Overcoming an Addiction Trigger

[Magnushawk]

Last night I went to the target range. I was there for awhile and when I come out I really tasted the gunpowder and related dust in my mouth. First thing I used to do was I'd light an analog when I got back to the car. I'm telling you, even though I had my PV I was fiending hard. It's just a really really big trigger for me I guess and I hadn't been shooting since I switched off the analogs.

Thank god I had my PV though. Surprisingly, it was the coffee cart (over the tobacco cart) I had with me that really quieted the urge to have an analog. It must be something about the flavor of it that masked the grunge in my mouth like the analog did. Still though when I stopped at the gas station on the way back I even thought about buying a pack just for one. It was a strong urge and I was quite surprised. I was happy to beat it though and by the time I got home I didn't feel it much any more and I just had a nice long sit with my PV and freshly filled cartridge.

Has anyone else experienced a strong behavioral trigger to have an analog during their early days? Or even later? I'm only at this about 20 days now so it's still new. If you do have triggers like that, what are they and do you do anything special to overcome them?

 

[player30]

Congratulations. After having quit at one time for ten years, I never lost those triggers. I do still get them, but being able to vape nicotine certainly does help!

 

[GrimmGreen]

i think everyone has been there, My first trip back to Vegas after i started vaping was INCREDIBLY hard, just the smell and atmosphere of being in the busy casino at night made me crave my old Marlboro Smooth's like crazy...

 

[eGo Maniac]

Thanks for the heads up on that. I haven't been back to the range since switching. I'll have to watch that trigger. And good for you for not giving in.

 

[sweetblackkitten]

the walmart checkout line is bad for me. i swear i have nearly been arrested waiting in that line!

so now i try to remember to vape while i am back shopping with less ppl around, so when i get up to the front i am well vaped lol...then i stealth vape in line. i am getting pretty good at it.

i think it helps to vape while we are doing stuff...we used to have to wait to smoke, so there was that big buildup...but now we can vape so many places!

oh and dont forget that the analogs had god knows what in there to keep us addicted...and that stuff still tries to get us to smoke again...like how other drugs stay in ppl's bodies for so long, calling them...

 

[dormouse]

In the beginning I was getting a strong urge for an analog whenever I vaped a purely fruity/foody juice, especially one Peach flavor I had. Those juices made me feel like I had just eaten - fortunately I figured that out and stopped vaping those alone and instead mixed a bit in with tobacco flavor.

Wow - your adrenaline is probably up too after shooting. Bring good flavors with you. Some people need stronger flavors or stronger nic at certain times or when they drink alcohol etc. Maybe you could find some special juices for those times. AveJuice makes some VG juices with a burning TH and since they are VG they make tons of vapor. And I've found FreedomSMokeUSA Desert Ship (a Turkish Blend) has a certain pungency that is somehow a bit skanky like a cig. I am not allowed to vape that one in the car. BTW make sure you let your nose get plenty of vapor - a cigarette does that for you by blowing smoke all over you, but with an ecig you need to think about letting some waft out where you can smell it.

 

[kilgoretrout]

I have trouble when I'm upset. Like when I'm pizzed off.
I also noticed that after nearly dropping a snowblower on my leg the other day, I really wanted a smoke. lol.
I just sat in my jeep for a few minutes and vaped it off, tho.
I'll have to remember the range trigger, and see how it goes. I never really thought about it. I shoot quite a bit, but haven't been pistol shooting in a couple months because of the weather. (only been off analogs for 24days).

 

[NCC]

I don't think you (the OP) mentioned how long you'd been a smoker nor how long since the switch. But, after 35+ years of cigarettes damn near EVERYTHING had become a trigger for me, LOL.

Congratulations on overcoming your time of temptation. Over time things will probably become less intense ... but, perhaps never be completely gone. Just easier to ignore. I find that after a year I hardly think about smoking any more. There have been a few times though, when I spotted my old brand on display, the thought of buying a pack crossed my mind.

I would never recommend you smoke. However, if you did try it after a while as a vaper ... chances are the big treat you thought you were about to enjoy would be a big disappointment to you in reality.

 

[doots]

just vape away til the urge is gone. it will lessen more and more each month.. congrats on coming to vape. I had them for about 3 or 4 months. after the first year, no more as long as i can vape. I wouldnt go back to analogs even if i couldnt vape.

 

[hairball]

Get yourself a higher mg liquid for those times that you want a cig. The higher mg nic will stop the craving faster. There are still days/events that I want to smoke. I don't. I tried smoking a cig 2 months after I completely quit, took one drag, and about lost it. It's amazing how nasty they are and we used to smoke them.

 

[pixiedust]

I'm new at this, I have only been vaping for 2 weeks. I have not smoked analogs at all for the past few days and I'm doing better than I thought I would. To be honest, when I started vaping I thought I would keep smoking analogs but just vape in my new car since I had promised myself never to smoke in it, but as time went by I realized that getting off analogs wasn't going to be tough at all (and this is from someone who had tried acupuncture, chantix, patches, gum, you name it) The only time I'm really having cravings is when I talk on the phone for a long time...I think until I get over that I'm just going to text, I never smoked while texting lol.

