Congratulations on making it your first day! That was honestly the hardest part for me - actually taking that first step. I'm just starting day 6 as an EX Juuler. We can do this!!

0 Kudos
maryfreecig
Member

    A long time ago, electronic cigarettes were being billed as the solution to the nightmare of cigarette smoking. So, you stopped getting your nicotine from tobacco and then got it from the e-cig. Turns out the e-cigs are some aweful too. And if the nicotine dependency remains the same or gets stronger....bigger dosage? 

    Well you are in the right place. Please stick around, because Ex will be here for you every day. Keep reading, learning and sharing. It is not at all impossible to quit--and with knowledge and support you can achieve your quit goal one day at a time.

Frida1623
Member

Thanks for your email

On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 4:38 PM maryfreecig <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

0 Kudos
sweetplt
Member

Day Won Frida1623 ... get rest and feel better hon