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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask for a quit vaping/smoking buddy?

39 replies

thisismyshamename · 28/07/2026 17:53

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.

OP posts:
Thisisalsomyshamename · 03/08/2026 20:51

I’ve not done so well today and I’m not even really enjoying my old vape, that’s how useless I am! As soon as I can get to the pharmacy I am getting some patches. If you have nicotine via the vape when you have a patch on does it make you sickly ? I’ve never looked at them before 🤦🏼‍♀️

thisismyshamename · 03/08/2026 21:31

Well done @blankcanvas3 hopefully because you had such a long stretch vape-free before it won't feel so painful this time!

Certainly made me feel sickly @Thisisalsomyshamename I guess too much nicotine. The patches do say you can use them to cut down as well ie. Carry on vaping/smoking just try to cut down but it's put me right off today. I've still done it a bit 🤣 but less than 10 times. I don't feel the panic at the thought of my elf running out and not having any- in fact it'll be a relief because it won't be there, tempting me to make me feel sick 🙃

OP posts:
Thisisalsomyshamename · 03/08/2026 21:45

Less than ten times! Wow that is great. Go girl!! I would be so pleased with myself if I could get to that. Once the elf is gone gone are you definitely not buying another? I am hoping by some time tomorrow I’ll have had enough of this one I’m using and it’ll give me a push to cut it out because I’m not buying anything vape related ever again. I just wish I didn’t have so much ‘leftover stuff’ from previous vapes. It’s definitely not helping. Binning it all seems lunacy but it might have to be the only way for me.

foxfoxbox · 03/08/2026 21:46

Me!! I started again after about 10 years of quitting and I hate myself!

thisismyshamename · 04/08/2026 13:14

The leftover stuff is annoying- on my "best" quit I managed to leave it alone in a drawer for the first few weeks and got rid of it when I felt confident I was done with it. Only to buy a load more 😬

The elf is gone, done. I'm down to a refillable pod with some old 6mg liquid from ages ago. It's feeling a bit harder today, probably because it's both unsatisfying and nearly gone. I think I underestimated being off work with DC, silly me thinking it would be easier 😅

10 years @foxfoxbox! What made you go back?!

OP posts:
Thisisalsomyshamename · 04/08/2026 14:43

All my liquids are 6mg too. I have loads from before I got into the Hayati pre-filled. I’m not having a great day with quitting again. It’s so freaking hard, I think removing the habit of physically doing it is as bad as the actual nicotine addiction!

Maybe a September start date would have been better @thisismyshamename 🤦🏼‍♀️

@foxfoxbox oh my! I bet your lungs would have been fully recovered and everything!! Did you find it easy when you did stop and do you think you’ll manage it again? Also curious to know what made you start again?

thisismyshamename · 05/08/2026 09:31

6mg just doesn't hit does it 😬

I'm not sure what I'm missing about it - I just want to do it 💁🤣 I wanted to put it off til September but I've been procrastinating on this for a year already which is just ridiculous. I kept thinking I'll try at Christmas, New Year, Easter, birthday etc. Looking after DC can be a tiny bit stressful but to be fair, also a fantastic distraction (I think this might have been my logic about it being a good time to quit!).

Have you got some patches yet @Thisisalsomyshamename? I tried to white knuckle it without them and failed miserably. I feel like I stand a chance with a patch. I also looked at those nicorette inhaler/sprays- could not believe how expensive they were- but I've read good things about them.

OP posts:
teacupmadam · 05/08/2026 09:55

Ive given up for 2 years now and I hope my experience helps you.

I vaped for about 2.5 years. I was getting through 2 elf bars a day (I know- really bad). Anyway, it was making my anxiety go through the roof so I knew I had to give up and I was just generally disgusted with myself because my entire life revolved around having to ensure I had enough vapes on me at all times. I tried to taper off but it just didnt work because I would be counting the minutes down until my next puff and the time in between became sheer torture. It became all I could think about. I then tried nicotine substitutes but actually that made it worse because it meant I could use the mouth spray continually throughout the day at work (whereas with a vape I had to go outside)- I ended up using it more than I was vaping so that backfired spectacularly.

So I decided to quit cold turkey.

I got Alan Carr's audible book "easy way to quit vaping" and I listened to it every single day, at every single opportunity I had. The Audible version was much more helpful for me than the kindle version. I bloody love Alan Carr - he is the GOAT. I listened to that book over and over and over again. Every time I was able, I'd listen to it. I started to know it so well I could recite along with him. Every time I felt like I was crawling out of my skin wanting a vape, I'd put Alan in my ears. It helped massively and frankly, I dont think I could have done it without him. I literally brainwashed myself with his book.

The first few days were bloody awful and I was a snappy, short tempered bitch to everyone around me (I did apologise to them lol). I also felt really, really low- nicotine affects dopamine levels on your brain so be prepared you might feel like this for a short while. If I recall, day 6 was the worst. I remember driving in my car going to work feeling as if I was never going to be happy ever again. I remember thinking if this is my life now, I dont want it any more, I am going to go back to vaping if it means I am going to feel this shit for the rest of my life. But I held on. I promised myself, I would give it at least a month before I made any decisions to go back to vaping. I kept on listening to Alan. I clung to him like a life raft.

