Today marks my 1 year anniversary of quitting vaping. Everyone is so vastly different, but this is what I've noticed:

1. My gut has completely healed. Zero food sensitivities anymore that come with chronic acid reflux and heartburn.

2. My gingivitis has completely reversed itself. My gums are healed.

3. I haven't had one suicidal ideation episode since. Of course I get depressed but not as bad anymore. It's 100% manageable. I battled with them quite a lot towards my cessation date.

4. This also goes for anxiety - I had panic disorder prior to quitting. My therapist and I have come to the consensus that that is not the case anymore. Again, I still have anxiety - just not exacerbated.

5. My hair has grown back. I hadn't realized how thin my hair was getting until I started to get a ton of baby hairs trying to grow back in.

6. I have a healthier/better relationship with food, fitness, my family, and my work. It was a long road, don't get me wrong, but I have formed new, healthier coping skills to deal with stress. I can focus more on what really matters to me.

7. I've saved almost $10,000 this past year by not buying vapes/juice/cartridges.

8. Those random heart palpitations? Gone. Sore lungs? Gone. Horrible circulation? Gone. Low energy? Gone.

9. My skin is the clearest and healthiest it's been in the last decade.

10. I feel like I can go to events or get togethers without feeling like I have to have my "pacifier" with me at all times - worrying about when the next time I can do it, sneaking into bathrooms, begging people to be okay with me hitting in their cars, etc. I feel free.

**One thing I still struggle with, 100% honesty:

When I am particularly stressed, I do still have a "I wish I could have a cigarette right now" moments. Are they compulsive? NO. Do they last 2 seconds and move on? YES. But I am still working on my stress coping skills.

It was a long long road. Hard. But I want someone else to know that it truly IS possible.

Let’s see how addicted you are to smoking.

Below is a simple nicotine dependence test. Answer each question honestly in the comments, and I’ll calculate your result and tell you your level of nicotine dependence.

1. How soon after waking up do you smoke your first cigarette?

A) Within 5 minutes

B) 6-30 minutes

C) 31-60 minutes

D) After 60 minutes

2. Do you find it difficult not to smoke in places where smoking is not allowed?

A) Yes

B) No

3. Which cigarette would be the hardest for you to give up?

A) The first cigarette in the morning

B) Any other cigarette

4. How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?

A) 10 or less

B) 11-20

C) 21-30

D) 31 or more

5. Do you smoke more during the first few hours after waking up than during the rest of the day?

A) Yes

B) No

6. Do you still smoke when you are so sick that you stay in bed most of the day?

A) Yes

B) No

Write your answers like this:

1A, 2B, 3A, 4C, 5A, 6B

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.
--BUDDHA

I live my life looking forward to my next nicotine hit: after dinner, after work, after a doctor’s appointment, etc. Therefore the idea of looking ahead at possible decades of nothing to look forward to was really depressing. That’s why the slogans, “just for today’ and “one day at a time” really worked for me. I soon found other small but healthy pleasure to look forward to.
 
Today, I will remember that I cannot get through quitting nicotine by using nicotine.

—From A Year of Miracles

Trying to quit smoking for the Nth time!🙃. Up until this point I've purely relied on my willpower but that doesn't seem to work more than a week or so. So all the people who have successfully quit or who are on their path to quitting, any practical tips and suggestions that actually helped you through the way. I'd like to join you on this journey!!🫣

As someone who smoked for 10 years and struggled a lot to quit, I know how much it means when someone who has been through the same thing can answer your questions, guide you, or help you.

That’s why every Monday, I’ll answer your questions about quitting smoking, cravings, benefits, and anything else related to smoking and quitting.

Ask me whatever you want. ☺️

Hi,
I quit smoking 6 months ago. I am 38 years old and smoked for about 23 years.

Unfortunately, my skin and body have been getting worse week by week, and it frustrates me so much that it is limiting my life.

I look much older, my face has developed many deeper wrinkles, strong dark circles under my eyes, I now have a double chin and sagging cheeks, and the skin on my arms, legs, etc. has changed completely. I now have uneven skin everywhere (cellulite) and loose skin, even though I live very healthily and really try my best. I exercise, have hardly gained any weight, eat healthily, and drink enough water.

Has anyone had similar experiences? Is this normal? Does it get better at some point? I’m really feeling very down right now…

Thank you 🖤

Hello all!

I hope everyone’s day has been well. I want some advice from anyone that can help me with a detrimental situation. I stopped smoking June 4, 2026. Clean. 0 hit. I am smoke free. I’ve smoked Geek Bar vapes and Flume for the past 3 years. It’s been 23 days I’ve been clean. I went thru the withdrawals, and I don’t have any cravings for smoking, and I feel much healthier (breathing, blood flow, skin, etc.)

However…. I don’t feel the motivation and drive I used to have. I work in sales… when I started smoking back in 23’ that’s when I blasted thru success. I got promoted twice, made the most money I’ve seen, and saved a lot.

Again, since I’ve stopped smoking…. I haven’t felt any motivation to work or succeed. I was always #1-#3 at my job and now I’m at the bottom.

Quick add-on: (Minor withdrawal: acute depression?) - which I never had.

I’ve tried working out, eating clean, sleeping well, etc. and some days drank caffeinated beverages or coffee, but it doesn’t help. At my lowest day, I resorted to a 5-10mg of Adderral for 2 days as trial but… nothing… it sounds crazy and either smoking’s effects really spiked me to work or I’m missing something here…

Any advice?

My biggest concern is… can this be systems of undiagnosed ADHD?

Thanks again

I smoke menthol cigarettes and I have for about 7 years. I really want to quit and I've tried many times. I always give up a 1-7 days into it. It's hard because my husband is a heavy smoker and doesn't want to quit. I need some tips and tricks. I've tried to get my husband to join me but it never works out. So is there a way I can quit even while he keeps smoking?

hey everyone! i’ve recently talked it over with my wife and determined that I really have a problem with nicotine. i’ve been hiding zyns for forever from her because i felt like she’d be disappointed and it turned out that not being open about my addiction was the part that hurt the most. she’s being extremely supportive and we’re doing great now.

i’ve been tapering off for about a month now. I started with 6 mg in lowering quantities and now i’m at 3 mg in tapering quantity as well. i’m planning to switch to a 0 nicotine (and 0 caffeine as i drink enough coffee anyways haha) next month after im done with these 3’s. what are some 0 nicotine pouches that feel the most similar in the lip to zyns? ive thought about shift pouches and ive also heard of black buffalo. the only reason why im not trying them and testing myself is because in my state no one sells 0 nic pouches without energy so i will have to buy a whole roll online and i want to know i’ll at least kind of like them.

thank you guys for your support!

Doesn’t seem like much, but wan keep going with it. Overall health feels so much better, started running and can already feel the change. I hope I’m able to sustain this lifestyle. At the end of the day I realised it’s all about discipline and discipline is also the best form of self care.