Dear Aaron,
I've started
vaping on 27th November, 2013.. and ever since that night, I've never smoked an analogue;
I can still remember the location and time of my last analogue I smoked. I still have that packet of cigarette with me now, I've written the date and time over it with neon marker =)
Just to share abit of my experience, Withdrawal symptoms, bound to have, 100% no doubt, can't avoid. How I did it is I went on to look for my favourite Juice, that actually makes me drawn to it in terms of being "addicted" to the flavour. And then in order to continue avoiding analogue, I keep the ecig with me as much as possible.. Ejuice, more than enough to last a few weeks based on the rate I consume. You might need to throw some $$ from the beginning to ensure that you have enough to sustain through the toughest period.
Subsequently, I found that my "mind blowing" juice was too expensive to be consumed everyday so I went on and look for low/entry level juices(a reputable brand of course) and stash them, had quite a number of flavour that I've have not tried. So besides just
vaping the same flavour everyday, I have something to look forward to when I finish it, I can clean up the atomiser and try new flavours, new setup with different coils. FYI I'm using Taifun GT + Mech mod. My first buy was evic but I hated the design, it feels cheapo to hold and quality seems mediocre.
Withdrawal Symptoms:
For the first 2 weeks, everything I do makes me wanan light a cigarette up, it can range from staying in the office, after meal, colleagues' influence, or even silly situations whereby you get killed or lost when playing online game. Everytime I feel like lighting a cig I just vape the frustrations away, it worked flawlessly for me.
I let my true friends and family know what I'm doing, and they are supportive about it after explaining that what I'm inhaling are just similar(not exactly) to the flavours you can get off the shelf like NTUC, Giant, I told them that those flavours concentrate contain Propelyn Glycol which is what can be found in the e-juice I've also added that the other carrier would Vegetable Glycerin, once they understand the fundamentals of vaping, they are quite supportive and happy with what I'm doing and it goes a longgg way.
I started coughing, feeling tightness in lungs, shortness of breath when I tried different setups and/or brands of liquid. I told myself, I have to try to like it.. and eventually I've got used to it and perhaps the body adjusted and recognises. Today, I can vape most of the e juice I tried without having any difficulties. Today, I find that cigarette smoke actually stinks alot for someone who doesn't consume tobacco. I used to hate it but I had to learn to endure because I was hooked.
Tips:
When you feel like smoking, think of your family, they are innocent, think of the $$ you can save, make it a point whereby every step you take leads you to a healthier life, search for videos on youtube giving testimonials on switching to vaping, Search for x-ray of lungs before and after quitting analogue cigarettes.
Find a PV that you would truly love, construction, quality, for me, my friend actually tried my mech mod and after the first puff he took he said - "wah, mabok sioo!" Yes maybe he wasn't used to the nicotine/vapor that my PV actually produces. Get a PV that can produce smoke that gives you enough kick even when using lower concentrations of nicotine. Another friend who still vape the Evic actually said "wah, this(mech mod) really feels like smoking real cigarette.
What I'm trying to say that the PV that I had, successfully replace the need of an analogue on a daily basis, I bought chargers, good batteries to carry around so I do not run out.
Put the $$ you would buy cigarettes in a tin, if you smoke a pack a day, put $10(or whatever value) Label it, call it "my legacy" or whatever lol.. I know this may be too extreme, you can be creative and create something that distracts yourself whenever you wanan light an analogue. Check the tin once every quarter, get a gift for your loved one, family with that money.. Or even dontate to charity, whatever.. Or maybe buy e-juice, consumables...
All these... can help and would go a longggg way for you... For you have a live example down here. =)
To Aaron, and everyone who read this, I wish you(you guys) all the best in quitting analogues completely. Give a like if you think what I wrote helped. =)
Huat ar!!!!!