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Hey guys. I’m new here. My juul just crapped out on me and I swore I wouldn’t buy another one. With your experience quitting what do you recommend? I’ve thought about those disposable vapes and weening off. It hasn’t even been 24 hours and my cravings are INTENSE. Wowza. Thanks in advance.
Welcome to our community!
I did not find this site, done the reading, made a quit kit, or understood my addiction, until four days after I quit, and I was successful (now with a quit of over eight years!). You can be, too. It will be easier and your chances of success higher if you do the readings now, keep lists of your reasons for quitting and things you can do to distract yourself through nicotine cravings with . Maybe get some straws to inhale through, Sour Patch Kids or Fireballs or cinnamon gum to chew to keep your mouth busy. NO reason to poison your body another day (and the only reason to do it is only an excuse to continue the addiction!). The nicotine should be out of your body in about a week, and then it's the psychological triggers and associations with which you will need to deal.
You will need to substitute “vape” or “device” as you do the reading I will recommend. Research suggests nicotine may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Because vaping is available to you most anywhere, anytime, I believe it might be more difficult from which to break free than regular tobacco products - but it CAN be done!
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.
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.
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.
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
Recovery from this addiction is like recovery from ANY addiction. It’s a one day at a time journey. You have gotten great advice from sweetplt and from Youngatheart.7.4.12. Read everything you can find about nicotine addiction, stay close to the site, & believe that it will get easier with each day you stay away from the drug. You CAN do this & you are NOT alone, we will all support you in any way that we can.
Welcome to EX.
Ellen
welcome and congrats on DAY one nicotine vape free - bite into a lemon and come and blog and just let yourself - pour out ALL that CRAVE FEELINGS NOW - blog BEFORE - YOU vape NICOTINE DEATH - just SHARING - what was said to ME - in the beginning of MY learning to become a NON SMOKER - OR I have a menthol cough drop - it eases MY wanting to escape MY DAY today - at MOMENTS - I just take 3 deep breaths to calm down and ask MYSELF questions - just SHARING
As annoying as withdrawal is, you can get through it. Good for you for making a start. And for looking for help!!! Well you've found support here--Ex is here for you every day.
As far as vaping goes, Annette has written a blog about it. She used juul but was a smoker prior to that. Here is the link to here blog: How to Quit JUUL (or vaping in general)
Hang in there. You can do this one day at a time.
Thank you guys so much for all of the support! I’m so glad I found this website. It’s been over 24 hours since I’ve smoked and I’m feeling good about it! All day at work yesterday I was thinking about stopping at the gas station but I came straight home! So that’s such a win. Again, I can’t thank you enough for the encouragement and support through this journey!
Way to go! Keep climbing to new heights because you can do this.
Thank you thank you!!!
Welcome. You've already gotten some great advice. I was just going to write and ask how you were doing this morning. Your beat me to it. Each time you don't vape is a success. With each success you build confidence. Stay close and reach out if you need support.
Congrats on day 1 nicotine free.
Barb
Thank you!!!
I am suggesting you get the book by Allen Carr entitled “How to Quit Smoking the Easy Way”... It sure got me thinking and doing and I am almost two years smoke free, after (50) years of smoking!
It might also help you if you check out my “The Quit Kit” Blog to help you form a plan to keep your quit... We were all where you are now! If we can do it, so can you! The support here is awesome and comforting!
Keep the nicotine out of your body and away from your face!
Come here every day. Make it part of your new routine, even if you never comment or post.
Reward yourself for every single milestone, whether it's one day, five days, a week, anything!
Rewards totally work.
If you need to have something in your mouth, make it a Twizzler or Tootsie Pop or straw.
Cravings pass.
Time to learn a new way to live!
Thank you!!! I actually do find coming on here when I have a craving works, stopped by the store today to get some mints to pop in my mouth when a craving comes on, helps a lot too! Thank you for the tips!
Whatever you do please stick to it! your body starts to make a noticeable recovery in the first week. Hold onto those end results!
I tried many ways to quit. I tried nicotine patches, the gum, plenty of willpower and the support of many others on this site. If I failed I would straight away get back on the horse and try to quit straight after I relapsed.
When my father tried to quit smoking he ate peanuts!
Maybe you can try all these strategies also!
Hey! Sorry I have been so busy with work! The last few days have been awesome. Not thinking about vaping really at all. It has almost been a week!!
WOW, CONGRATULATIONS! Good for you!
Thank you!!!!
Congrats. That's fabulous.
Keep moving forward.
Barb
The first seven days is called Hell Week... You get that right?
The next seven days is called Heck Week... trust me, it gets better!
I will send you the Quit Kit in a private message. It will help you stay quit! Welcome!
Hi, there! Welcome to the community! Everyone's quit is really different. Everyone in general copes differently with things in life in general.
My suggestions is try nicotine patches in your first days and weeks temporarily and on-top of it find something else that is non-addictive that you crave for and enjoy doing (I know it sound contradictory. But it works). Also consider some different meditations Like Glen Harold's Overcome Addictions Recordings or even binaural beats to listen to through the day.
And maybe try coloring in for adults. Johanna Basford is awesome! That always works for me!
Keep us updated in how you handle those nasty cravings and keep posting on this site. It is another healthy replacement for the cancer sticks!
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s...hstokes210
Many plans of thought on this matter, however, for me this was my third and last quit. I weaned off of smoking, but had a plan when that day was over. I came here and read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX and planned for my actual day. Then I read everything I possible could about addiction/quitting, etc., I came here for support and worked hard to be clean for 583 days. Truthfully, it is what will work for you. Also, there is a group for vaping you might want to join, click here, E-Cig and Vape Quitters and Users . I hope this helps you to make a decision...know I am here for you and others at Ex’s...to help you through the crave and celebrate your milestones....YOU can do it...Colleen