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So I’m curious and confused, we all came to this site for a purpose, to STOP our addiction to nicotine. Have some come as an experiment, answers, or others for real help, along with a few that continue “use”, and are attempting to justify their continued use ?
For mine is to stop this addictive compound, nicotine included in my body, in any form !
Hey Why are you really here ?
Simple answers please, let’s not complicate this conversation.
I joined a different quit-smoking forum initially (now gone), mainly for the purpose of quitting SMOKING, as that was what was damaging my health and self-esteem so much. I understood that the reason I continued smoking was to feed the addiction to nicotine, but I had no problem in the beginning using and even now advocating the TEMPORARY use of nicotine replacements in order to stop the worse damage that smoking causes. I have come to dislike the idea of e-cigs because my thought was that NRT was to get you through craves while you learned to live without the habitual side of smoking... which e-cigarettes continue (hand to mouth, same delivery system, drawing into mouth and lungs etc.)
Nicotine replacement, however, is intended a TEMPORARY tool for quitting smoking, and switching delivery systems should be one part of a plan to completely disassociate from tobacco products (i.e. nicotine). Nicotine is a poison and can also exacerbate PAD (peripheral artery disease) since it is a vasoconstrictor. That is my understanding, at least. It is not a harmless addiction IMO.
I'm not going to cite all the references, but those are my thoughts on reading your question, lqsi12
oops I broke the rules like Sootie, but I think it is a multi-part question so gave it the attention I felt it deserved .
HI lqsi12 I came to quit smoking cigarettes (only thing I smoked) for the last time....I needed the support group and the quit plan that Ex had to offer to me...~ Colleen 233 DOF
I joined this site 2 years after I quite (having been on two other forums prior). I came to help other's quit and as a part of my quit maintenance (staying connected, so that I would NEVER FORGET what the beginning stage of this quitting process is like and for continuing education to keep myself mindful of the addiction and it's consequences not only to better inform my own process but to add to my support knowledge.)
I came here after I had been quit for about a week, I was really sick. I knew that I could not ever smoke again and I did not use any NRT. I came here for support from people who knew what I was going through and I came here to learn how to navigate my life without stuffing all of my feelings into cigarettes. I never used anything with nicotine after I quit. I won't pretend that it was easy but the fact is, I knew it was possible. After over 5 1/2 years, I am happy to say that my thoughts of smoking are basically nonexistent. Once in a while, out of nowhere, a memory comes to mind and it's something I associated with smoking. I recognize it as a memory and keep going forward.
Ellen
I am using NRTS, but the goal was no smoking to further damage my lungs. Nothing but air now, no cigs or vapor. Someday I hope to be free of the nicotine, but it’s not the physical demon the smoke is. Mentally, that’s a whole 'nether war.
Quitting is simple, just not so easy (for many). Ex is here for people thinking about quitting, already quit, planning to quit, wanting to quit, wishing to quit--ready or not, Ex is here to inform, to support those who are ready or not. I wish to share my quit with others in the hopes that it might help, but I can't transplant my recover to them and I shouldn't. Each quitter has their own journey.
I don't believe that vaping is probably a good idea to quit smoking, but not just because of the hand to mouth addiction. Many of us used chewed on straws to help with out quit. Hand to mouth. I used nicotrol inhalers this time to quit. Hand to mouth again. Both helped me quit. Can't answer if everyone wants real help with quitting smoking. I suspect there are individuals here (probably on any blog) for reasons that have nothing to do with quitting smoking.
I don't see chewing or even sucking on straws (or popping lozenges or hard candies or tootsie pops, or chewing NRT gum) as replicating cigarette hand-to-mouth smoking motions or delivery. I have no experience with Nicotrol (and am frankly glad I didn't know about it when I quit... I'd probably be using it still) but it still isn't the same as sitting down puffing a cigarette on autopilot while enjoying a drink or your coffee or planning your day or driving your car. I don't know if you suck the nicotrol into your lungs...?
To each their own and whatever works for the individual to quit smoking and get off the addiction that kept them smoking for (usually) decades.
I do. With both you're using your hands and you mouth simultaneously. I only said straws, not gum, candy, etc.
Agree to disagree then, on all counts,
Congratulations on your successful quit!
I agree. They're are opinions on this site and then they're facts. Hand and mouth used together is a fact.
The only thing we agree on is that the motion is the same. The affect on quitting smoking, factually to me, is completely different. Picking your nose is also a very similar motion, but has no effect as a quit tool.
Popping a lozenge, a straw, a twizzler, a tootsie pop have all been used as valid quit tools (which is why I mentioned some in my first note to you, I was NOT putting words in YOUR mouth). But they are not the same as smoking or puffing a vape.
IN MY OPINION.
