I am 37. I started smoking cigarettes at 17. I have tried quitting smoking since probably about 19. I hear people say that it took several tries to actually quit. It seems to me I have made probably about 100 attempts, granted some were more serious than others. I once made it 28 days, once 19 days, most of the rest were under a week, many didn't last a day.
I have tried switching to vaping before. I used Blu cigs for a while, but I wasn't satisfied and eventually went back to smoking. The cigs have been bringing me down now more than ever. I have been trying all sorts of things in the last month Chantix, Easy Way, signed up for hypnosis, made a detailed timeline and plan of quitting. Still through all of this only going a couple of days.
I decided to give vaping another try. Last Thursday, I bought a JUUL starter kit and began using it. I made it through Thursday and Friday, but got drunk Friday night and bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter after I got in a big fight with my wife who was also drunk. I smoked two of them that night. I through the rest away. I made it with just the JUUL Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Wednesday, while at work, I was having a difficult day with concentration and motivation and I went and bought another pack and a lighter. I smoked about 5 at work and threw them away again. Its midday Thursday and I am back on the JUUL and feel pretty good all things considered.
The JUUL is much better at satisfying nicotine cravings than the Blu and I know it hasn't been the cravings that have brought me back to smoking. Truthfully, there is a little something missing (throat burn, instant buzz, oxygen deprivation, other chemicals - I can't exactly pinpoint it), and I may always feel that vaping is inferior to the smoking experience. But there is no denying it greatly mitigates that awful, horrible sadness and emptiness I feel from a true nicotine craving and believing deep down that feeling will never go away.
What seems to bring me back to smoking is feeling some negative emotion very strongly. I think if it takes smoking to get over feeling this way, then its OK. Of course, I will get over the emotion whether I smoke or not. The smoking may help a little, but much of that effect is probably me feeling I owe it to myself to soldier on since I went ahead and smoked. Like smoking is the ultimate forbidden self-indulgence and I deserve that when I feel ....ty, so I can get on with life.
The emotional part of smoking and addiction is huge for me. It is complicated by a dependence on Adderall, a prescription stimulant, which I overuse and run out of. I also have been relying heavily on marijuana for the last few months (daily use). I switched to vaping this also. It helps with the run away emotions of quitting, but there is also a strong linkage between being high and smoking cigarettes, like with drinking. I know it's not healthy to rely on substances of any kind to change my emotions, but I can't imagine how hard it would be to give up everything at the same time. Smoking cigarettes is the one that I feel like is killing me.
I like the ease and discreteness of the JUUL. The flavors are pretty good, except tobacco. I can't wait to try Mango.
I have in the past week noticed a few things as my body has adjusted to way less smoke. Most notably, I have come down with intermittent hay fever like symptoms (two sneezing fits with over 50 sneezes, watery eyes, nose running at times like a faucet, nasal congestion). Sudafed and Benadryl help somewhat. My inquiry into this has led me to believe that since my immune system is no longer being suppressed by smoke, it is overacting and in a sense creating allergies for me which I have never had in the past. I've seen this mentioned a lot. Some say it stays bad for days, some weeks, some months, and some seem to just accept its part of life now, like for many allergy sufferers. God, please let it get better soon. I can't realize I'm breathing easier or that exercise is easier when I'm congested.
I am also fatigued more and have been sleeping a lot more. I tend to think of this from past experiences as a temporary effect. I remember it took like three weeks, but when I had my longest quit, I would wake up earlier and with actual energy. That was great. I wonder if keeping nicotine in my system will mean my sleep will never improve like it did that one time, or if the improvement will be felt because my body is no longer working so hard on repairing the smoke damage. I feel more dehydrated, generally.
The smoker's cough/ rattle in my chest/constant need to clear my throat is already much improved. I am having occasional productive coughs with the brown/black gunk. I love seeing that junk get out of my body. Not stinking is wonderful. I didn't realize how often I would pull away from loved ones because I didn't want them to smell my smoke stink.
I love not having to freeze my ... off going outside to smoke, not getting rained on in the car because I couldn't stand to smoke with the windows up, not being ashamed of all the ashes all over my car. No more butts hidden all over the yard or thrown out my car window. No more feeling guilty and ashamed about people seeing me do it. Most of my clothes have burn holes in them. I was constantly coming up with excuses to leave my wife and kids for a few minutes to get my fix, but now I could just step in the other room.
