Family support switching to e cigarettes

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Hi Everyone,

Eight days, 13 hours off analogs. A major accomplishment after smoking over a PAD for over 35 years. I still crave analogs but vaping has gotten me through. I really feel, for the first time, that I can do this.

My problem is that most of my family (all non smokers and never have) don't get what an accomplishment this is for me. Yeah, I've explained to them all about the benefits of vaping over smoking cigs but they kind of see it as me substituting one thing for another. And because now I can vape in in the house and car (I only smoked cigs in the garage or outside by choice), they see me as taking a step backward.

My one ray of sunshine is my daughter, the chemistry major, who gets it and has been really supportive. Unfortunately, she's away at college and only comes home some weekends.

I'm really kind of frustrated and wondered if anyone else has had to deal with this and how they handled it. BTW, love this place. I've learned so much.

Well, I think WE all know what a great accomplishment it is! Congratulations and welcome to the Forum. Thank you for sharing your story!

By the way, we are substituting vaping for smoking. Do less harm. Vaping is generally considered by the experts to be a full two magnitudes less harmful for you than smoking. That's 100 times better! And....generally considered no more harmful than a cup of coffee. Be strong. You are lucky to have your daughter's support and that's great. You also have our support, and we've been in your shoes, while those that don't understand haven't been in them, and cannot be expected to understand. The important thing is that you're not smoking, you feel great about it, you've climbed the mountain, and succeeded where, perhaps, everything else failed....too many time before. You are a miracle! Good luck, stay strong, thank you for sharing your story, power up and vape on!!!

 

[cruznshy]

i actually have friends who used to smoke analogs and quit cold turkey who give me a hard time about the ecig....they think that because they did it i should be able to also....nope! i love the gaping and mostly the flavors! i hit up the vapor bars a few times a month. i have way too many tanks because i love to switch my flavors all day.

 

[ShariR]

Hi Sane and welcome to ECF and a community of people who 'get it' and are here to support you. You are fortunate in that your daughter understands and supports you. That is really all you need. I started vaping a little over two months ago after smoking 2 pad for 45 years. My DH does not get it, he also thinks it is as bad as smoking and keeps asking me when I am going to quit vaping. He also never smoked so does not get it, double.

You are doing this for you, and you alone. And partly for your daughter. Take joy in your daughter's love and support. For everyone else. You can try to explain it once, or twice if you are stubborn, but just let it drop after that or you will drive yourself nuts. Some people just will never get it.

Take pride in your success and I suggest you get yourself a banner so you can see your progress and rejoice in it. See if your daughter will do a little Youtube video with encouraging words that you can watch when you need that voice of reassurance. Know that you are the smart one in this equation. Also, try to take the cigarette money and stick it in a jar so you have a vape fund for new juices and goodies and you can see what you are not spending on the cigarettes.

Congratulations. You are doing great and will be fine. You do not need anyone's approval to do what is right for you. Don't let them aggravate you and work you into a tizzy. Just yes them to death and keep vaping and getting healthier.

 

[nicetucu]

LOL family can be a drag sometimes. It's your life, do what is right for you. I too smoked for 32 years and feel so much better. I couldn't care less what others thing. My best friend and I argue about it sometimes and I just laugh and agree to disagree. We live on different coasts now, so it's not that hard really lol.

My wife's family had a get together over the summer and I just vaped away (using ego twists with tanks and a vamo v3) not paying attention and waiting for them to ask. 2 relatives finally did and I just kept it short and sweet. This was an outdoor event, so mad it a bit easier. I feel so much better and that is all that matters.

Good luck and congrats so far.

 

[Shadav]

Well without reading everyone else's posts (I promise I will later...hey it's 3am, no sleep and gotta be at work in 3 hrs lol)

For me well me and my family have never gotten along so it's no surprise when they didn't support my switching to vaping.
Like you the only one that is understanding after some explaining is my daughter, though she's only 12 but she is proud of me and that's enough for me.
Don't worry we here at ecf are proud of you and will support you because we do understand.
Everyone has their own reasons for vaping but still it is a much better choice than smoking (even if some people still smoke occasionally).

Unfortunately unlike most my issue wasn't for my own health, it's kinda past that point for me but was for my kids health (no more second hand smoke in my car and on my cloths) and to cut down on my spending.

