Give and get support around quitting
I am planning on quitting tomorrow! I was planning since a couple of weeks and now I ran out of vapor and didn't order any more. Tomorrow I will also ask my doctor for a NRT like nicotine gum. The patch didn't work for me in the past. I'm nervous. I looked through some of the website and got very encouraged. But I think it will be hard. I hope to get some support here.
Welcome to our community!
Congratulations on your decision to quit! With the news recently, I think a lot of folks who are vaping are giving it a second thought! You don't have much time to prepare, but the articles I will give you to read make great crave busters, too. Too late, too, to reduce the amount of nicotine in the vapor you are using, but an NRT can help with the beginning pangs.
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 puff they used to take - 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.
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
Hi and Welcome to ex’s....Dani2154
Follow the advice from YoungAtHeart ... Planning, knowledge and support are three of the keys that helped me quit....of course your nervous...stay close to us...you can do this...You are worth it...keep busy....Gotcha in my Thoughts ~ Colleen 371 DOF
Make Day 1 ... Day Won...
Welcome to the Ex and congrats on your big day today. It's normal to feel anxious, but you can do it one day at a time. Stay close to the site and reach out if you need support.
Barb
You are so right quitting is hard but doable. I can say that because so many of us have. With a new mindset, the commitment you can too. Make a vow the no matter what you will not smoke and you are on your way to freedom.
No need to hope for support, that is what Ex is here for. And support is 365. Welcome to the community. Please remember that this is a one day at a time journey--so avoid worrying about next weeks, next month, keep it in today. Blog, comment, read here as much as you want or need to.
/blogs/Marilyn.H.July.14.14.-blog/2019/10/28/with-committment-we-can-will-succeed
/blogs/Marilyn.H.July.14.14.-blog/2019/09/30/its-bound-to-take-time-to-relearn-life
What is the Single Best Thing You Can Do to Quit Smoking? - YouTube
Quitting Cigarettes Journal my story
Stay as close as you possibly can to this site - like every single day - whether you feel like it or not. It is a lifeline without judgment.
"I hope to get some support here."
I (and I'm sure many others here) would love to encourage and support you more, but your three blogs of Dec. 14th are not able to be commented on. Perhaps you're unaware of that? If you've restricted comments on purpose, that's fine, but it's rather difficult to offer advice and support if you don't allow us to comment back in response.
Keep working at it and keep reading material on here. /blogs/Giulia-blog/2018/03/01/quitting-is-a-skill-that-can-be-learned?sr=search&searchId=80ff15e2-e9... Persevere!
Yes. I have restricted comments on my personal blog on purpose. If I need advice I will ask for it through the discussion board.
Great. Good to know it wasn't just an accident. It'd be awful if someone didn't get any responses because of a mistake and felt like nobody cared.