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I have been using Juul for about a little over a year and it has got to the point where I use 2-3 pods per day. This is very costly obviously. Does anyone have recommendations to help curve cravings from that high of a dose (I.e. gun, patches, etc.) Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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 There is further information here: https://www.becomeanex.org/quitting-e-cigarettes and here; https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/impact-of-e-cigarettes-on-lung.html .
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.” A cigarette contains about 1 mg of nicotine; I don't know about the strength of the pods you are using - but it seems to me that you are getting a LOT of nicotine if you are using 2-3 pods a day. 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-instead-of-smoke
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
I quit vaping on Sept. 19th. Still have a craving but I chew gum & eat dum dum suckers.
Hi I am an Ex Vaper 34 DOF. well, I went smart turkey on the vaping and am hanging on to reality here. I am very proud to be an ex vaper, and have purchased many flavors of sugar free cough drops that I carry all the time with me now. I sometimes dream that I cheated....and wake up and think wait, did that happen? I am trying things out of my routine, rode my bike to a friends dinner party on Saturday, it was 4 miles away....and rode home with head lamp it was exhilarating and totally fun..... at the dinner party some friends asked me if I wanted to smoke and I said no thanks and that was that. But they definitely were surprized that I had quit and I had to kind of figure out my new role at a party, I can not drink too much right now as that is a trigger, and saying NO is new to me also....but the new me is loving the guilt free way of living. I wish you only the best on your journey but come to this site and journal blog read and encourage
Thank you for that. It was very inspirational which I think I will need coming up here. Me quite date is the 17th so I’m prepping myself mentally for that.
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s...dbayse
We are addicts and in this journey together...and here to help you. First, I recommend you reading at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX , there you will set a quit date and work towards that day like no other. Then you will figure what healthy things you will do in place of vaping...here is a list to get you started...100 Things to do instead of smoking! You can do this...keep close to the support site to receive help and to encourage others...
Now get started and get working...~ Happy Friday ~ Colleen 305 DOF
You may want to join the vape group E-Cig and Vape Quitters and Users