Until vaping is really more in the media and better understood most still look at it as just as bad as smoking. They don't understand how much "healthier" it is.

 

[Machaggis]

Some people can never step inside other people's shoes sometimes. You are doing well buddy. My total respect goes to your daughter who is helping you on your non smoking journey.

 

[Skinr1]

hi Sane , keep going and dont give up , many of us are right next to ya on quitting the analogs and not getting support from various people we want it from , but from what i have seen there are many good folks here on this forum doing the same thing you are right now incl. myself and have walked the walk of the first 48 hrs . with no cigs , and thats when many fail in those first 48 . if you made it through and got this far with NONE , thats HUGE !!!! Keep going

 

[Sane Asylum]

Hey everyone,

Thanks again. I'm bookmarking this thread on my phone as another 'go to' when people don't fully appreciate what I've accomplished so far or if I get discouraged. I can't tell you all how good it feels to have people 'know' what you're going through and what a battle this can be. I haven't had any craving for an analog in the last few days....I just go for the vape. That, in itself, just amazes me.

I do still have the half a pack sitting on the work table in the garage (my former smoking office) and have a half a carton in the pantry. I'm still not ready to give them away yet but I haven't touched them either. I figure when the time is right, I'll do it. Not just quite yet. Anyone else have a hard time getting rid of the 'security blanket'?

The banner is a great idea. I've seen so many of them here. Where do you get them?

 

[Susan W.]

I carried around a half pack for at least three months, along with a lighter. I only took it out because I was going on a trip and I wanted to put more vaping gear into my bag. After that, I stopped carrying them. I still have the half pack, along with two others in my drawer. I haven't touched a cigarette in almost 6 months now. I definitely carried the half pack around as a security blanket. I now carry two PV's and a disposable cig-a-like just in case of emergencies.

I think you need 20 posts for a signature banner. Just keep posting, you'll get it quickly.

 

[KjAthena]

I have 4 smokes I found in a pretty cigarette case in a purse I havent used for about 6 months...I keep them like a security blanket, why I am not sure as they have to be stale as all get go...I figure I will know for sure when to toss them. I have been 7 weeks vaping now and have not touched a smoke since day 3...dont even feel the desire

 

[Sane Asylum]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I've always been a bit of a pack hoarder....always had to have two spare packs: an extra in my purse and one at home....just in case if my car died, or some weather event prevented me from getting to the store. Now, I'm collecting back up ecigs. Ya never know....maybe I'll have a battery fail when I'm out, so I bring an extra or the electricity goes out. Yeah, I know, I'm a bit wacko about my nicotine addiction.

Thanks for the info on the banner. Hopefully I'll get my promotion soon. This forum and everyone here has been great.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I've always been a bit of a pack hoarder....always had to have two spare packs: an extra in my purse and one at home....just in case if my car died, or some weather event prevented me from getting to the store. Now, I'm collecting back up ecigs. Ya never know....maybe I'll have a battery fail when I'm out, so I bring an extra or the electricity goes out. Yeah, I know, I'm a bit wacko about my nicotine addiction.

Thanks for the info on the banner. Hopefully I'll get my promotion soon. This forum and everyone here has been great.

Welcome and congrats on a great job.
I was like you. My security blankie was to have loads of analogs. I would panic when I got down to half a pack and would drop everything else to go to the store. There is nothing wrong with you. The analog smoking was such a debiliating addition we are all probably a little wacko. LOL
I do know what you mean by a non-supporting family. My sister is a RN and the only thing they seem to hone in on is the nic. Analogs have over 4000 other chemicals in them, but for some reason, nic is the buzz word. go figure. Just keep up the good work and when they see what health improvements come along, they may whistle another tune...

 

[RedNBlack]

Wow guys. You have no idea how much your words of encouragement and congrats mean to me.

This cigarette addiction has controlled my life in so many ways and I've hated it. For the first time, I feel like I'm getting to be in control. Does that make sense?

I love the suggestion of having my daughter giving me words of encouragement. When I spoke to her last week and told her I was off cigarettes and vaping, she said, "You have no idea how happy that makes me." I think I'll text her tomorrow and tell her I need some encouragement texts that I can look at no matter where I am.

