If you were in high school in 2018, you surely remember the e-cigarette renaissance. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 high schoolers in 2018 were using e-cigarettes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Embarrassingly enough, I was one of them.
If you were like me, I’m sure your experience was similar. Someone in your life had a cool new vape– a friend, a boyfriend, maybe a sibling. You thought, “I’ll just try it once, everybody else is doing it.” When you tried it, you liked the headrush, or the “buzz”, you got when you inhaled. So you tried it again. And again. Eventually, you went out and got one of your own. Then, before you knew it, years had gone by. The buzz you used to get disappeared, but your addiction stuck around.
After five years of allowing a substance to drain my wallet and damage my lungs, I decided to take back my life. To somebody who has never used nicotine before, this might seem like an easy task. However, it takes a lot of strength and willpower. But, it is totally achievable!
More than 2.5 million youth reported vaping in 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022.
What to expect when you quit
I’m going to be straight with you, giving up nicotine was no easy feat. It might not seem like it, but nicotine has a big impact on our brains. Here are a few things you can expect, from my experience, when you decide that it’s time to break up with your addiction:
1. Brain Fog/Trouble Concentrating
This was the symptom I struggled most with, by far. Luckily, brain fog typically only lasts about a week; it’s just your brain getting used to a life without nicotine again.
2. Cravings
Now, this one is kind of obvious. Cravings will normally peak on days 3-5. They say if you can get through day 5, you can get through the rest of your life without it!
3. Smoker’s Flu
When I first quit, I started experiencing what felt like a cold but was actually “Smoker’s Flu”. It just felt like a sore throat only it was combined with all of the other lovely symptoms of quitting.
4. Increase in Appetite
I found myself snacking A LOT when I said goodbye to nicotine since it’s an appetite suppressant. Be sure to pick up a few extra snacks for when you’re ready to quit!
Resources and Tips for quitting
Now that we’ve covered some of the symptoms that come with giving up nicotine, let’s talk about resources.
1. Download the “Quit Vaping” App
Yup, there’s really an app. Let me tell you, it is amazing. This app notifies you of your health milestones as you go, tracks how long you have quit right down to the second, and accounts for how much money you have saved from not buying e-cigarettes or vapes. Here’s the link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quit-vaping/id1479615245
2. Get a Water Bottle with a Straw Lid
This one was HUGE for me. Whenever you feel a craving coming on, just don’t think about it and take a sip of water. I found that any water bottle with a straw lid satisfies that oral fixation that comes with vaping. And staying hydrated is a bonus!
3. Nicotine Patches, Gum, etc.
I personally didn’t use nicotine products to quit, but know lots of people who have. The patch is a bit on the pricier side, but it really works! If you feel like quitting cold turkey is too much right now, things like nicotine patches and nicotine gum help ease symptoms and make for an easier transition.
4. Exercise
Going to the gym has helped me a lot since I quit vaping. Not only does it help distract me from cravings, but it also keeps my mind and body healthy too.
5. Meditation/Breathing Exercises
You might be more prone to stress and anxiety when you first give up vaping. There are lots of meditation and breathing exercises that can help with that! A lot of deep breathing exercises also help ease the cravings.
6. Tell Your Friends
Tell a friend that you are giving up nicotine. That way, if they are also a vaper, they know not to do it around you. It also means you have someone who can hold you accountable!
7. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself!
If you don’t have the means to quit right away, don’t be hard on yourself! It takes a lot of strength and courage just to recognize that you need to quit, so even just reading this article is a step in the right direction. When you’re ready to quit, you’ll be able to! I have complete faith in you; I was once in your shoes.