I also got myself some nootropics to help my brain increase my dopamine levels- supplements like L tyrosine, magnesium, NAC and Rhodiola Rosea etc.

Then, a weird thing happened. After about 2 weeks of feeling like utter shit, I was again in my car and a banging 90s tune came on the radio. I suddenly felt happy. The first time in two weeks I had actually experienced a good mood and I thought OMG I can feel some happiness again- maybe my brain isnt totally fucked after all. This spurred me on. I still had carvings at this point - particularly after meals and first thing in the morning were the worst but I reminded myself they only last about 10 minutes and they do subside. Physical cravings for nicotine go after 3 days but it's the psychological cravings that last longer. I carried on going. At about the 3 month mark I realised I was barely thinking about vaping at all. I'd get the very odd craving of "wouldnt it be nice to have a vape" but they gradually got weaker and weaker until they disappeared completely.

I can honestly say that after that first year I never thought about vaping at all. Not even once. I'd see other people vaping out and about and I never feel envious, I can honestly say, if someone offered me a vape right now I'd be like "ew, no thanks" so please dont believe you are doomed to feel like this forever. The idea of vaping disgusts me now and I cannot believe I ever even liked them.

You CAN do this, I promise you. It's the best thing I ever did and if I can do it, you can too.

Thisisalsomyshamename · 05/08/2026 14:04

Not got any yet @thisismyshamenameas I’ve got to go in to town for Boots and it’s quite a way just for those.

Wow what an incredible and interesting read @teacupmadamthank you for sharing your experience! I really really like Alan Carr too so will get the audiobook and play it through the echos dotted around the house. Your story is very inspiring, I love that you don’t even want to vape anymore. That must feel wonderful and empowering! You’ve spurred me on no end reading that, thank you.

thisismyshamename · 05/08/2026 15:25

Thanks for posting @teacupmadam it gives me hope that you just don't like the idea of it anymore! I've read the Allen Carr book countless times, it helped the first time but think the charm wore off. Admittedly I haven't tried the audio book (I never seem to get on with audio books- I fall asleep 🫣) maybe I'll give that a go on the off chance it helps!

I vividly remember the dopamine drop when I quit properly last time. Thanks for recommending the supplements you tried, I'll do some more reading. I've read good things about 5htp(?) and the tyrosine one. I'm quite sensitive to supplements in general (still have flashbacks from the side effects magnesium and marine collagen gave me!). I'm quite predisposed to low mood in general- my hormones are WILD- so it's a delicate balancing act at the best of times.

I think a hefty dose of PMT is about to hit me which definitely doesn't help. I'm finding that I'm trying to wish time away to get it over with, or make excuses to myself to go and rifle through the drawers to find an old one of mine or DH's. I'm also bone achingly tired- I forgot about this sleepy bit. But I'm on my way to kicking it, just need to resist the temptation to nip to the Spar 🙈

OP posts:
teacupmadam · 05/08/2026 16:27

@Thisisalsomyshamename if you had told me whilst I was puffing away like a dragon that there would come a point where I actually wouldnt want it, I swear I would never have believed you! But thank goodness I dont.

I think it's due to nicotine causing nicotine receptors in your brain to multiply and grow. Once you quit, they slowly shrink and go back to normal levels with time.

@thisismyshamename - I think preparation is key. You need to have a plan - what to do what the craving hits and yes, dopamine is very important so get some of those supplements in ready or do some research on more natural ways to get your dopamine levels up. Also, regarding Alan, there is something very calming about listening to his book, I actually really enjoyed being told how stupid I was because it reinforced why I wanted to quit (and also its true!) 😂

Thisisalsomyshamename · 07/08/2026 21:03

How’s it going folks?

I have cut down most definitely. I don’t vape through the night at all or in the car at all now. A little less in the house but I am still vaping. Slowly slowly catchy monkey and all that, right?!

thisismyshamename · Yesterday 16:04

Mixed bag here too- I forgot to put a patch on yesterday and haven't really noticed a difference. I was/am still vaping on and off with scraps I keep finding 🤣 sound like a bloody seagull don't I. I was actually just debating walking to the shop for an elf 🙈 sounds like you're making progress slowly but surely! Breaking the habits individually isn't a bad idea, the car vape was one of my toughest ones to break!

OP posts:
Thisisalsomyshamename · Yesterday 20:44

Seems like you’re making progress too @thisismyshamename! It’s all progress! I was thinking the same with breaking it down and now being car and night vape free. As I don’t have one in the car now, I can be vape free most of the day, like today we’ve been into the Peak District for most of the day so since leaving the house and getting back, I haven’t touched a vape, I do also think this makes me vape less when I’m back home as I know I absolutely do not need it. I have a few puffs and then leave it for a bit…. Needless to say mind you, I am chugging like a locomotive right now because I’m sat with a gin! Definitely going in the right direction though!

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