Vaping without Nicotine as a crutch
I have been quite now just over 13 months. It is much easier now and I continue to say that it gets around 3-4% easier with each month that passes. Thats approximately 1% a week of the cravings decreasing in frequency and severity.
I have a friend that had been quit over 5 years. She had an extremely stressful and traumatic event occur. She told me that she had a plan in place in case something with such extremes were to happen. She had planned to start using a nicotine free vape. Basically to get the sensation of inhaling and exhaling (similar to using a straw cut in half). She used this as a crutch for 2 weeks and said it definitely was the reason she did not start smoking again. I asked if it was hard to give up and she said no, she just stopped when she was able to cope with the traumatic event. At this point in my quit, it is 100% a mental battle. Having this armour available and knowing that I have a plan in place in case something terrible happens, helps me mentally to know that I am prepared. I remember at this time last year, I was looking forward to getting to 3 months / 100 days. Now I am looking forward to getting to 2! Amazing, and so worth it. Many list improved health and money saved as top benefits. These are important to me, but I would rank self empowerment above all else. Knowing I can beat the nicodemon, means I can handle any situation thrown at me.
I used non-nic disposable vape sticks early on in my quit. I still use them sometimes now...but I'm not ever desperate anymore. It's a great, harmless pacifier.
Thanks for the validation on my thoughts and quit strategy Kramo. Most people have different strategies and tools to help in their quit process. From what I have read on this and other forums, no 2 quits are the same. How long have you been quit ?
That tremendous! Before you know it, it will be 6 months and then 9 and 12 months. Once I passed the 3 month mark is when I started to really feel confident in my quit. Congratulations and keep up the amazing work!
Hi congrats on giving up I’m only on day 3! I’m 44 and I smoked 40 a day I have anxiety and mental health problems so I’m finding it hard to convince myself to keep stopped, I’m using the patches and a nicotine vape, that’s how I’m doing it because atm that’s the only way I can cope, hopefully if I make it to 3 months I won’t need any of them.
Good luck on your journey🌈👍💥
Hi NotThisTime,
Good luck in your continuing quest. I agree with you that as the time goes by it gets easier and easier to resist the temptation. I chew Wrigley's Doublemint gum to cope with an urge to light up when appears unexpectedly. Seems to help. However, from time to time my wife starts complaining that I chew too loudly. My ready question for her is "Do you want me to chew loudly or smoke quietly?" That always seems to end her complaining and then I try to chew less energetically. LOL. Recently we went to eat out and after dinner my wife thanked me for making it special for her. I was a bit confused cause we went out to dinner lots of times to all different places and to that sushi place in particular but she never thanked me before. So I asked her why this time was special and she told me that in the past when we finished eating and left the restaurant I'd always light up. The smoke and my stinking breath was a major downer for her and all the other non-smokers too. Even worse, sometimes during dinner, when I'd satisfied my initial hunger after appetizers, I'd go out for a smoke and come back to the table. WOW, I realize now what a major turnoff that must've been. On the other hand we're still married. Quitting smoking was not only the best thing for me but also for my loved ones too. Anyway, congrats on staying quit. I am not far behind you at 10 month 17 days. So let's keep the distance. You are ahead and I am not far behind! Good luck and more power to you in your determination to stay quit.