I started smoking cigarettes at 17.

The first drag I took felt like the first time that my head felt like it cleared. I had struggled a lot in high school, and generally growing up. A lot of my struggle was having parents who didn't know how to deal with having a neurodivergent kid (I'm like, a textbook case of ADHD and have parents who do not believe in it, so school was really hard). From then on, I was pretty hooked. I had a friend buy me a pack of cigarettes (smoking age was 18 at the time). I had a few vapes. I even got kicked out of the house for it at some point, and didn't stop.

Then, I started buying cigarettes after turning 18 and that's when things took a turn. At one point, while working at a particular green logo coffee chain, I was smoking a pack every 1-2 days. My living expenses were about $800, and I made about $1100 a month give or take, and yet I was still leaving room in my budget for cigarettes.

It was at some point in this that I started vaping. I went to the local smoke shop and got a little box mod kit. It was like $60, but felt a hell of a lot better than smoking cigarettes and didn't make me smell cigarettes all the time. Like many smokers, I don't really think they smell bad, but I knew that the smell would trigger me to smoke more. I didn't quite realize at the time how this would just make me consume more nicotine than less, but it was the choice I made. I tried all sorts of juice, got a couple different mods.

I went to college and quit for about a month before starting back up. I'd buy primetimes at the gas station where they often had $2 off stickers, making them like $4 a pack, and was a regular at my local vape shop after some time (I'd thrown out my old box mod, but now I had a newer and even better one). Honestly, this is when things really accelerated for me. I was plowing through 60mL bottles of juice like nothing, back when this shit was way more expensive than it is now (my old regular juice was like $30 a bottle at the time??? now it's $10?? my god).

I moved and made the decision to quit not long after. I lined it up with starting a new job/school and went through three weeks of hellish withdrawals in 2019. It sucked. It was frankly enough to keep me off of it until recently. I had a couple cigarettes here or there since, but usually immediately regretted them.

A couple months ago I went to a hookah lounge with a friend and this kind of drummed this all back up. I ended up buying a hookah (probably a terrible decision on my part but hey) and then went to a show where I tried a vape that really left me craving. Last time I went to go pick up coals for my hookah at the smoke shop, I ended up picking up this flavor.

and now here I am. Kind of wondering where it is I go from here. I don't really want to start back up, but I also don't really want to stop where I'm at. I've been really stressed between work not going all that well for the past few months and my living situation being, while not terrible, less than ideal. I live in a different city away from my friends and family and have for a few years and feel pretty lonely a lot of the time nowadays. I can see why my head is pulling me back this way. I have a therapist but I haven't yet talked to her about buying a vape since I haven't seen her since it happened, but I feel frankly a lot of shame. Today at work (my workplace has a lot of people who vape - this has not helped) I just wanted to take a break to hit my vape but got through the whole day without. As soon as I got in my car, I took a few hits on my ride home.

The world is really stressful. On top of my personal life, I feel like the actual world around us might be ending. At this point, I feel like climate change is gonna wipe me out before I reach any unintended consequences of vaping. I feel like I may as well enjoy it while I can.

Honestly, I don't know quite why i'm posting here. I'm not even 100% sure I want to quit where I'm at even though I'm at the beginning. I just feel like I've really lost sight of why it is I quit in the first place and I'm not sure I like the sound of any of my paths moving forward.

Hi! I’m 25 and i vape about a year basically all day. I would like to try the Nicorette patches because i was unable to quit on my own.

The thing is i dunno what patches should i bought first (20 mg or 15 mg), my usage is 16,5 mg/ml and 2 ml cartrige lasts me for two days.

Does anyone have expirience with Nicorette?
Thank you all for any advices :)

Hi all,

I am having an extremely hard time quitting. I went 24 hours twice without nicotine, but the degenerate in me ordered another vape both times at the end of both days. I gave in.
I’ve tried at least ten times to quit over the last couple of years but I want it more this time. I’ve used nicotine patches and lozenges.
I even bought Alan Carr’s book how to quit vaping: I picked it up for about 20 minutes and haven’t continued. I don’t know why I am procrastinating this when it will be good for me to stop. I guess I am anxious to see what would happen. Encouraging words would probably help and any advice. Thank you.

I have been vaping for more than 5 yeas. I want to quit. I have tried cold turkey dont work for me. I have no will power when it comes to stopping. I just love the flavor of the juice. I have went down to lowest milligrams. Any suggestions on a great app to use to help me? Tyia

I’m 23 years old and I’ve been vaping since I was 17.. realising it was 6 years is absolutely terrifying. I used to say I’d quit a lot this year but never lasted a day before now.

I HAVEN’T VAPED IN 3 DAYS!!!!