Thanks so much!

Sane Asylum, those that have not been where you have been, do not know the hell it is....many of us here know, and still fight the good fight everyday. Children can see past all the BS, and politics and come to the "right place". You are blessed, she has already "approved" the change. That out weighs anything any 100 people can say,....

 

[Cactus Breath]

Hi Everyone,

Eight days, 13 hours off analogs. A major accomplishment after smoking over a PAD for over 35 years. I still crave analogs but vaping has gotten me through. I really feel, for the first time, that I can do this.

My problem is that most of my family (all non smokers and never have) don't get what an accomplishment this is for me. Yeah, I've explained to them all about the benefits of vaping over smoking cigs but they kind of see it as me substituting one thing for another. And because now I can vape in in the house and car (I only smoked cigs in the garage or outside by choice), they see me as taking a step backward.

My one ray of sunshine is my daughter, the chemistry major, who gets it and has been really supportive. Unfortunately, she's away at college and only comes home some weekends.

I'm really kind of frustrated and wondered if anyone else has had to deal with this and how they handled it. BTW, love this place. I've learned so much.

Congrats on getting off the analogs. Every one of us who's been through it knows exactly what a triumph it is, and have shared your feeling that "I can really do this" thanks to vaping.

As far as the family...you just have to let it roll off your back as much as possible. People who have never smoked will probably never understand and explaining it probably won't make much difference. They don't realize that just walking away from cigarettes isn't anywhere near as easy as it sounds.

My wife is a lifelong non-smoker. While she may not totally understand, she's ecstatic and very grateful that I'm not smoking anymore. I smoked in the house, in the car, everywhere. For the last 25 years she's had to deal with the smell in her hair and clothes and the stench of our cars and the interior of the house. If nothing else, she can understand that all of that is gone now and she can see the improvements in my health that have been brought about by it, so she doesn't complain one bit about my vaping. She doesn't jump up and down and make a big scene about it, but then again I've never been one who needed cheerleaders to help me succeed in my endeavors.

As far as other friends/family members, I really don't care one bit what they think. The vast majority of them are very supportive, but if they weren't I'd quickly tell them to .... out of my life (or at least this one particular aspect of it) - I've made this change for me and don't need their approval or validation. Substituting one thing for another? Sure I am. I'm substituting something that's much healthier and far less deleterious for something which would have eventually killed me, just like it killed my mom (lung cancer) and dad (complications from COPD). If they can't understand that....well, then I guess there's just no point in discussing it any further with them.

 

[Broncbox]

Congratulations on getting off the stinkies and for finding the support you needed here!!! Great people here (obviously).

I know exactly what you mean about needing a security blanket when it came to smoking and now to vaping. For me I wasn't able to get off the stinkies until I got rid of them but as long as I smoked I had a spare pack and lighter where ever I was ... Like you said you just never know when your going to need them and when you don't have that spare ... is when you will need it. I am much the same with my vaping. I carry a spare battery, atomizer, and juice where ever I go.

 

[Sane Asylum]

Thanks to everyone again for sharing your stories....and encouragement. It's soooo good to know that I'm not in this alone.

 

[WillyZee]

Wow guys. You have no idea how much your words of encouragement and congrats mean to me.

This cigarette addiction has controlled my life in so many ways and I've hated it. For the first time, I feel like I'm getting to be in control. Does that make sense?

I love the suggestion of having my daughter giving me words of encouragement. When I spoke to her last week and told her I was off cigarettes and vaping, she said, "You have no idea how happy that makes me." I think I'll text her tomorrow and tell her I need some encouragement texts that I can look at no matter where I am.

Thanks so much!

Best of luck SA ... your daughter is smart and supportive ... the rest will catch on soon.

 

[KnurledNut]

My sister is a RN and the only thing they seem to hone in on is the nic. Analogs have over 4000 other chemicals in them, but for some reason, nic is the buzz word. go figure.

I am an RN as well. I encounter the same attitude with some of my co-workers, but not the doctors.

The next time your sister, the RN, says something, ask her to support her claims with scientific research. That should keep her quiet.

I absolutely hate health professionals that make statements but cannot back up their claims.