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Hi! I'm new to the community. I am trying to quit vaping and nicotine! But I have a mental health condition and quitting in the past was hard and I am scared I'll never be able to make it. I was lucky enough to be able to switch to vapor but quitting nicotine altogether seems like a huge task. Does anyone who has a mental health condition want to share how they managed to quit for good? It would put me at ease.
Welcome to our community!
I found this when I searched: "Myth: Quitting smoking can make mental health condition symptoms worse. TRUTH: If you experience depression, anxiety, or stress, quitting smoking can make you feel better! Even if you have schizophrenia, studies show that quitting smoking does not make your symptoms any worse." EX also has information to help you here: Mental Health & Smoking | Guides & Tools | BecomeAnEX You might check with your mental health professional to see if they can advise you, too. Get educated about it, plan, prepare, gather support and commit. We can help with all but the last!
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 other 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-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
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s
I am so glad you found our site...I am so sorry you traded one addiction (cigarettes) with another (vaping)...First thing, you should address your quit with your Doctor you are seeing for your mental illness...also, know that many here have mental illness and quit smoking...next, I would suggest you read and plan at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX ...also, educate yourself on addiction...it is important to realize you are an addict and need to brake feeding the addiction. Lastly, come here for support and to encourage others...Much of this journey is keeping busy ... so here is a list for you to keep and use ... 100 Things to do instead of smoking! We are here for you...~ Colleen 371 DOF
I have a slew of mental health issues and I do think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel but only being on Day 7, experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms like anger, irritability, increased anxiety, feeling worthless...etc is frustrating!
I say we hang in there and see what happens! 
Good morning. Look at you Day 7. You are doing this. Ride the wave of your emotions. We stuffed them for so long with smoking, it takes a while. One day at a time. Congratulations on one week.
Good morning. Many people on this site have had mental health conditions. Many have quit smoking. Actually smoking in itself is a mental health condition. I used NRT's. You can actually keep using them as long as you need to. You can do this.