How do you get over the "pacifier" effect?

[kellogg]

I am having a really hard time laying off the cigarettes. I don't have nic fits anymore, but boy do I want that back and forth action to the mouth.

I have nic in strengths from 24mg to 6mg and changing up the strength of juice does nothing. In fact, the 24mg will give me a headache if I vape too much at one time. Going to a lower strength does not help either.

Gum or candy doesn't work. "Playing" with the ecig doesn't work.

I have gone from 2 pad to about 6 cigs - YIPPY! - but constantly wanting that hand to mouth movement is driving me nuts. And nights seem to be the worst.

So, who has suggestions?

 

[Jynn]

You could try picking up some 0 nic juice so you've got something to vape, but wont have to worry about making yourself sick from too much nicotine.

Save the high nic juice for when you crave nicotine, and use the 0mg juice when you just want the ritual.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

You mean we're NOT supposed to do that?

*grin*

Hellen: Serial Chain Vaper for 16 months

 

[skidaug]

Hey kellogg. The PV has become my new pacifier. Keeps falling out of my mouth when I try to dangle it from my lips though. But really though like jynn said I use 18mg for my all day and a 36mg for my really need a cigarette moments, Good luck.

 

[lawnman3]

it is all mind over matter if you want to quit just tell your self i don't need the nasty any longer .. i am 1 year in that is what i told myself ... no cancer treatment's just my opp.. good luck my friend stay strong ... lawnman3 look at ecf as e therapy ...

 

[kellogg]

I don't understand how so many people just laid down the cigs when they got their first ecig. I am so proud of myself for the cigarettes not smoked and I don't understand why I crave those 6 cigs a day.

Can you vape a passthru like a cigarette? Maybe that is something I should look into.

 

[Strigoi]

i eat sunflower seeds. it gives the hand to mouth and they're tasty.

 

[debb]

Haven't got mine yet...(hopefully tomorrow) But I am counting on TH to pacify me....

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

I played around with my mg for a while. Not good. Settled on 18mg AND added tobacco snus and nasal snuff. Really helps. More info in the Smokeless forum here on ECF: Smokeless tobacco - E-Cigarette Forum

Kellog, you've moved to a moderate (safer) amount of smoking. Be very proud of what you've accomplished!! E-cigs aren't a magic bullet and work differently for everyone. Sometimes it takes a while to find your sweet spot and what is going to work for you and you aren't alone if you can't give a few up. Many people still smoke a few a day or as needed. I'm back to a few here and there as well right now (major family stresses going on). At least I'm sane and happy and NOT smoking two packs a day!

 

[SimpleSins]

First off, if you've gone from a couple packs a day to six cigarettes a day, you should be patting yourself on the back, not beating yourself up. I, too, was one of those that couldn't just throw the pack away. It was more a gradual thing, and just this past week, after three weeks, I was able to actually go a full day without smoking a cigarette. I haven't strung two consecutive days together, but that's in part because I can't bring myself to throw a pack away.

A 5V passthrough might be just the ticket. That's when I was able to actually go a full day. I got a 5V passthrough and a 2 amp USB/AC adapter and the amount of vapor it produces has for me finally been the last piece in replicating what I got from smoking. The being tethered to the computer/electrical outlet wasn't cool, so a LR attie helps with that.

Whatever you decide, take your time and relish the progress you've made so far.

 

[IceMaiden101]

When I decided that I wanted to get off the smokes and switch to vaping, I took three weeks of weaning. I'd have a cigarette in the morning, breaks and lunch but if I wanted another after that first, then I was going to the e-cig. After three weeks of trying different e-cigs, nic strengths, etc., I decided that when my last pack ran out, I wasn't buying anymore. August 7th was my last one and I understand the need to keep vaping. It's gotten better but the first few days, I'm surprised I didn't vape myself into a stupor. Plus, it just plain tastes good so I also try to mix in lower levels so I'm not smoking 24 mg all day long.

Keep it up, being down to 6 is awesome!

Also wanted to add that TH does make a difference. If you feel like you are inhaling air, then you do feel like something is missing. When you get that "full" feeling, then you don't miss a smoke as much. That's what did it for me as well.

 

[Driver]

It took me about 2 weeks using both the ecig and regular cig's. I was a 3 pack a day smoker, honestly I did hit 4 packs sometimes. Yes the nicotine is the chemical addiction but don't forget the mental one. Look for your triggers and try to break that pattern so you don't set yourself up. I'm on my second month now so I know vaping works. I started with the 510, it works but the batteries dont last long when you always hold the button down. The ego is way better and works with all my 510 cartos. I did get a PT from madvapes, it's 5v with their 110 supply. when I have a hard nicotine craving it really helps. Just my own experience here, but the 24mg and up liquid gave me a headache also. I'm using 12 to 16 now ALL day without any headaches. When your cartomizers start going bad they become hard to draw on and dont produce much vapor, mine go bad slowly so its hard to notice. After holding the button on a full carto and popping my ears I figured something was wrong, ya I wanted them to last longer. Then you fill a new carto and wow the world is great again. Sorry to go on here for so long but this is the only way we can share the imfo. If you want hand to mouth without any ecig or real cig try cinnamon sticks, pick em at the spice isle at your grocery store. DONT GIVE UP.

