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Give and get support around quitting

Tsngo
Member

Day 6 any better?

Day 6 for me and the cravings are not subsiding. Anyone experience this? 

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5 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

You are breaking free from an addiction that has actually changed your brain sensors.  It is not unexpected that you will still be experiencing cravings at 6 days.  This is a difficult addiction from which to break free.  It does get easier, but you need to give it some time.    Congratulations on making it through six days - you are almost through H#ll Week!

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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

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

Tsngo
Member

Thank you SO much for the helpful information. I am using nicotine lozenges, but am beginning to wonder if this is prolonging the addiction........ 

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Be sure to use the lozenges properly so you are not just substituting one nicotine delivery system for another. Don't replace every puff with one or you may become addicted to THEM.   Perfectly OK to use them in the beginning as you change up your routines to reduce associations.  You should use them as a very last resort after delaying and distracting yourself.  Have a plan how you can reduce use over time.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time.

Stay close and let us know how you are doing!

Nancy

sweetplt
Member

HI and Welcome to Ex’s Tsngo 

Congratulations on Day 6 of your Quit...almost through hell week...however, that being said, you will have craving and urges for awhile.  I am not sure how long you smoked, but it takes time for you body to adjust to you not feeding it chemicals.  Every time you get a crave, trigger, urge you should be finding a healthy activity to do in place of smoking.  Ie., a jigsaw puzzle, take a walk, read the Bible, etc., right now your journey is keeping quit and keeping busy.  Please do the readings and work suggested by YoungAtHeart Nancy above me...it will help you in this journey.  Keep close to the site for help and to encourage others in this journey.  Hang in there ... it gets better but it takes times...

Gotcha in my Thoughts ~ Colleen 399 DOF 

Barbscloud
Member

This is part of the process.   It will take sometime for the cravings to pass, but they will lesson.  The psychological part can be a longer process.   There's nothing wrong with using an aid. There are many successful quitters on this side that have used them.  Keep moving forward.

Barb