I'm going to quit vaping

[Vapeaddict]

Anyone else trying/kicked the habit? Please send any words of wisdom, tips, tricks or even just a reminder that it's gross and I really need to do this!

I've been vaping for about 6 years now and I'm desperate to stop. My DC hate it and it's a bit embarrassing when out and about. It doesn't actually cost me that much (refillable vape, parts are inexpensive) so I can't go for a financial incentive but there are dozens of other reasons to stop.

There's never really been a 'good time' and now is no exception, apart from DH has packed in this week so a) he won't tempt me and b) I feel really bad making it more difficult for him!

I've bought patches and some lozenge type things and have been mindfully cutting down this week. Do I just go for it tomorrow?!

I guess so @Beepopu which seems counter productive but it feels like a matter of time before I crumble anyway tbh. I lapsed a bit yesterday and had a couple of drags, not the end of the world but not ideal either.
DH said to maybe get a low/very low nicotine vape in so when I do crack at least I'm not going straight back to the strong stuff. It might kinda work similarly to the meds- which are designed to basically make the vape not satisfying by blocking the nicotine. I'll give it some thought today.

Thanks so much for your kind words @augustalready25 it genuinely means a lot after the grief I've given myself the last few days. I gave myself a bit of a talking to last night for being so mean 😅 deep down I do want to quit but if I don't manage it properly until next week or next month or whatever it isn't the end of the world and not worth trash talking myself for.

So sorry you're a slave to this awful addiction as well, it's so frustrating! PMS adds another level of AARGH doesn't it- my cycle is all over the place but judging by how sore my boobs are I think that might be complicating things here too. My moods have settled a bit with the minipill but I'm sure you've looked into all that! Best of luck with tapering today- let me know how you get on!

How's your day been @Vapeaddict @augustalready25 are you managing to control your cravings? I've been reflecting on what my triggers are, I think they're manly kids and husband related 🤦 whenever they're annoying me too much. Still haven't caved in but today's been hard. Hope you're both doing ok

Bit of a mixed bag really @Beepopu thanks for asking. I took DH advice and got some very low nicotine (lowest you can get I think- 3mg) liquid in a flavour I don't like 😅 but by telling myself I can have that if I really need to, I've managed not to have any strong stuff. The cravings are definitely still there, just a bit more manageable with the very low strength stuff. It's not really satisfying at all in taste or mouth/throat feel and it only slightly takes the edge off the withdrawal feeling. I suppose I'm training myself to show it's pointless carrying on.

Plan is to stick with this til I hate it so much I give up 🤣 I'm slowly coming round to the idea that I don't like the action or the taste anymore (which I still did with my old, strong flavour) and because I don't get the throat hit, I'm not quite as tempted to do it.

I'm trying to be a bit nicer to myself about the whole thing. There's no bloody rush and if I keep ploughing on ahead quickly, I'm more likely to mess up. (Is this the "lessons" you learn from previous quitting attempts? Maybe). How are you?

@Vapeaddict don't beat yourself up, hardly anyone is ever successful first time quitting!

I'm pleased to say I'm still off the cigarettes having quit mid May. This is the first time I've lasted so long and I honestly can't see myself smoking again, it seems like such a weird thing to do when I see other people smoking!

Alan Carr never helped me, tried several times over the years. I think the only reason I've successfully quit this time is because I was ready, and had no pressure to do it.

Keep going,you've got this!

Thanks @Lovelynames123 I know you're right, I've read it loads of times that relapsing is totally normal.. I just feel like such a failure! Especially next to DH who has done so so well.

This weak liquid is rubbish and barely taking the edge off, but it's doing enough to stop me going on stronger stuff so I'm having to take that as a win for now.

Massive congratulations on stopping since May, you should be so proud of yourself! Amazing that you just don't see yourself going back to it as well- I think that shift in mindset is vital. I don't want to be a vaper anymore and am trying to visualise my life vape-free. I can only see positives, so it's hard to understand why I'm carrying on.. addiction I suppose.

Glad it's not just me that AC didn't work for. Maybe now my mind has changed a bit and I'm not enjoying vaping anymore it might be worth another read. I've actually got a bit of time/thinking space tonight to write some thoughts down on why I want to quit and try to put the focus on what I want and not what others expect of me.

Day 3 on the 3mg. It's been hard- I very nearly caved and went back to my 18mg, but I didn't!

I questioned earlier if I was just making this more difficult for myself- presumably I'll go through a similar "aaargh" when I come off the 3mg- however, I decided that this is something I'm at least sticking to and the weakest nicotine is better than the strongest (maybe?!). While I can say to myself "if you're that desperate, have the 3mg" it feels doable. I'm just hoping that as I'm also still craving quite hard, I am 'coming off it' at least to a degree.

Rambling sorry. Hope everyone else is managing/maintaining and feeling positive!

