Stopping vaping: addicted but not the nicotine

[glasshalfsomething]

So, last Monday I decided to give up the vape. I started on step two of the nicotine patches which I’ve been doing a fairly good job. However, what I was really missing was the hand to most movement and usage of the vape pain so in a flash of brilliance, I bought some 0% liquid thinking there was no harm in using the vape motion, but not getting the nicotine into my body.

well, as soon as I had it I felt better even though it contained no nicotine. My patch came off (stickiness is crap)- and I felt fine with just knowing I had my vape in my hand.

Next think I know I’m sucking on it continuously. I genuinely believe I was more addicted to the vape and action of vaping than the nicotine. Or maybe the glycerol sugar stuff that’s the base for the liquid????

But, just 12 hours I felt like absolute crap I had shivers and I didn’t sleep well and I feel it in coming down with the flu. It could be coincidental, and I could have a bug or could this be caused by the 0% nicotine? The label seem to include mainly flavoured liquids and other chemical crap.

ive thrown it in the bin and went back to patches.

it feels like a huge realisation; the chemicals in the vape - not the nicotine- have been the biggest addictor.

anyone else experienced something like this?

Yep! I vape at the lowest level of nicotine and sometimes go down to the 0%. It’s totally the action/comfort of vaping that I like, I do it far more than I ever smoked. I really, really want to stop as I know it’s not good for my lungs, but feel trapped with it. I think going cold turkey is the only way, but DH also vapes and so it’s always around, which makes it really hard. One of these days I will do it….

Omg I've never felt more seen in my life! 🤣

I fully quit smoking and switched to vaping when I was pregnant with my youngest. It has never been about the nicotine for me as I could go days/weeks without a smoke if I was ill or similar, so it was a very easy switch. Its been almost 2 years now I'm stuck on vaping and for some reason use it way more than I used to actually smoke. I literally had about 15 cigs on a bad day but I vape constantly, which is bizarre. How the hell do you stop when it's not the nicotine your craving?! 🤦🏽‍♀️

I’m glad it’s not just me!

in answer to your question @InALonelyWorld: the realisation that I was reliant on a inhaling a sugary liquid (and how crap I felt trying it after 7 days free) was the dealbreaker for me. It was like a light of sense - what the hell am I doing?

im still on patches and will do another two weeks tapering off them. But for the first time im genuinely feeling strong about quitting.

defo give it a go (and it may help to Google side effects of glycerol - it’s nasty)

@BridgetRandomfuck you can never stop until you’re in the right mindset so no judgement hear. But if you’re on 0 nicotine. Isn’t it crazy? Like a kid with a dummy really! And we all know that’s a hard act to break (but after 3 days they’re absolutely fine)