 

[bornagainst]

What I found is if I had cigarettes in my house, I'd smoke them.

As an experiment, just stay home one day, and don't have any cigarettes in the house. Just vape.

You'll be surprised at yourself.

 

[BCB]

I wasn't trying to quit smoking, so I vaped and smoked for about 2 months, and eventually noticed that I was preferring the vape to the smoke. One day I realized I hadn't had a cigarette in 2 days. So I decided I must have quit smoking accidentally. I use snus, too, because I was going crazy (not for a cigarette--just crazy) and that has made a huge difference. I have never wanted a cigarette when I have a fresh snus and it decreases my desire to vape all the time, too. The best advice I kept reading here was to congratulate yourself for all the cigarettes you DIDN'T smoke and refuse to guilt trip yourself about any that you DID. Worked like a charm. Now it's been over 3 months since I've had a cigarette (after 46 years!). Take your time and don't have high expectations and you'll surprise yourself in a very pleasant way.

(I have two cartons of cigarettes in my cupboard that I'm not comfortable throwing away. Over the past 2 months, I've given away 2 cartons, but not yet willing to let go of the others).

 

[kellogg]

Sunflower seeds? I hadn't thought of that. Going to give it a try.

Wow Driver, you went from 4 pad to none in two weeks? Amazing!

Simplesins - I believe you were the one who told me about the Texas and Tampa liquid from gourmet vapors. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I got the Texas and am very pleased with it.

I guess I will start looking for a PT and just take it one day at a time.

 

[kellogg]

What I found is if I had cigarettes in my house, I'd smoke them.

As an experiment, just stay home one day, and don't have any cigarettes in the house. Just vape.

You'll be surprised at yourself.

I might kill my little dog

 

[quasimod]

I don't understand how so many people just laid down the cigs when they got their first ecig. [...]

Me either. It took me almost 3 months to completely quit. I didn't try very hard. If I really wanted a cigarette, I just smoked one. I just tried to vape more and smoke less. One day in January of this year, I realized that I hadn't smoked a cigarette since a couple of days after Christmas, and I didn't want one. Easiest thing in the world. I don't understand why people torture themselves over it.

 

[kellogg]

I wasn't trying to quit smoking, so I vaped and smoked for about 2 months, and eventually noticed that I was preferring the vape to the smoke. One day I realized I hadn't had a cigarette in 2 days. So I decided I must have quit smoking accidentally. I use snus, too, because I was going crazy (not for a cigarette--just crazy) and that has made a huge difference. I have never wanted a cigarette when I have a fresh snus and it decreases my desire to vape all the time, too. The best advice I kept reading here was to congratulate yourself for all the cigarettes you DIDN'T smoke and refuse to guilt trip yourself about any that you DID. Worked like a charm. Now it's been over 3 months since I've had a cigarette (after 46 years!). Take your time and don't have high expectations and you'll surprise yourself in a very pleasant way.

(I have two cartons of cigarettes in my cupboard that I'm not comfortable throwing away. Over the past 2 months, I've given away 2 cartons, but not yet willing to let go of the others).

I am encouraged by your story. As someone who has smoked for close to 35 years, perhaps my expectations are a little high.

 

[BCB]

Yeah. One HUGE difference between this "quit" attempt and all my previous ones was I wasn't trying to quit this time, so had no anxiety built into the process. Before, if I even THOUGHT about quitting it made me so uptight I'd have 3 cigarettes in a row to calm myself back down. So, like Quasimod says, if you want a cigarette, have one. The world will keep spinning. Every so often, notice how many you haven't smoked! Give yourself a smile and hang in there.

 

[MichaelOz]

Since all suggestions are flying. I'm going to give one, I don't think anyone else will mention. The secret to me quitting smoking was that at the time I quit I viewed analogs as toxic, distasteful and poisonous. Vaping in contrast is far more healthy and pure.

It can be hard to attain this state of mind, but with a bit of work it can be done.

These are completely last resort ideas, and completely off the wall but.

1. Change your analog brand to something fairly disgusting.
2. Smoke way more than you currently smoke over a period of about 2 weeks. You should smoke so much that each time you look at a cig you want to vommit.
3. Get drunk and smoke yourself nearly into a coma.

You'll wake up knowing cigarettes are poisonous, your body will concur, and be begging you to quit. At this point in time, switch directly to vaping only.

Sorry, realise this advice is not for everyone, but I think even Allen Carr would agree that heavier smokers actually find it easier to quit. Its the 5-10 cigs a day smokers that don't feel any urgent need to quit.