Ik that sounds tiny but for me it’s a lot, I was chain vaping almost constantly and it really helped my anxiety and mood.

I went to the dentist 4 days ago and she told me my teeth were at risk for loadsss of fillings and I have to cut out all fizzy drinks (including diet), sugary snacks and vaping. While vaping definitely been the hardest so far, it’s difficult because these are all of my crutches.

I have stayed strong so far but I keep thinking ‘just one small puff’ and the monkey in my brain won’t stop trying to convince me. It’s like a toxic breakup hahah, but ur ex is hiding in ur closet (where my vape is) and you can access them anytime.

Any advice you could give me of tips you have would really help.

Good luck on all your recovering vapist journeys!!

UPDATE: Just wanted to say thanks for replying/ giving advice it really helped me. It’s been a lot harder than I thought, having friends who just stopped easily with no gum/ patches and only do it on nights out now. I guess some of us just have addictive personalities. The scary part was not long after this post where I started to think I couldn’t experience joy without a vape. Absolutely ridiculous I know, but when I pictured doing crafts, having a pint with my friend and even going to a concert I had coming up I felt there was no point as I wouldn’t get the ‘bathroom breaks’ or ‘fresh air’ moments. I can’t believe I was that dependent on it.. I could only feel happiness with a strawberry cancer highlighter. If people see this who are just quitting, even though it’s only been a month it’s genuinely so much better after 2 or so weeks on- even if you still have nicotine in your system from gum/ patches. And I get a lot more fun out of doing things nowadays, in the moment rather than wandering off in my brain thinking about vape breaks. I actually think I haven’t felt happiness without a vape in 5 years.. either because I was distracted/ waiting to feel enjoyment from when I got to sneak off or I did it to celebrate\ enhance the feeling. But just being happy, and having that fill you, rather than having to wait, to only be content with one thing.. it’s not living and that sounds dramatic but for me it’s true.
I stopped for my dental health but it’s changed my life in so many nice ways.

I haven't vaped in a very long while. I stopped counting and barely use the no nic vape at all anymore (only if I'm out with vapers and even then I just have it there without always using it)

To anyone reading this: it may seem impossible but it does get so much better

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting on a recovery thread and also my first time acknowledging my addiction online. I’d kindly welcome some advice or general reassurance.

I’ve (22F) been vaping on and off for over since 2024, but its gotten a lot worse these past 6 months. I try to quit, and I do (2-3 weeks is usually my breaking point), but then I always start again when I fall into a depressive episode, get my period or whenever something just *really* pisses me off. It kind of just melts my anxiety away and takes me out of my head for a second. And i HATE that i’m not able to do it on my own at this point.

Today, I spent the most I’ve ever spent on a vape ($56 CAD) after usually just buying cheap disposables. I was apprehensive, but the guy let me try a sample and it unfortunately gave me the same feeling I got when I first started vaping and hadn’t built up a tolerance. I genuinely feel so guilty and stupid. And i dont even want to look at it let alone hit it again. But something in me can’t throw it out.

I want to stop. I do. I’m young, I’m early (enough) in the addiction, I’m used to low-nic (as of…until tonight). It feels like it shouldn’t be this hard. I’m a recent uni grad dealing with intense mental/physical burnout and a singer songwriter—I know this will be better for me in the long run. It’s not at the point where its impacting my voice at ALL which is honestly worse because I’m less motivated to quit with “less at stake.” I am so unhappy. How do I get back into the right mindset? Even if this doesn’t reach anyone, I hope someone can see it and relate.

Warmly,
A chronic quitter + recovery newbie. <3

I’m thinking of quitting, I’ve done it before for a few days but gave up.. I thought I’d quit again so I did some online searching about the benefits to make me want too but now I’m not so sure if I want to because everyone’s talking about how you will gain around 10ib from quitting? Is this true or is it just because some people cope with quitting through eating more? If I still eat the same as I do now will I gain or just stay the same? I don’t know if this is stupid but I just need advice.

So I’ve been vaping for a year now but like really heavy vaping I finish like a 6000 puff vape in 2 to 3 days and I want to quit because my eyes always look tired and my face is puffy all the time but I’m not really sure if it’s the vape or not because I get good sleep or that’s what I think because I always weak up tired but I do sleep 8 hours so if you can please tell me if since you quit any of these things i mentioned have improved for you.

No emotional post here. I gave in to my own temptation today and bought a vape so I have to reset this thing. Sucks but oh well. Felt immediately guilty. Called friends to tell me off if I ask for vape again.

I guess we’re back to Day 1.

How do you not relapse??