I will stop for now, but I hope that by telling my story and reading your posts, I will connect and identify, with some of you former smokers, and we can help each other from avoiding ever going back.
I have tried switching to vaping before. I used Blu cigs for a while, but I wasn't satisfied and eventually went back to smoking. The cigs have been bringing me down now more than ever. I have been trying all sorts of things in the last month Chantix, Easy Way, signed up for hypnosis, made a detailed timeline and plan of quitting. Still through all of this only going a couple of days.
I decided to give vaping another try. Last Thursday, I bought a JUUL starter kit and began using it. I made it through Thursday and Friday, but got drunk Friday night and bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter after I got in a big fight with my wife who was also drunk. I smoked two of them that night. I through the rest away. I made it with just the JUUL Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Wednesday, while at work, I was having a difficult day with concentration and motivation and I went and bought another pack and a lighter. I smoked about 5 at work and threw them away again. Its midday Thursday and I am back on the JUUL and feel pretty good all things considered.
The JUUL is much better at satisfying nicotine cravings than the Blu and I know it hasn't been the cravings that have brought me back to smoking. Truthfully, there is a little something missing (throat burn, instant buzz, oxygen deprivation, other chemicals - I can't exactly pinpoint it), and I may always feel that vaping is inferior to the smoking experience. But there is no denying it greatly mitigates that awful, horrible sadness and emptiness I feel from a true nicotine craving and believing deep down that feeling will never go away.
What seems to bring me back to smoking is feeling some negative emotion very strongly. I think if it takes smoking to get over feeling this way, then its OK. Of course, I will get over the emotion whether I smoke or not. The smoking may help a little, but much of that effect is probably me feeling I owe it to myself to soldier on since I went ahead and smoked. Like smoking is the ultimate forbidden self-indulgence and I deserve that when I feel ....ty, so I can get on with life.
The emotional part of smoking and addiction is huge for me. It is complicated by a dependence on Adderall, a prescription stimulant, which I overuse and run out of. I also have been relying heavily on marijuana for the last few months (daily use). I switched to vaping this also. It helps with the run away emotions of quitting, but there is also a strong linkage between being high and smoking cigarettes, like with drinking. I know it's not healthy to rely on substances of any kind to change my emotions, but I can't imagine how hard it would be to give up everything at the same time. Smoking cigarettes is the one that I feel like is killing me.
I like the ease and discreteness of the JUUL. The flavors are pretty good, except tobacco. I can't wait to try Mango.
I have in the past week noticed a few things as my body has adjusted to way less smoke. Most notably, I have come down with intermittent hay fever like symptoms (two sneezing fits with over 50 sneezes, watery eyes, nose running at times like a faucet, nasal congestion). Sudafed and Benadryl help somewhat. My inquiry into this has led me to believe that since my immune system is no longer being suppressed by smoke, it is overacting and in a sense creating allergies for me which I have never had in the past. I've seen this mentioned a lot. Some say it stays bad for days, some weeks, some months, and some seem to just accept its part of life now, like for many allergy sufferers. God, please let it get better soon. I can't realize I'm breathing easier or that exercise is easier when I'm congested.
I am also fatigued more and have been sleeping a lot more. I tend to think of this from past experiences as a temporary effect. I remember it took like three weeks, but when I had my longest quit, I would wake up earlier and with actual energy. That was great. I wonder if keeping nicotine in my system will mean my sleep will never improve like it did that one time, or if the improvement will be felt because my body is no longer working so hard on repairing the smoke damage. I feel more dehydrated, generally.
The smoker's cough/ rattle in my chest/constant need to clear my throat is already much improved. I am having occasional productive coughs with the brown/black gunk. I love seeing that junk get out of my body. Not stinking is wonderful. I didn't realize how often I would pull away from loved ones because I didn't want them to smell my smoke stink.
I love not having to freeze my ... off going outside to smoke, not getting rained on in the car because I couldn't stand to smoke with the windows up, not being ashamed of all the ashes all over my car. No more butts hidden all over the yard or thrown out my car window. No more feeling guilty and ashamed about people seeing me do it. Most of my clothes have burn holes in them. I was constantly coming up with excuses to leave my wife and kids for a few minutes to get my fix, but now I could just step in the other room.
I will stop for now, but I hope that by telling my story and reading your posts, I will connect and identify, with some of you former smokers, and we can help each other from avoiding ever going back.
