to ask for a quit vaping/smoking buddy?

[thisismyshamename]

Name changed as I am ashamed.

I need to stop vaping. I hate it and I hate myself for doing it but quitting is so so hard! I managed about 4 weeks a couple of years ago and have been stuck in this quit/start cycle since, with the quitting episodes getting shorter and shorter..

I haven't had a solid attempt for a while but circumstances mean this is probably a good time to have a proper go. Does anyone want to join me? Any method that works for you, hell I've tried most of them. I've bought nicotine patches which I had most success with (compared to tapering/cold turkey) and I'm ready to start in the morning.

I'm not especially worried about rushing the quitting nicotine part, hence the patches (and I have some lozenges around somewhere) but I just hate hate hate the vape. It looks ridiculous, it stinks and I hate how reliant I am on it.

It would be great to chat/have accountability/hear your positive (or not 😬) experiences. I so desperately want to be vape free I could cry.

Hopeful bump 😬

Hey!! I’ll join you. I’ve not tried to stop before but have had 1st August in my head to stop for a while. No idea why that date really, maybe because that’ll be around when my juice lasts to, there or there abouts.

None of my family know I vape because I’m ashamed and would never do it in front of them. Fed up of having to quickly hide it when someone pops in or if we’re all away sneaking to the loo for a quick puff. I have to stop but lean on it so much. I WFH and it’s constant. Dreading stopping but it’s a must.

Oh thank goodness it's not just me, we sound identical! No one here knows either, I think the secrecy is driving a lot of the shame feelings too. That and it's just a bit embarrassing to be so addicted to something?! WFH has made it all too easy to vape the day away.

Best of luck for Saturday- I imagine that's when I'll run out of liquid too, although I'll be making a proper effort to cut it when I get started on the patches. I don't particularly mind when it happens, just as long as it does. Like I'm not gonna beat myself up over a drag or two for the first few days.

How long have you been doing it & what strength? I swear quitting fags wasn't as hard as kicking the vape, I'm sure they're stronger (plus easier to "graze" on).

I’ve been vaping for around 8 years now, quit the cigs and thought vaping was so much better but now I’m just sick of it (yet addicted and dreading the thought of not having it) I’m on the Hayati (big one) think it’s 20 🥴

Im going to try and do it without patches, just cold turkey. I also always have a Lost Mary in the car and one in the bathroom cupboard upstairs for a quick sneaky vape through the night - I don’t sleep too good and stupidly think a quick wee and vape will settle me back off 🤦🏼‍♀️ I haven’t replaced my bathroom one since it ran out 3 days ago so I am telling myself that’s a small win that that one is gone.

How long have you vaped, what’s your go to puffer?

It's a weird feeling isn't it, to be so dependent on it yet hate it at the same time. How I imagine a toxic relationship!

I'm about 8 years now too, though I vaped a bit before that it wasn't that hard to give up. Kick myself for starting again! Ah yeah I know the Hayati, DP uses those ones 🥴 he's not ready to quit yet so I'm sure that will make things a bit more difficult..

I did have a reusable one that I filled with liquid, but the coil expired and I deliberately didn't buy a new one. So I'm down to elf bars in the most off putting flavours I can find, in a bid to make me hate it more! Ha I know what you mean with the spares everywhere (finding one was my downfall after I'd quit for a few weeks- I figured just finishing that off wouldn't hurt cos I wasn't addicted anymore 🫣).

Today's plan is to reduce, as much as I can, then I just need to pick a day to commit and stick a patch on. Maybe the weekend so it's easier to keep busy?!

How’s today gone for you? Have you managed to lessen the amount you’ve vaped at all?

I think the moment you tell yourself it’s now or never you want it all the more 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’m not sure what to do with all my spares and old vape stuff. I have lots of juice bottles still from when I used to refill and do the coils and stuff. I worry if I don’t bin the lot then I’ll manage to get a vape together and give in. My Hayati is defo on its way out. DH also uses one but way way less than me. I do think he’ll stop easier than me and I know when I say mines out and I’m not repurchasing he’ll do the same but his lasts way longer than mine because he doesn’t vape at work at all so he’ll have enough left for a few week. Sorry, I’m rambling, just getting a bit irked at the thought in a day or two I’m done with it.

