u/EducationalGazelle55

I just have to take a moment to celebrate because like everyone else here, it felt impossible. I could not imagine my life without vaping. I tried so many times to quit cold-turkey over 7 years and straight up lost my shit every time. It wasn’t worth the withdrawals and feeling psychotic… so I always went back.

But not this time! It sounds like a sponsorship, but seriously. Thank god for Jones mints. Thank fucking god. I had never considered NRT but now I know the chances of me being successful without it were slim. Jones has great marketing and I honestly would’ve never considered patches or standard lozenges without the ads. The mints help with my severe oral fixation and have completely prevented me from having withdrawal symptoms. I feel like Jones has saved my life.

Also the app telling me how much money I’ve saved makes me so flabbergasted that I ever wasted so much money. I’ve saved $600 since being vape-free. I am still having dreams about just having “one small hit” but this has been easier than I ever hoped. I also had to want it though. I felt like shit all the time. My pre-existing anxiety had become a million times worse, my chest always heavy. Now, my body feels so much lighter and I feel a lot more like myself now.

Sometimes it’s just so embarrassing that I am a 25 year old working woman and I literally feel physically ill from unexpected interactions. I really, REALLY pushed myself out of my comfort zone 3 years ago when I started working as a salesperson. I sit down with multiple people, face-to-face, each for 30 minutes to sometimes 3 hours, every day and I can stick to a script and chat it up and nod and do the damn thing. I’ve gotten used to that. It’s fucking hard but it’s gotten easier. I am also a social butterfly when I feel safe with people I know. But tonight we had a social get together with the managers that I just agreed to go because everyone else was going and why not? I just want to cry afterward, just wishing I was normal. I just say over and over, WHY CAN’T I JUST BE A NORMAL HUMAN? My partner always says I’m too critical of myself and actually great at talking, but I come home afterwards and for HOURS, I just ruminate over everything I said and cringe and feel so uncomfortable like I can’t hide from this dread. It just feels like an illness, shaky and hot and stomach pain, just from being social. Just ranting. It just feels so dumb. I haven’t felt this in a long time because I don’t really put myself out there ever so it’s always uncomfortable and humiliating when I do.

Hey guys. I am feeling very encouraged and hopeful, yet so scared and worried. I am 25F, been vaping via juul for 7 years. I have tried quitting SO MANY TIMES, as I’m sure everyone here has. I was successful once for 6 months but then I started smoking weed all the time instead and that ended in a mental breakdown lol. Anyway, every time I’ve tried it’s always been cold turkey. Just throw everything away and stop. Last month, I told my partner I’m done wasting money, I’m done feeling like this, and I tried cold turkey again. Wow. I forgot how fucking bad it is. Brain fog, dizziness, headaches so bad I think I’m having an aneurysm, so angry I’m hitting myself in the head and screaming at myself over stupid shit. I gave up because I couldn’t operate like that.

Well, what I find interesting is so many people say you HAVE to quit cold turkey, psychologists suggest it, blah blah blah. But apparently only 5% of people who quit cold turkey are successful. 5%. Why is it that everything I’ve read suggests that method? I understand that decreasing amount of puffs or percentage doesn’t help. But apparently NRT increases success rate by 50 to 70%. Crazy. I saw so many ads for Jones mints (just fancy lozenges) and blew it off so many times. But then I really started considering it.

I have diagnosed OCD and with vaping already being habitual, I realized maybe I really do have to find another method. I previously tried the Ripple+ and the Fum but to me, if I’m fucking angry and crazy the flavored air just makes me frustrated and go back. Why not just get a rush out of it instead of just getting a flavor with a side of frustration? In reality, I think getting rid of the sensation of vaping is easier than sudden intense withdrawals.

I will say, I’m on day 2 of no vape and the Jones mints plan which will taper down usage over the months. So that isn’t impressive to many but man 2 days is the longest I’ve made it in a while. I feel great. I don’t feel murderous bc I’m not suddenly withdrawing. I really really wanna feel the vapor hit the back of my throat, but I can handle saying no to that desire because I don’t have intense cravings on top of that.

I’m so long-winded but with all that being said, I really feel like this is doable. I was so embarrassed of withdrawal symptoms that I always gave up because I don’t wanna be a raging bitch all the time. And if I keep it up with NRT, slowly decreasing the milligrams is probably going to be my success story. It’s not as pleasant to have something dissolve in my mouth for 2 hours but it’s been keeping me sane.

I’m just scared because I have heard so many people start again after a year or more of not vaping. I don’t want to believe that could happen to me but I know it’s a huge possibility. I am feeling really strong right now and trying not to be delusional but I know a huge part of this is just talking yourself down.

I just can’t believe everyone always suggested cold-turkey when it only works 5% of the time. I think to each their own, but I’ve gotta do something different this time. I will say, even with nicotine still going into my bloodstream I feel 10 times less anxiety. I think I got used to my lungs and chest feeling so heavy that even on day 2 I feel like I can breathe again.

Sorry if you read all of this, but talking myself through it is going to help.

There was a man standing next to the city council building on Delaware, holding a giant sign that said “P*SSY EATING CONTEST” and “FREE P*SSY” this morning. LOL