cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Give and get support around quitting

RIPMintJuul
Member

Do you dream of nicotine?

42 DOF and I just had my first vaping dream last night! Anyone else have dreams about smoking or vaping after they quit? How long after? I woke up in the morning with a monster craving. Sneaky nicotine receptors!

Labels (1)
11 Replies
indingrl
Member

Yes!!! ONLY by God's grace at  8 YEARS as a  NON SMOKER and I had a smokemare and wrote blog too - GOOD JOB sharing - thank YOU so much - gentle hug

0 Kudos
ClearColors
Member

That's a nightmare.. Ugh..

I've had them. bleh..

But you woke up a winner!

0 Kudos
YoungAtHeart
Member

They are so common we gave them a name  "Smokemares."  You can search for blogs about them with the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner.

That being said, I have had one every once in awhile since I quit over 7 years ago.  I found it interesting that early in my quit I actually stopped myself from smoking, after getting a cigarette out and lighting it.  Later on, I had one where I was sitting in a beautiful garden and not only did I smoke an entire cigarette, but I enjoyed it immensely.

Pay them no mind - except to cherish the fact when you awaken that it was only a dream leaving your quit still intact!

0 Kudos
sweetplt
Member

RIPMintJuul Yes I have had a few...this is my third and last quit...and the other two long quits I never had the smoking dreams...this time I did ... so I saw it as a good sign ... remember it is just a dream...even though they feel so real...Congrats on 42 days quit...that is super...be sure to read....RIPMintJuul 

Happy Saturday ~ Colleen 397 DOF 

0 Kudos
Barbscloud
Member

Yes they're very common.  I only had one where I actually smoked in the dream--it's very scary when you wake up and think for a few minutes that you actually smoked.  When you think about it, we dream about everything else.  Why not smoking?

Barb

0 Kudos
Jm2002
Member

RIPMintJuul‌ I’m three days into my forever quit, and I had my first smokemare last night. I woke up in a panic thinking that I had caved and gone back to using, but I realized it was just cravings. How often do these usually occur?

0 Kudos
Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex and congrats on 3 days nicotine free.   Glad to see you're posting.  It does help to be involved by giving and getting support.   We're here to support you.  Just reach out.

Barb

0 Kudos
Jm2002
Member

Thank you so much!

0 Kudos
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first three days. I believe most of us had nicotine use dreams - and, just as no two people or quits are alike, their frequency varies.  I have been quit for 7+ years, and I can say that the number has decreased to almost zero now.

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.  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!

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... 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 .   You might find useful information, as well, here: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/quitting-smoking-vaping/quitting-e-cigarettes.

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.”  

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.

You didn't mention if you are using an NRT, so I will give you my thoughts on their 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.

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