It went reasonably well I think. Definitely cut back yesterday but it's hard to say by how much so I can cut back further today 😆 yesterday I distracted myself every other craving. So like when you get that "ooh vape" thought, I resisted 50% of the time. Today I'm aiming for hourly at a minimum- which is more than doable because I don't take it out with me eg. Supermarket, but I think it's a mental thing at home.

I think you're absolutely right though that when you know you're going to stop, you want it all the more. It takes over your thoughts a bit- I know I vaped less yesterday but I also know I thought about it more!

Does your DH want to quit too? I know mine does but he'll just randomly decide one day and stop, I need to psych myself up more.

I wondered about the kit too- if it's around it is way too tempting. I saw on the news not to bin either though, well not the batteries anyway. I wonder where they can be recycled, aside from vape shops?

I always take my empties to Sainsbury’s as they have a big bin for disposable vapes. I wait until I have a bag full (it’s hidden in the pantry)

Ive been really busy today, I don’t work Thursdays and needed to run a few errands and pop to town so I’ve not been on it much today. I’m wondering when I’ve had a drink how I’ll manage because I do vape a lot more when I’m on the pop!

Husband is like yours, he’ll just stop without giving it a thought. He’s only been vaping around a year, he quit the cigs same time as me and didn’t need the vape at all. I’m not really sure why he even started, think we had been out and he had some of mine. I’m sure alcohol will be my downfall if I manage to quit.

That's really useful to know, thank you- I'll have a look in Sainsbury's next time I call in!

It feels easier when you're busy doesn't it, if I could stay out of the house most of the day I think it's be a lot easier! Half thinking about changing jobs just to get out of WFH 🫣 have you got drinking plans at the weekend? I've got a night out on Saturday and still not sure how it'll go/if I'll have made any meaningful progress by then..

Seems a common story that people start vaping independently of quitting smoking.. I did it and have read so many threads on here of people that have done the same! I know some have half-joked about going back to smoking cigarettes. I'm sure I'd smoke a lot less but it's harder to be discreet 😬

Today hourly plan has been mostly fine and easy to distract myself, up until now. I realise this is when I must vape the most because I'm clock watching waiting for the hour. I can't get outside as it's all dinner/bath/bedtimes so I need to figure out a way of distracting myself- I might learn to knit?!

Shamefully shuffling in here with my 20 —30– a day menthol cigarette habit.
I know I really NEED to stop - Would be great to buddy here please 🙏

Welcome @DoubleShotEspresso no shame in here despite the usernames, nicotine is a hideous addiction.

I didn't know menthol cigs even still existed! Have you got a plan in mind or just thinking about it? I know I seem to be dallying about but I'm genuinely cutting down and hoping it helps the first few days/weeks go a bit better for me.

Evening! Another busy day for me and I only worked a few hours this morning which has meant I’ve not been on the puff all day. I have seriously cut down today it’s now thats my bad time when I’m sat relaxing. Told DH I’m stopping tomorrow and he said he’ll join me. I feel ashamed to say it kind of irks me that he’ll find it way easier than me.

Hi @DoubleShotEspresso! Welcome to the club. Best of luck with your mission to stop. Will you go cold turkey or try a vape instead of the cigs? Oh how I would love a menthol ciggie!! I am one of those people that actually enjoys the smell of second hand smoke when walking by a smoker. I doubt that’ll ever leave me tbh.

No plans for going out this weekend but I do like a glass or three in the house on weekend evenings. Maybe knitting is the way forward. Anything to keep the mind occupied and the hands busy! 😂

we did have a thread but it’s died down a bit recently because i think we all struggled to quit so much! I was completely vape free from feb-july but ended up vaping again. I’m quitting from Monday so would love to join you!