 

[geminimind]

All I can say us get a strong nic and a good flavor. Also try some mint flavors.

 

[Matthis1]

Congrats on beating that craving. I gave in once since I started vaping. My trigger is extreme stress, which, for whatever reason, happens a lot in my family. I have 2 daughters that are pregnant, both having bad pregnancies, a best friend that is in the middle of the mother of all custody battles, and my 73 year old dad just moved in with me. Even with all that going on, I'm ok with my PV unless something big happens...... a late night trip to the hospital, a hearing (even when it goes well), or something happening to my dad's health. At those times I'm climbing the walls and clawing my skin off for an analog, and I have no idea why. I'm getting plenty of nicotine from my PV, so I'm thinking this all has to be emotional. Case in point.....when one of the daughters went into pre-term labor a few days ago, I sat quietly with my PV and just vaped my head off till I felt ready to handle whatever was going on. My question: How do you handle the moments when, regardless of the awful taste, you feel like you MUST have an analog?

 

[xg4bx]

i'm about 6 months in and getting a phone call from my mother is still a trigger lol.

 

[Smislow]

I'm vaping for 9 months now, and every now and then get that craving, mainly when sombody lights up near me.
Sometimes I take an offered analog, but allways get disappointed with taste of it.
And although I know it tastes bad, sometimes I can't resist an analog

 

[5vz]

Only been vaping a few months, but still have the triggers. Stress of any sort is a big one. Drinking is a no no, vaping just doesn't cut it. Good grief, even my dog getting on my nerves will do it. I love my dog though. Guess it is b/c I'm still not over the analogs yet. Oh yeah, battery failure can cause me to flip out and go back to analogs.

You guys had some funny ones, like talking with my mother, hahaha!

I have found that I need to carry a higher nic tobacco flavor with VG for the plumes of vape for those times. That is helping a bit. So, always have a carto or whatever you use on hand for whatever gets you through.

Congrats and good luck!

 

[Tracker II]

Yah, outdoorsman type of activities are super-strong triggers - trap shooting, hunting, fishing, etc. How can a man get up at 4:30am and then walk out to his tree stand in the pitch of dark on a cold November day without chain smoking a few first. And the very act of snubbing out that last .... while picking up your gun is almost a religious experience. (Good Lord, just typing this has me chain vaping).

Fishing isn't much better. You've got the boat is loaded up, started, and untied. Okay, it's time to Fire up and suck down an analog while cruising out to your first fishing spot in anticipation of things to come.

These triggers are going to be my real test. Fortunately, it is several months until the ice is off the lake and 10 months until the next deer firearms season, so I have time to prepare.

Good luck on your end, good luck to all of us.

 

[DonG]

Yah, outdoorsman type of activities are super-strong triggers - trap shooting, hunting, fishing, etc. How can a man get up at 4:30am and then walk out to his tree stand in the pitch of dark on a cold November day without chain smoking a few first. And the very act of snubbing out that last .... while picking up your gun is almost a religious experience. (Good Lord, just typing this has me chain vaping).

Fishing isn't much better. You've got the boat is loaded up, started, and untied. Okay, it's time to Fire up and suck down an analog while cruising out to your first fishing spot in anticipation of things to come.

These triggers are going to be my real test. Fortunately, it is several months until the ice is off the lake and 10 months until the next deer firearms season, so I have time to prepare.

Good luck on your end, good luck to all of us.

Deer stand walk: Maybe a good strong Apple jucie on the way in will ATTRACT deer instead of them avoiding your "smoke trail"

Fishing: Cant wait to get out on the boat with my PV.........no more ducking and dodging bits of ash in my face while cruising across the lake.

 

[chrisH]

You know, iv replaced all my emotional states with smoking. Happy? smoke!. Sad? smoke. Nervous? Stressed? did a good job? well, you get the point. I dont Vape yet but it sounds good. Im just scared about those trigger moments, like when im at a bar drinking beer.

 

[Madness]

Triggers? Lots! LOL

I'm only on 50 days without Analogs after smoking 2 packs a day for 25 years+...

What I have noticed is that I just have to take several pulls using 24mg and the cravings go away.

But I still have triggers...

First thing in the Morn..
On the way to work...
Break time at work...
After Lunch at work...
On the way home from work...
After Dinner...
Before bed...

Triggers yes, go back to analogs? NO...
I'm feeling so much better without them.

I went shooting last weekend, outdoor range, first time without a cigarette, felt funny....

I cleaned my workshop yesterday and threw away my trusty old ash tray (with dead Kools in it) it was like an old friend, felt good and bad throwing it away...

The triggers do seem to be getting less and less but they are still there, I guess it is like quitting anything.