Advice for a 19y/o quitting the juul?

[aidan_dm1]

Hi,

I just started today because of something my dad asked me with vaping in context. He said "remember who you were before vaping he's still there" and it made me cry (and I never cry...never) because I couldnt for the life of me remember.

I have been juuling since freshman year, as im 19 now, and I was wondering if theres anyone hear who has quit juuling and could offer some advice.

Thanks,

Aidan

[sweetplt]

HI and Welcome to Ex’s aidan_dm1 

Your dad is a good man...sounds like something my dad would have said at one time in his life to me...We have many here on site quitting Juul...I quit smoking cigarettes 296 Days ago...they are not much different...we are both addicts...go to the top of page and click on Groups and type in key words “Quit JUUL” and there is a group for those quitters.  Also, read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX and where it says “smoking cigarettes” replace with “smoking Juul”...so much of this journey is dealing with life without the smokes and replacing smoking Juul with a healthier activity (pray, exercise, drink water, do a puzzle, etc.,)  This is doable, but takes hard work and preparation...start now when you are young...before the damage is done.  WE are all here for you...now get working “one step at a time”...~ Colleen 296 DOF 

[PastTense]

Good morning, Aidan.  So glad you found this site!

I never got into vaping, but addiction is addiction.  Most of the tips, tricks, thoughts, and strategies that you see here to help people quit smoking apply to quiting vaping.  I encourage you to read all you can here.  You never know what will strike a chord in you and help you power through a craving.

I did two things that have helped me maintain a quit for 55 days.  You might find these helpful.

1. Have a written quit plan.  WRITTEN.  Your quit plan will help you develop a solid strategy for dealing with trigger and cravings.

2. Post here every single day.  Take the pledge.  Respond to questions.  Play the games.  Hanging out here helps me keep focus on why I want to quit and how far I have come.

I look forward to seeing you around!

PT

[AnnetteMM]

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

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

The recent vaping news is indeed disturbing - and I am happy to hear you are planning to quit.

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

[Ann007]

Hello & welcome! Just quit juuling 6 days ago after a year of using it. A week ago today I did the same thing that you're doing - signed on to this site thinking some support/help would do me good. I can't say enough about how understanding & encouraging everyone has been! It's helped me break the emotional hold that nicotine had for me. I'm following quite a few (EX) vapers in the early stages of quitting or deciding to quit if you'd like to check them out as well as the quit Juul and quit vaping groups! Glad you're here! You can do this! 

[Barbscloud]

Welcome.  You're dad is a wise man.  I glad what he said motivated to rethink vaping.   I've never done it and glad I haven't with all the scary news stories.  I suspect it's probably more difficult to quit since you can vape anywhere, but that doesn't mean you can't do.  That fact that you're so young, now is the time to do this to protect your health.  With that being said, we're both nicotine addicts, so understanding how nicotine addiction impacts you physically, emotionally, and psychologically, is key to be successful.  Pick a quit date an create a plan My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX so that you're prepared when life comes your way.  Here's another site for young people trying to quit vaping.  https://www.thetruth.com/articles/hot-topic/quit-vaping 

Those tears mean you know how much he loves you and you don't want to let him down.  You don't have to.  We're here to support you on this journey.  Just reach out and we will enjoy spending  time with you.  

Barb