@Vapeaddict slow and steady wins the race, I think it's great you've come to a compromise and being kind to yourself. I tried this method in the past but 3mg was just too frustrating for me, I was sucking on my vape even more to get my hit so quite counter productive for me, I was simply vaping more. But that's me, I'm the all or nothing type of person (which I wish I wasn't). See for example, there's people who can have a fag or vape only occasionally, like on a night out only. That's impossible for me, if I start, I can't stop. Every time I've stopped in the past for a considerable time was whenever I was pregnant. I've been pregnant 4 times. First couple of pregnancies, I was smoking and stopped during and after pregnancy, and stupidly started again after. Started again on a night out with friends, thinking one couldn't hurt but before I knew it I was smoking every day again. After a few of years I stopped smoking and switched to vaping then got pregnant with my 3rd, which made me stop vaping. It was hard at the beginning but when nausea kicked in, vaping was the last thing on my mind. Again I stupidly started again a few months after the birth, on a night out with friends. Stopped again during my last pregnancy and thought that was it. But nearly a year after the birth, I got a nicotine free vape because I was going to a festival, but ended up buying a disposable and before I knew it I was hooked again. I've found it easier to stop when I'm pregnant but there's no way I'm getting pregnant again lol!!! I really need to stick to it this time. Im still getting tempted, especially now that I'm back from my holiday. I find it hard to lose the association of work and nicotine. Like when I used to finish work, I couldn't wait to get to my car and vape. Need to replace this feeling with something else!

Thanks @Beepopu it feels like you're virtually holding my hand through this and I really appreciate it!
I managed to stop when pregnant as well- I remember it being hard but not like this! I suppose keeping your baby safe is the ultimate motivation isn't it. Feel really silly for picking it back up again! Yeah getting pregnant again is probably a bit drastic 🤣
I think it's really good that you've identified some of your associations like work/getting in the car. I don't seem to have any "triggers"- I just want to do it all the time, because I did! I've been blasting music and singing- badly- when I can but it's not always the time & place.

I know what you mean about the 3mg being frustrating. I think I'm probably vaping slightly less in frequency, because I'm doing it in secret/discreetly, and slightly less liquid as there's still a bit left in the bottle. It's not ideal but at least it's less nicotine. Hopefully I'll be able to cut back further soon, like yous said slow and steady!

Going to try these to to try deal with the hand to mouth fixation because even with nicotine patches I crave it the same amount.

Flavored Breathing Sticks

Flavored Toothpicks Picks

How's everyone doing? @Vapeaddict is your method of vaping lower strength liquid working? Have you been able to down down further?
@LindaJames did you give the above products a go?

I'm now 7 weeks and 3 days vape free. I still think about it every day, and some days are more difficult than others. I found an old vape in a drawer but I didn't use it. The thought of starting all over again prevented me from relapsing. I don't feel cravings and pangs anymore. It's more psychological, hard to explain. If there was a study coming out tomorrow saying vaping doesn't cause cancer or any other type of illness, I'd be back on it lol I've also noticed that I've put on weight, which I'm really not happy about. I did overeat the first couple of weeks that I stopped to compensate as I was feeling cravings and low moments, I needed to comfort eat but I've since stopped but the extra weight is now here and won't go away 🙄

I did it's help me cut down but I've had a few relapse days tbh

Well done @Beepopu that's such an achievement! DH says the same about the psychological cravings not really going away- he's still fighting them often even though he quit months ago now.

I'm on nicotine free liquid now and every time I vape I think to myself "this is so pointless" 😅 it's been hard still but SO much easier than patches/cold turkey. I think I'm pretty much ready to pack it in altogether again- hopefully without the nicotine withdrawal I'll manage it this time 🙏 I was going to read Allen Carr again but haven't got round to it and not sure how much good it'd do if it didn't work first time!

Just thought I'd update, I'm a week in of no vaping at all. I think dropping to nicotine free liquid was a good move- I just got bored of it in the end as obviously it wasn't doing anything! I was only on 3mg before that so that must've been pretty negligible as well.

Having said that, I'm finding life hard 🙈 it's not even particularly that I want to vape or smoke, I think the years of being on it have done a number on my dopamine pathways/receptors or whatever.

Basically it's like having the worst PMT ever, constantly. I'm so ANGRY and SAD- sometimes at the same time! This mood drop led me back to vaping when I quit before but I'm determined not to go back now. I just need to ride it out.

I feel like a horrible person though, snappy and irritable then bursting into tears. I'm being a rubbish mum/partner. Really hope it doesn't last too long!

