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Give and get support around quitting

sammieo
Member

I Really Want to Successfully Quit this Time!

I've tried to quit vaping more than a handful of times, the longest I've made it in about 2 and a half years is 6 days. I've tried Nicotine Patches but fell back into my pattern of vaping 3 days later (this was even after having a tonsillectomy). I really want to quit and I'll be the first to admit that I'm addicted. So, tips or words of advice would be sooooo appreciated, because I'm determined to make it stick this time. My quit date plan is 2/28/2020. PLEASE GIVE ADVICE!!!! Thank you!

13 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

The most important parts of being successful at beating an addiction include education,planning, preparation, support and commitment.  We can help with all but the last.

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... 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.”   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-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

SuzyQ411
Member

Welcome to the Ex sammieo‌! Nancy has given you excellent information in her above post. She is one of the group elders as she has been quit for well over 7 years. I am considered a "newbie"; I've been quit for 43 days.

I just want to encourage you to become active on the site as Nancy suggested. So much information and so much support can be found here: I've learned that the members here really care about one another. So, I strongly encourage you to include us in your quit plan.

Wishing you well ~ Suzy

msmatty1946
Member

i totally agree i find myself coming back regularly to remind myself that what i wish to  accomplish can be done with support

sweetplt
Member

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s sammieo 

So happy you found our support site.  I would follow the suggestions from Nancy YoungAtHeart above me,  I would keep close to the support site to get help and to offer support to others in this journey.  It isn’t easy, but it is doable...you really need to try and find healthy things to do in place of smoking...here’s a list to get you started.../blogs/Maggie_quit_8-1-2010-blog/2012/03/19/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoking?sr=search&searchId=f... Get planning and know we are to help you...Colleen 443 DOF 

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex.  We have many vaper's now so you're not alone.  It has to be difficult to quit when you can vape anywhere.  Us smoker's had to delay our next cigarette  Follow the advice already given.   Educating yourself about nicotine, creating a quit plan and utilizing the support on this site made all the difference for me this time. Using these tools has led to my first successful quit after many attempts.   Pick a date and begin your journey to becoming nicotine free.


Barb

AnnetteMM
Member

I actually used vaping to quit cigarettes, with a plan made ahead of time.  I wrote about it here:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/AnnetteMM/blog/2019/09/08/how-to-quit-juul-or-vaping-in-ge... 

Gai.C
Member

sammieo‌ If u don't have it U can't smoke it.  You have to make up your mind to be done. Why do U want to  Quit? Read everything you can get your hands on.  Make a plan and stick to it.  Decide how u want to Quit.  CT Cold Turkey or NRT  Nicotine Replacement.  

Keep 'em away from your face!

"I respect myself enough to refuse to beg, borrow, steal or purchase even one more - period! No matter what!" Instead I will ....https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2008/05/03/things-to-do-instead-of-smoking...‌!

maryfreecig
Member

One day at a time. Just for today. One hour at a time, one step then the next. 

Keep yourself vape free on the 28th for that day alone. The next day? Don't work your quit in advance. Don't go looking for the final solution. It's today that counts.

Make a long list of all the things you are willing to do other than vape. Keep it in your pants pocket, refer to it often. 

Ex is here for you 365.