Would you mind me asking, what made you start vaping after months of being vape free @blankcanvas3 ?

They’re so accessible (and easy to hide!) I do worry I will fall off the wagon quickly in a moment of stress.

DH went to America for the World Cup and the stress of dealing with my 4 year old alone was too much to bear 😂 It sounds silly now I write it out but one night after I’d put my two youngest to bed, I was sat having a wine and my DS and his GF came home and I knew his GF would have a vape so I asked for a puff. I’d always found it hardest when I’d had a drink but I was fed up of DD (love her but she’s a very difficult child) and I was irate at DH for fucking off for as long as he had and it got the better of me.

I have just stopped a couple of months ago... I used nicotine patches, just the low ones for three weeks but the hardest bit for me was the behavioral stuff around it... I really did struggle with that bit because I didn't restrict my use to times or places so felt there was something missing all the time.

How's it going @Thisisalsomyshamename did you manage yesterday?! Hope DH is supportive (and though it sounds mean, not necessarily finding it easier than you 🫣). We both quite together last time and both really struggled- although it was rough, it was nice not to be alone.

Hi @blankcanvas3 I think I remember you from a different thread! Sorry you're back in this boat, the quitting is bloody hard but staying quiet never seemed to get easy for me either. DH stopped for about 6m and said the cravings got slightly easier but never went away, and he's back at it too. Monday sounds like a plan!

@Namechangee11 well done to you! I know just what you mean about something always feeling missing. I kept thinking I'd forgotten something! I've been careful to only have certain times and places this time, I'm hoping it helps in the long run. Cutting down is going well but I'm nervous to take the leap, though my patches are ready and waiting..

@blankcanvas3bloody fair play to you. I’d have done the exact same in your boat!

So yesterday I did cut down loads as my main vape ran out on me. However, I must confess today I did exactly as expected and fished out my old refillable vape, banged a fresh top on it, filled it up and vaped the day away! Fecking useless, I have no fecking willpower and wondering why the feck I thought it would be easier than this. Mad with myself but tomorrow is another day so will see how that goes.

I gave up recently. My Dad died and I realised I didn't want to live my life vaping. It was hard, and I still get cravings (had them all weekend as a bit bored and it's a great way to pass the time!)

I must say though since stopping I feel a lot better. I was getting headaches and feeling fatigued and muzzy headed, and that's gone now. I find my biggest trigger is seeing someone vaping my vape of choice (strawberry ice elf bar), but when I get a craving I think of how ill I felt and how I'd feel if I got lung cancer, and the feeling always passes

Strength to you all. I had 20 or so failed attempts before I managed it, if you keep trying you will do it

This thread has just popped up and my vape has ran out. Had a health scare recently and would love to quit. Is anyone up for trying? Sorry Op for hijacking thread 😌.

If you can, bin it and distract yourself for a couple of days. I made a tea everytime I wanted to vape, was nearly levitating with the caffeine😅

@Thisisalsomyshamename it's wild how you do the exact thing you tell yourself you won't! I didn't think I'd go on to disposables/pre filled pods but here I am 🙃 you did well to cut down though, channel that!

So sorry about your dad @1986Massive you've done so well to quit, especially during such a challenging time. I really appreciate you saying that it took many attempts to quit- I find the more positive attitude to "failure" at quitting really helpful, reminds me not to be so hard on myself, which I am in all areas to be honest.

Hijack away mint biscuit (can't tag you for some reason!). I'm gonna stick a patch on tomorrow and see how I get on. They're so bloody expensive it'll force me to have a proper go!

@thisismyshamenamegood luck for tomorrow! Hopefully the patches do their job and you can distract yourself enough from the physical side of it. If you have a successful day I’m off to another pharmacy rather than my local one (I know the staff in there) and getting myself some patches.

@1986Massive good on you for stopping in those circumstances.

I’m looking forward to feeling better when I’ve stopped. Dry throat, occasional muzzy head and breathlessness, it’s not great is it!!

Good luck @ThatAgileMintBiscuit have you tried stopping before?