[twistypringle98]

I've been cigarette free for a month. I want one right now, but mostly the cravings are non-existent. I was super surprised by the fact that I've had little cravings. I have a vape to take care of the oral fixation and I think that is mostly what got me addicted to be honest. Haha. I know that vapes can also cause cancer but at least it doesn't have rocket fuel, rat poison, or insecticides in it!

Congrats! This just made me smile I don't smoke but I have lived with smokers.

[tecomsin]

Congratulations on one month cigarette free. It is the best decision you could ever make, hands down. I quit smoking after 35 years in 2015. It was cold turkey and i was tired of being an addict. It's important to be prepared for sudden urges that may come out of the blue or due to some trigger. I still get them weirdly. The main thing is to remember that it is never 'just one cigarette' and that having a cigarette does not solve any problem, and the urges will pass. They really do pass.

[twistypringle98]

tecomsin - thank you! I can't imagine going cold turkey. I have nicotine patches, some stuff that lowers cravings, and my vape. If I would have smoked that long, I probably would have just gone along with it for the rest of my life. But I'm only 25 and was smoking for only about 5.5 years. It was easier for me, I believe, because I hadn't smoked for long.

Part of what motivated me to quit smoking is that my uncle recently passed away of cancer and a burst aortic aneurysm. I don't want to go through that stuff in the future due to a behavior that I can change.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by twistypringle98

tecomsin - thank you! I can't imagine going cold turkey. I have nicotine patches, some stuff that lowers cravings, and my vape. If I would have smoked that long, I probably would have just gone along with it for the rest of my life. But I'm only 25 and was smoking for only about 5.5 years. It was easier for me, I believe, because I hadn't smoked for long.

Part of what motivated me to quit smoking is that my uncle recently passed away of cancer and a burst aortic aneurysm. I don't want to go through that stuff in the future due to a behavior that I can change.

Congrats. You're not getting cravings because you are using nicotine patches. I quit using the patches after 4 months because they were expensive, were disturbing my sleep with crazy dreams, and made me feel kind of sick. Then the "real" quit began. Without the nicotine I had severe panic attacks and had to use guided meditation tapes etc. Thankfully it finally subsided where now I just have generalized anxiety. (Which seems to be my norm as I quit smoking three years ago.)

I don't know what you're vaping. Doesn't sound like you are vaping nicotine since you're using the patches. I never vaped when I quit because..well, sorry to say, vaping is not good for the lungs. But you are on your way. There is absolutely no doubt that smoking cigarettes reduces life by quality and years. You are on the right track and if you are scared about smoking, well, that's intelligent. Also...smoking is a disgusting filthy habit. Be strong!

[DechanDawa]

Eventually you have to give up the nicotine patches as nicotine is a poison and you just can't use the patches forever without bad side effects.

[mote.of.soul]

One month, wow, big grats to you. That's a super long time. Keep going, you're going to make it. You are making it!

[twistypringle98]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

Congrats. You're not getting cravings because you are using nicotine patches. I quit using the patches after 4 months because they were expensive, were disturbing my sleep with crazy dreams, and made me feel kind of sick. Then the "real" quit began. Without the nicotine I had severe panic attacks and had to use guided meditation tapes etc. Thankfully it finally subsided where now I just have generalized anxiety. (Which seems to be my norm as I quit smoking three years ago.)

I don't know what you're vaping. Doesn't sound like you are vaping nicotine since you're using the patches. I never vaped when I quit because..well, sorry to say, vaping is not good for the lungs. But you are on your way. There is absolutely no doubt that smoking cigarettes reduces life by quality and years. You are on the right track and if you are scared about smoking, well, that's intelligent. Also...smoking is a disgusting filthy habit. Be strong!

I plan to quit smoking the vape pretty soon. I know that it is bad just like the cigarettes. I just wasn't quite ready to quit with the smoke just yet. I felt cool! I know that I shouldn't have done that just to feel cool, but my sister and I kind of bonded over cigarettes. She and I clash quite a bit because she is like everything that is what I don't like about our generation. We lived together for a while, and this is still a way in which I feel like she and I are reaching for each other. That sounds cheesy, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

She doesn't want to do things that better herself so I decided to start smoking just flavored liquids without the nicotine for a while. It's been hard for me but it's a perfect time for me to do it as right now I'm unemployed. (It's terrible being unemployed, I know, but I just lost my job about a month ago. I'm never going to have another good job again!)



Anyway thanks all who are supportive and congratulatory!

[Guiness187055]

Congrats, I am at 6 months.

[tecomsin]

Hey Twisty,

I want to say that every day you don't smoke a cigarette counts. You are doing great. Not everyone quits cold turkey and there are advantages and disadvantages to each method. Whatever you do, never take another puff of a cigarette again. Not one puff ever! That is the only way to stay quit and keep your beautiful quit going.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

Congrats, I am at 6 months.

That's wonderful Guiness, congratulations to you. Never take another puff!

[Travelinglady]

Wonderful! Congratulations!

