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Give and get support around quitting

bmilani1
Member

4 days free

I've been smoking 10 years and have never been able to go 24 hours without lighting up and I'm grateful to say that I'm now working on day #4 smoke free. I bought a vape to help with cravings. Is that not a good idea?

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6 Replies

There are mixed answers to that question. Yes, vaping keeps you from smoking Sickerettes and some folks believe that it helps you quit smoking. Others believe that it simply exchanges one supply for Nicotine Addiction for another. Do you buy into the "harm reduction" idea? What are your goals for smoking cessation? Are you aware of what you're not eliminating by vaping?

(1) You are still an Addict. Is that OK with you?

(2) Nobody seriously claims that vaping does no harm. The claim is less harm. Is that OK with you?

(3) You are still spending time, money, effort and brain receptors on vaping. Is that OK with you?

I honestly don't see the purpose of vaping because none of the above are acceptable to me. 

My take:

Would you rather take arsenic if you found out it was "less harmful" than cyanide?

I know the Addiction is Powerful but YOU are even more POWERFUL! Hang out around here and find out how you can beat Addiction and become FREE! Hint: It takes work!

elvan
Member

I have to agree with Thomas3.20.2010‌ but there are a lot of people who feel differently.  I feel that the most effective way to begin and maintain a quit is through education and support.  Both are available in abundance on this site.  You have come to the right place. I strongly suggest that you read JonesCarpeDiem‌'s blog /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months  as well as /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke which is on YoungAtHeart‌'s page.  There are many more people who will come along and say welcome...they will have a great deal of good advice to offer you.

Best.

Ellen

Angie_machado
Member

I'm on day 10 smoke-free so I'm no expert but here's my two cents.  Last time I TRIED to quit I used the Nicotine gum, patches, and a vape pen all at the same time, that quit lasted two weeks, I still wanted to smoke!  So I caved in and started smoking.  I think the longer you keep Nicotine in you system the harder it is to stay quit.  Your a nicotine addict as long as you keep putting Nicotine into your body the longer you'll be addicted.  For me, it's hard enough dealing with the psychology of not smoking if you added the Nicotine back in the equation I wouldn't be here.

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your first FOUR DAYS!  You are on your way!!!  I agree with what Thomas noted above about vaping...but everyone and every quit is different, and you must answer those questions for yourself.

The most 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 is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

 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, quitsmokingonline.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.

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.  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.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. 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.  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

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maryfreecig
Member

Congratulations on your journey to quit nicotine. Hang around--read, learn, participate and work your quit. You'll find your way out of the addiction one day at a time.

I know very little about nicotine replacement therapy, or vaping because I quit cold turkey and I quit with very little support (a bit of the cray cray turkey method)  although I did seek ideas (solid stuff, no easy as pie quit stuff) online and I soaked up sensible guidance as much as I was able to. I came to Ex about a year ago after smobriety of a few years. 

So progress is always personal in quitting. For you, I suspect but don't know, that if you are honest about vaping, keep it short and are willing to progress to no nicotine, it might work. But I bet the sum total of quitters here who have knowledge about this stuff will guide you well.

Keep coming back. Yes you can quit! 

indingrl
Member

Congrats on four days keep coming back and blog blog blog... it was sugested to ME...to educate myself on my nicotine addict... come here...ask for help... go to whyquit.com with Joel... i watch video on early death video from smoking shared by Bryons wife ... it opened my eyes that i too will die early if i dont quit... for ME talking about ME only... please takes what helps and let go of the rest...i asked MY Higher Power who is Jesus to help me... i prayed Dear Jesus  if you dont take these cigs from me i will smoke them until i drop dead... the next day COLD TURKEY QUIT...i have been coming here trying to help... just like i was helped... one day at a time....thank you for helping me stay quit TOGETHER.... in Jesus name amen