Congrats @Vapeaddict that's awesome! I know what you mean about the mood drop, I experienced the exact same at the beginning, and argued a lot with my husband. He'd get on my nerves so easily. Still the case but now I try and leave the room when I feel I'm getting annoyed. It's been hard and I thought we were going to divorce at some point. Sometimes I'd think I should vape again to save my marriage! Probably the addiction talking again. I still think about vaping every day, especially when I'm working in my office or driving my car on my own, as that's when I'd vape the most. Last night I was googling again vaping and cancer links, to remind myself why I'm doing this and to be honest it does work and scares the shit out of me. I'm glad I'm not vaping anymore for this reason.
Apparently it does take a while for the brain chemistry to return to normalcy after quitting nicotine. Have you considered taking an anti depressant if you are feeling really low?

@Vapeaddict well done! Maybe have a punching cushion handy, or a screaming cushion, and just let your anger out in a healthy way and push through it.

I'm still off the cigarettes, made it through a house purchase, renovation and move, and can easily stand chatting to xh whilst he smokes with no desire to have one (he seems to have been inspired and is apparently quitting when his duty frees run out, we'll see!)

Well done

Still going strong. The majority of the time I'm not really thinking about it but when it crosses my mind, it's powerful!
Totally relate to everything you say @Beepopu including the divorce 🤪 I thought DH was handling this really well until he pointed out how stressed with work he's been- obviously I knew he was finding work hard at the moment but hadn't made the link.
I was googling how long it.might take til I feel more normal and 90 days is mentioned a few times so I've noted the date in my calendar- it's early Dec. If I don't feel considerably better by then, I'll think about antidepressants. I had a rough time coming off them a few months ago so I'm reluctant to go down that route if I can help it!
Thanks @UK2HK and @Lovelynames123 I've been going with really deep breaths but a screaming cushion would probably be very satisfying! Well done on making it through all that stress without caving. Deep down, we know that a vape or a fag won't help with the stress.. it would just be nice 🤭

For anyone that is considering listening to Alan Cars Easy way to quit it's available on audible which is only 99p for 3 months.

As close to free as your gonna get.

So glad I found this thread. I’m 6 days in having been a heavy vaper for the last 10 years.
like everyone else, it was never out of my hand. I couldn’t even walk from room to room in my own home without it! It was the first thing I did in the morning and the last thing at night.
Anyway I’m just about managing so far but have gum and the nicorrette inhalor thing to take the edge off when I really need it. There is absolutely no way I could do this cold turkey. But, I do think the habit and frequency of vaping is the bigger issue for me rather than the nicotine addiction itself.
Best of luck to everyone trying their best to get off this stuff because it’s incredibly hard!

Welcome @BuffaloBill15 well done for deciding to stop vaping! How are you getting on? There's no denying that it is incredibly hard!

I am now 100 days in 🥳 I am so glad I'm off the vape, I can now look at all the benefits like more time, more money, no more sneaking away in secret and hiding in my office (no one but my husband knew). I feel more present for my children. Whenever I have a moment of weakness, I just think of cancer. But I don't really have cravings anymore, it's more situational if that makes sense. For example, when leaving work and driving home, sometimes I still miss vaping in my car on the way to work or on the way home. But I manage and concentrate of the benefits. Also, I've replaced my nicotine cravings with caffeine. I am now craving coffee in the morning, I instead of nicotine. I don't know if it's the same for you guys, but I've been so tired since quitting. I think nicotine was definitely giving me this boost I needed to get through the days. So now I rely on caffeine in the mornings, and I go to bed so much earlier now. If I try to watch TV, I always fall asleep. I've managed to lose the weight I had gained in the first month I stopped, so I'm quite happy because I hated those extra pounds.

How is everyone else doing?

We can do this 👊

Well done! 100 days is brilliant.

3 weeks tomorrow for me. It’s definitely getting easier in so much as it’s not on my mind constantly. The first week was very hard. I still feel a bit low overall and still feel like something is missing, but it doesn’t consume my thoughts any more.

I’m down to two pieces of gum per day. I still get quite strong cravings in the morning and mid afternoon. That will be the next thing to tackle but I’m not quite ready for that yet.

i rationalise this by telling myself that two pieces of gum is immeasurably better than 100+ puffs on the vape every single day!

Coming up to six months for me since I quit vaping! I do still think about it occasionally but like a PP said it is situational and I can distract myself and forget about it.

I was vaping ALL the time before I quit. I had stopped before but always picked it back up but it IS possible so don't stop trying if you want to give them up.

I keep stumbling and going back to it but overall much better than before.. I keep reading that it takes more than one attempt to quit so I hold on to that! It's so hard being surrounded by vapes, all too easy to pick one up and just have a go without the commitment of going and buying my own.

I seem to fall when I've stopped for ages, convince myself I can just have one go or whatever. It's hard!

Well done to everyone that's stayed strong, I keep ruining my X amount of days streak 🥴 but I'm still trying.

@Vapeaddict it is hard. This is probably the fifth time I've quit but this six month streak is the longest I've ever done and now feels different..... I think I've finally quit for good.

In 2024 I stopped vaping for three months and then stupidly went back to it after thinking "just one will be ok." So I think you're right that it takes multiple attempts at quitting before you completely manage it.