[twistypringle98]

6 months...All I can say is wow. I hope that I have that much dedication! That is great!

I'm getting more cravings and am using my vape more often. If I didn't want to not leave the house after dinner and not go anywhere, I would go buy a pack honestly...I'm losing that vigor I had over the past few months and have read articles that vapes are cancerous just like cigs. But hey, I went from a pack and a half a day to just vaping the non-nicotine liquid. I think that is pretty good!

I have a long lasting respect for former smokers!

[tecomsin]

Don't throw your quit away. No way that vaping is as dangerous as smoking. You've got a beautiful quit going and all it takes is to rededicate yourself to it. It is natural to have these moments but you haven't lost your quit so you are doing great. Just stick with it and eventually the desire to buy a pack will go away. Remember there is no such thing as one cigarette or one pack. There's months, years and decades of addiction.

[twistypringle98]

Thank you. I think that all the hype of the vape made me think it was a good idea, but it leaves me wanting more and more of the nicotine. I'm as addicted to the non-addictive stuff as the addictive stuff because I smoke my vape indoors. Ha. At least I didn't get anybody exposed to the cigs, right? I never understand why someone who smokes would expose that stuff to someone who doesn't but not my life.

Anyway, it's been smoother. I'm thinking of stopping using the nicotine patches and just using Stevia which stops the cravings and is cheap enough to buy for a while. (Only about 4 bucks for 40 little packets!)

[twistypringle98]

Today I ran out of the vape's liquid, and I had some pains in my chest. I think that it might be the flu or whatnot or the coldness of the weather affecting the way that I breath. But I want to get it checked out. Going back to the beginning, I ran out of the liquid. I'm thinking about quitting the vape now. It's just time for that.

[tecomsin]

If you want to quit vaping then go ahead and do it. Whatever you do, NOPE (not one puff ever of a cig). Commit to that and keep your wonderful quit going.

[twistypringle98]

Since the nicotine free vape doesn't really do anything, I quit. This is getting easier. I also quit using the patches. I still have some I just want to see what it's like not having anything to curb my cravings and have found that it is way less, should I say, stressful.

I've also noticed a lot of difference in my mental health. I told this to the doc. She changed my diagnosis from schizoaffective, bipolar type to major depressive episode with psychotic features. I think that she thinks maybe the cigs were causing some of my symptoms as well as some other unhealthy ways of mine. I never understood the bipolar part of my diagnosis. I explained to my psychiatrist certain things that I think are wrong about my diagnosis, and she totally listened.

Anyway I don't feel the need to smoke any more. Now if only I could tell myself that when I'm around my sister! I broke and smoked some nicotine vape which was quite strong. It was her birthday so she came over. We had dinner and watched KU on TV. At least it wasn't a cig!

[tecomsin]

Your doing great twistypringle. I also found it easier and simpler not to have any crutches like vaping or patches.

As long as your are not smoking cigarettes then your quit remains strong!
Not one puff ever.

[twistypringle98]

So, currently I'm about 3 months cig free. YAY!

I got some vape with nicotine in it from my sis, though. I feel horrible about it.

I was doing great without them! I just hope it doesn't make me feel like I want cigs. Those are disgusting, dangerous, and a lot of money! I could have saved SO MUCH money if I never smoked. Looking forward to having money again.

[tecomsin]

Hey Twistypringle,

Congratulations on 3 months. That's super! The hardest part is over. What remains is to stay ever vigilant and not smoke a cigarette no matter what. No need to restart the nicotine addiction with vaping. It seems like that is just going to make life harder than it was, but anyway the main thing is no cigs, no way. Keep the quit!

[twistypringle98]

Thanks tecomsin for the encouragement! This really is difficult, so having someone on my team is nice. I think I'm going to take the liquid back to my sis. Shouldn't have taken it from her. I was weak.

[tecomsin]

Hey Twistypringle,

Quitting smoking is literally the best thing you can do for yourself and those who care about you. It's important to not underestimate the ways the addiction can sneek back into our lives. You are doing great at 3 months. After a year or so it will get easier again but the vigilance is just part of our lives now as ex-smokers.

I'd ditch the vaping, too but not to go on and smoke a cigarette. It's not a good idea to turn the nicotine receptors back on in the brain. It is safer just to keep free of nicotine altogether.

Take care and Keep the Quit (KTQ)!
Not one puff ever (NOPE).

[twistypringle98]

I ended up giving the liquid to my mom when I saw her. She doesn't smoke, but she sees my sis more than me (forgot to give it back to sis when I saw her).

Anyway, that little bit of nicotine really did turn back on the receptors. It was so stupid and impulsive. I don't know why I did that. I almost caught myself saying that I was happiest when I was smoking. I feel like that is so weak!

But no more! I'm done with that stage. Impulsivity and overspending. Dangerous situations. That is what is associated with cigs for me. That is no more.

[Guiness187055]

Congrats I am 6 months free. I vape with a small amount of nicotine. I am hope full to be off the nicotine soon.