26 F I have been smoking since I was 18, in early 20s I switched to vapes, and in the past two years have sort of quit both on and off. I can see myself never smoking again, but finding it really hard to not give in to vaping. I've had a major slip up around the summer, and since then I have been noticing that the reasons for quitting seem less and less convincing by comparison to the 'this feels good' argument. i am surrounded by friends and family who vape, and i find it difficult to deal with the reality that my peers get a free dopamine hit when I'm feeling 'miserable' whilst quitting/being moderately jealous. the health benefits i know are real but they also feel dull in comparison to the little pleasure you get. i've also put on weight since quitting, and self-esteem has become lower. i haven't bought a vape in two years but the temptation is stronger than ever today.

I messed up and took a few pulls from a vape in my cupboard I forgot about.

But y'know. I immediately threw it out and even though I'm really craving. I know it's just the "little monster" a.k.a the addiction starving. I hope that stupid thing dies soon.

I finished the alan carr book yesterday morning. So right now I'm at a bit more than 24hrs without nicotine

I've noticed my anxiety is higher in the morning without it. So I want it most the first ew hours after waking up but I expected this. I do have an anxiety disorder so it's not too surprising. It does suck though and it's still very tempting to take one puff and ease the feeling.

But I also know I'll have to go through this period eventually and it won't last forever. So I might as well face it now.

I'm gonna do some Bible study now and then maybe read my book to distracy myself

I wanna quit vaping

I quit cigs a while back then "accidently" went from social vaping to more often as a result.

I wanna quit both but I know I need somewhere to publicly and honestly log progress. I'm not sure of this subreddit's rules regarding this but I hope it's okay

I am reading Alan Carr and hopefully I will finish the book by end of tomorow. And then I'm gonna throw the vape out for good

I'm nervous but ready

I went from 5% to 3% to 2% and now I would like to switch to 1% but I can’t find any disposables! I tried a couple pod systems but they hit too hard and burn my throat and change my voice. And they all tasted awful.

I found and ordered a couple .5% to try but I think the leap will be too much.

I tried going to 0%, and that’s ok in the car and it’s good when I’m high stress and vaping every 30 seconds so I can switch a lot of my puffs out.

But I know myself and I need a 1% crutch for a while. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Bring clean for a month and a half I wanted to give people who want to quit but need that extra leg of advice or are already in the process and even would love to hear from quitters themselves and see what has changed since for them as well.

So I have been vaping since 2017 consistently until a month and half ago. I started with box mods then moved to juul then other pod systems then the geek bars (the devil) then during my quitting phase I went back to pod systems. Around 4 months ago I had a realization that i needed to quit but I failed 100s of time going cold turkey. I got the pod system and did 50 nic for a while, switched down to 30 nic for a while and then made the big decision to go down to 3 nic. It was the biggest withdraw I had but I had a tiny tiny crutch with being able to hit something. After a month of 3 percent I said what the fuck is the point and threw all my shit in the trash. The benefits I have seen so far from being a month and a half clean is barely get cravings now and if I do I tell myself my goals. I have been replacing shitty dopamine with a activities such as reading books specifically history, not anxious no more, gym sessions have been way better, I can do jogging at a better heart rate, heart rate and blood pressure have shot down so much to normal levels and I’m a kinda hefty guy. I have made some very great improvements in my life and I believe in you to the this next step in your journey of life because I feel so free.

So I’ve been tapering down on my usage of disposable vapes, and I did it by going down in nicotine percentage.

So I was vaping 5% vapes for four years and went through them about one a week to one week and a half. Then I bought a 4% vape and kept up with the same usage then I went online and bought a 3% vape and everything was going pretty well but in the past week, I got a 2% vape and I’ve noticed an increase in anxiety at night and in the early morning. I’ve also started to dream which I hadn’t done in a long time..

My question is if anyone else has done the same type of tapering to quit did they experience any of the same problems?

I know this is the best way to quit for me because I’ve tried cold turkey and it’s impossible. I don’t have a job that would allow me to be such a mess going cold turkey. I’ve tried it multiple times and it’s just not possible. With the taper down method
I’m noticing my hair looks way better. My scalp on is dry. I have a lot more energy and my stomach seems better.

Ever since I switched to 2% though I noticed I am very irritable and I get these very quick panic attacks that go away especially when I’m busy doing something.

Is this possible that I’m just feeling the withdrawals because nicotine is not being stored in the same amount in my body anymore? My usage of the device has stayed the same. I’m not vaping anymore than usual or any less, but is it possible that dropping the percentage is making me hit withdrawal like symptoms?

I assume that would probably be the case, but just find it kind of funny that at 2%. This is when I started to feel it and not in any of the other percentages.

Any help would be appreciated.