A Young Addict, self medicating

[Brian Kerns]

Hey guys! I am a 21 year old male trying to officially quit this time. I started vaping about a year and a half ago, but was never even close to addicted.

But after awhile, it got to the point where my lungs could handle absurdly "fat rips" persay and I hit it hundreds of times per day now. My health hasn't suffered, at least noticeably, but it's only a matter of time.

I feel like I use it to self medicate for social anxiety. It's around me all the time when I go out or stay in, and it is hard. But I just had my last day of university today and smashed my disposable vape. Home free hopefully.

If anyone around my age wants to be my accountability partner, that would be dope. Everyone I tell in real life that I'm quitting never takes me seriously. I don't have the support I need and I would love to meet someone judgement free who has struggled. With that being said, no excuses.

 

[Rat2chat2]

to ECF Brian. So glad that you are here. Wonderful people here (young and old) that can offer you support. It is wonderful that you have realized at such an early age that it is time to do something. I was never that smart. Are you trying to not go back to smoking or stop vaping? I am not sure. There is not a moment during the day that I am without my vape. I suppose that could be considered self-medicating. But I'm good with that.

Good luck to you on your journey and I hope you find the support you would like to have. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and that you can accomplish anything. With or without help from others.

Make yourself at home.

 

[somdcomputerguy]

Welcome to ECF, Brian.

 

[Izan]

Hi and Welcome,

IMO, Cold Turkey does not work.

Wean yourself through lower usage and/or a reduced nicotine content.

If you killed two per day, try taking one fewer pulls each session until you can get by on one per day.

Pick up a 0 nicotine version of your "vape". Use that as a crutch to extend the time between nicotine sessions.

Best of luck on your journey.
I

 

[BrotherBob]

Hey guys!

Welcome and glad you joined.

 

[Brian Kerns]

View attachment 974109 to ECF Brian. So glad that you are here. Wonderful people here (young and old) that can offer you support. It is wonderful that you have realized at such an early age that it is time to do something. I was never that smart. Are you trying to not go back to smoking or stop vaping? I am not sure. There is not a moment during the day that I am without my vape. I suppose that could be considered self-medicating. But I'm good with that.

Good luck to you on your journey and I hope you find the support you would like to have. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and that you can accomplish anything. With or without help from others. View attachment 974110

Make yourself at home.

Honestly trying to quit entirely. Yeah that's been me too. Even when I'm studying it's there. Doesn't even feel good anymore, good luck in your healing

 

[Brian Kerns]

Hi and Welcome,

IMO, Cold Turkey does not work.

Wean yourself through lower usage and/or a reduced nicotine content.

If you killed two per day, try taking one fewer pulls each session until you can get by on one per day.

Pick up a 0 nicotine version of your "vape". Use that as a crutch to extend the time between nicotine sessions.

Best of luck on your journey.
I

Alright, I might try that. Sometimes I get on week long cold turkey streaks, it's not like the withdrawals are even unbearable, so I don't want to wait to quit any longer. But if I mess up again cold turkey, I will try that strategy. I feel conciously vaping without binging and constantly weaning off would be easier like you said.

 

[Rat2chat2]

Honestly trying to quit entirely. Yeah that's been me too. Even when I'm studying it's there. Doesn't even feel good anymore, good luck in your healing

I constantly keep it nearby on purpose. no healing is required there. I enjoy vaping and it helps me stay out of jail.

If it does not feel good to you anymore, I am sure you will find a way to rectify that problem. Good luck to you.

 

[Izan]

Alright, I might try that. Sometimes I get on week long cold turkey streaks, it's not like the withdrawals are even unbearable, so I don't want to wait to quit any longer. But if I mess up again cold turkey, I will try that strategy. I feel conciously vaping without binging and constantly weaning off would be easier like you said.

Okay mister!
If you have gone a week with no nicotine, you are addicted to the behavior and not the chemical.
Congrats. Now you can work on the "undesirable" to you, habit... or don't.

IMO, it is 100% your decision or choice to use nicotine.

HTH
I

 

[smacuser]

Sucks

Welcome to the club .

 

[pipskicks300]

I quit using vaping a couple of times.
Takes some effort but it helped me tons!

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

There are a ton of young vapers on reddit who are looking to quit vaping and the VAST majority of them used high milligram (30mg aka 3% or higher up to 60mg) nic salts and a vast majority of those were using disposables. These disposables, I believe, are very dangerous (junk juice inside) as many also claim they have chest pains from vaping (yet everyone here never seems to experience that). If you want to quit vaping and if you were one of these high milligram vapers, and you have social anxiety, and you are addicted also to the behavior, you may need to rethink your cold turkey strategy. that said, this forum really isn't very big on quitting. I suggest you also go reddit and search "quit vaping" and you will find subs that are better suited for you.

 

[Brian Kerns]

There are a ton of young vapers on reddit who are looking to quit vaping and the VAST majority of them used high milligram (30mg aka 3% or higher up to 60mg) nic salts and a vast majority of those were using disposables. These disposables, I believe, are very dangerous (junk juice inside) as many also claim they have chest pains from vaping (yet everyone here never seems to experience that). If you want to quit vaping and if you were one of these high milligram vapers, and you have social anxiety, and you are addicted also to the behavior, you may need to rethink your cold turkey strategy. that said, this forum really isn't very big on quitting. I suggest you also go reddit and search "quit vaping" and you will find subs that are better suited for you.

Yeah i realize that. I thought this was a vape quitting forum and then I realized there's a link to a place to buy vapes on here lol. I'll look into one of those reddit forums thank you

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Yeah i realize that. I thought this was a vape quitting forum and then I realized there's a link to a place to buy vapes on here lol. I'll look into one of those reddit forums thank you

Yeah, this definitely is not a quit vaping forum. Good luck on reddit.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Maybe this is the wrong answer for you, Brian, but if vaping helps assuage your social anxiety, I see no reason to stop. You can stop inhaling it, just taking the vapor in to hit your throat, then releasing it from your mouth and nose. You get used to doing that almost as soon as you start practicing it. You can vape lower nic, and you can vape less expensively by using a regular setup with rechargeable batteries, replaceable coils and refillable tanks.

Vaping doesn't have to hurt you, and it has saved many lives.

Only you can know what's right for you. I wish you well.

 

[vapingfool]

I agree with Bliss.

Your approach to reducing or quitting vaping depends on why you vape in the first place. As mentioned by others, a non-judgemental forum dedicated to help a person stop vaping is probably the best way to get proper support.