Now, can we drop it and again to agree to disagree? I see no sense in continuing. You wont' change your mind and i won't change mine. Which is the meaning of "agree to disagree".
Ive had luck in the past with flavored. The stronger the better. It facilitates the hand to mouth sensations and is great compliment to patches. After the patches you may be left with a toothpick habit but it's better than gross smoking.
I’m here to get the support and lessons learned from experienced quitters, but more so the daily reminders by EX text that I made the decision to quit vaping and stay quit. I am an obliger (Gretchen Rubin’s 4 tendencies) so I need held accountable.
I'm sorry to change the subject but this "hand to mouth" discussion reminded me of my most difficult physical habit to stop. I used to smoke on the patio and every time I sat down I would reach out to the table on my right to grab my cigarettes. Physical withdrawals were long gone by then but it literally took me a year to be able to sit in the chair on the patio without automatically reaching for my cigarettes.
One of my serious objections to JUUL, ecigs, vaping etc. is.......................what exactly is IN there????
They all sort of "bill" themselves differently.
JUUL commercials (that I have seen) seem to focus on the social aspect of smoking in that.....you can't do it anywhere. So your JUUL makes it acceptable. In that respect, JUUL is only trying to give you an "acceptable" (hahaha) cigarette....not really trying to get you to quit anything. There's nicotine in them, there may be other stuff in them.....they simply don't burn.
E-cigs----from what I know of them---did try to push that they would help you quit smoking. They had nicotine and they also did not have nicotine. The cartridges sort of lessened the nicotine (much like the gum and lozenges are supposed to do) as you moved on through your "quit." PROBLEM-----you are still doing that hand to mouth thing AND PROBLEM-----again, WHAT IS REALLY IN THEM?? Vapor? What vapor? From where? What will THAT do to you in 20 or 30 years?
Vaping I don't get at all.......when I walk past the vape stores there is a cloud of.....well, I guess not smoke but a cloud of something as they all stand around vaping and trying flavors???? So---I find the vapor as annoying as the smoke. Sure would not want that sitting next to me in a restaurant. And again.....WHAT is REALLY in that?
I wanted to quit smoking and quit putting "stuff" in my body that was either definitely injuring me or could possibly injure me. I was also sick and tired of the routines and rituals and garbage that went with smoking. I wanted to be like non smokers....leave the house without worrying if you have enough cigarettes, enough matches or a lighter, a plan on where and when you would get your next smoke, etc. etc. I see JUULs, e cigs, vaping as still tying you to a whole raft of junk you "have to have" with you at all times.
No thanks.
I’ve read on sites that were meant to educate parents that the vapor is water! Far from it. It’s PG and/or VG and I think I am sensitive to PG. I broke out all over my face. One of the biggest reasons I want to quit.
Our government needs to follow up ...... on Nicotine health hazards no matter HOW it is imported into the body Another one coming soon
The "hand to mouth" was really tough for me to break as well. One of my friends that is Greek called it mechanical, when he quit(hes a contractor) he put a nail in his mouth and as long as it was there he was calm(his crutch) . I used a straw or some candy especially driving or when watching TV.
As far as why we're here, i like helping others as well as keeping my quit grounded. Going from one Nic delivery device to another i see no point in that. E-cigg /Vape is just a ENDD. If you never saw the movie the insider its def worth watching, all Big T wants to do is Deliver Nicotine to the people so they can profit
Well----almost 10 years ago (YAY will be 10 years in November!) I came to this site for support to quit smoking.
Everyone has their own opinion about things and all opinions are welcome here. Mine is as follows:
Once you realize the damage you are doing to yourself.....you do not want to put ANYTHING into your lungs except air!! If anyone disagrees with that they should read Thomas' blog today....it might change their minds. So that gets rid of the whole JUUL, e-cig, vape whatever concept of "helping you quit". I don't believe they help you quit as they are not breaking the psychological hand to mouth addiction AND some of those devices DO still have nicotine. Even without nicotine....flavored vapors going into your lungs is not what your lungs were intended to take in. MY OPINION ONLY!
Now NRT's are a bit different because they are quit smoking aids. They are Nicotine Replacement Therapy and if you follow what the manufacturers directions state....you soon discontinue them. They are to "ease" your quit but they will not quit for you. I did cold turkey so I'm only familiar with NRT's in a very small way. Some people continue to use them well after the step down process. I guess some people don't want to smoke but they don't really care if they remain addicted to nicotine. THEIR CHOICE. The problem with that is, obviously......they are still an addict. And they won't ever feel the same freedom from drugs that a real quit gives because they are still ingesting the drug. They may be taking it in a less harmful form....but it is still a drug that has no place in the human body. MY OPINION ONLY!
And sorry----I broke the rules!!! This was kind of a long answer......but not complicated (I think?)