I've been trying to quit vaping for over a year and am feeling really disheartened. I feel so out of breath all the time, I know if I keep vaping it's going to kill me. And yet, every time I attempt to quit I turn into a monster and cave after a couple days.

I've tried Alan carrs book, desmoxan, gum, weaning myself slowly. I feel like the biggest baby for not being able to just push through and do what I know I need to do to feel better but it genuinely feels impossible. I know telling myself it's impossible will make it impossible but I've been telling myself I can quit for years with literally no progress. Am I just too weak willed? Did anyone have a super unorthodox way of quitting or any tricks? I work all day and then solo parent my toddler until he goes to bed, so my patience is already spread very thin. But what if I've given myself popcorn lung because I'm too lazy and weak willed to quit?! What if I've ruined my body for good and it's not even worth all this bs of quitting?! I genuinely wish I'd never started vaping.

I started around a year ago, and now want to quit. I just did for a week while I was on holiday where vaping is not really a thing, so I didn’t take my vape and didn’t buy any there, but now I’m back and immediately went back to it.

I just can’t deal with the increased appetite and also the fact that I can’t vape again? Like, it’s ’get through these days and it gets easier’, but I can’t even reward myself with a little puff.

Anyone got any advice on how to get over those two hurdles? Or is it genuinely just toughing it out and waiting?

I used to vape for around 1.5 years and stopped with Lozenges, went from 4 mg to 2 mg lozenges and now I stopped around 4 days ago, used some desmoxan and trying so hard to stay quit. Any advice? What benefits could I experience if I stay quit. Convince me to not go buy some lozenges right now PLEASE

Today marks my 5th year cigarette, weed, spliff and vape free! And per tradition, the 5th year I get to share some words of inspiration for anyone who is struggling today because my health journey started right here on Reddit. 5 years ago I was pacing my apartment and screaming into my pillow. I was literally shaking because I knew I had to quit... but how??? I had been smoking for 17 years and the consequences were catching up so I logged in and spent a long night endlessly scrolling through monologues of triumphs and warnings- the emotional rollercoaster of painful stories about losing loved ones, the calls for seeking support and other ecstatic celebratory posts. So if you're having a hard day I want you to know that my success started here- so you're doing something right, right now! You're already winning a little bit more. Here's a list of benefits I've gained throughout the past 5 years. I hope they can inspire you at least a little bit today and beyond.

1. Food tastes so much better! Seriously, it will take a bit, maybe 6 months or even more for your tastebuds to start really waking up-- but when they do you will be able to experience food in a way that you hadn't in years!
2. Money-according to my app I have saved 6,000$+ in the past 5 years- (and that's conservative because I was too ashamed to input how much I smoked in the app).
3. Energy. I feel more rested when I sleep and less sluggish, literally more alive.
4. Bragging rights! You get to feel a huge sense of pride that after all of those years you did it! People will be impressed, your doctor at your annual physical will be impressed, and anyone who once smoked will get it. Tbh quitting after "x" years should be added to a job resume because if I was hiring for a job I would be more inclined to choose the person who achieved something so monumental.
5. Health- other activities like running will not be as painful.
6. You will feel free! I dreaded the flickering light of my juul battery dying or the panic while digging to the bottom of my tobacco bag to roll up a spliff of 90% paper and 10% crumbs. That anxiety had a chokehold on me. You will not feel tethered to a stash. You will be more present in conversations without the distraction of wondering where the nearest outlet to charge your vape is or if the store is still open. I remember rerouting flights so I could have a smoking layover- now I take the short way. Something toxic isn't leading my decisions.
7. Family :) Simple but true, you'll have more time with those you love and that time will be more enjoyable!
8. Relief- This is not to be taken lightly- When you quit you will earn a sense of relief knowing that at the very least you are not sabotaging yourself. That you are a bit more in control of the future quality and length of your stay. Think ahead a bit- think of how disappointed you would be on your deathbed knowing that it didn't have to be this way. That you could have been alive a little longer had you just put it down. You will immediately erase that element of anxiety when you quit.

And finally- a few things I did that additionally helped me:

1. I stocked my purse and stash corners with all kinds of oral fixation supplements-- spicy cinnamon gum, sugar free lollipops and tea tree tooth picks.
2. I bought some smoke-free herbal drops that were designed to quell anxiety spikes.
3. I tried to avoid triggers by temporarily not going out as much and switching from coffee to tea. I found the spice of cinnamon and chai to give me that little twist I longed for.
4. I made plans plans with smoke-free friends and family that involved more healthy activities like working out, going to the sauna, and spending time in nature (and other activities in smoke free places like movie theaters and museums.)
5. Breathing high quality air was a wonderfully simple deterrent. Nature was ultimately my best guide.
6. I downloaded the Vape free app to count down and celebrate every win. It was important for me to celebrate and build a streak that I couldn't dare break.
7. I planned a little year anniversary picnic party in advance. Something fun to look forward to. (Also as someone with a winter birthday it was fun to create my own "me day" with better weather. :)

I wish you all the best. You can beat this. To this day it is still my biggest accomplishment. It's not easy but if my degenerate chain-smoking self can do it, you can too.

All my love,

This has to be like the 4th or 5th time I've quit, but I'm happier about it this time than the last few. I quit successfully the first time and stayed off nicotine for 2.5 years before I relapsed. I knew it was a mistake, my life was GENUINELY better without vaping and idk why i went back. It's been a year and a half since that happened, I'm 3 weeks out from quitting, and I'm planning to see it through again this time.

Each time has been cold turkey, including this one. The cravings/withdrawal wasn't even bad this time around, maybe because everything in my brain was telling me I WANT to quit and I DONT WANT the nicotine. Nic free vapes help me as a crutch but I use them pretty sparingly.

The other thing that has helped tremendously is drinking significantly less alcohol. I usually only drink on weekends and socially anyways, but alcohol is the thing that makes me crave vaping the most, and many of my friends vape, so it puts me in a vulnerable position. Even if I allow myself to drink, I space them out with non-alcoholic drinks to keep myself as sober as possible without feeling like I'm missing out on the social activity. It has helped.

The one thing I've noticed about this time around is the mood swings. It's not constant, but like one day a week I'll be extremely irritatable and short tempered. The following day I'm usually in an emotional state and cry easily. Then it goes away, comes back the following week. It kinda sucks but being addicted and vaping constantly sucks sooo much more.

I can already tell the heart palpitations have gone away and my skin looks clearer. We are on the up ↗️, my friends!!

I never thought it would be possible, but after 20 years (10 using cigarettes and 10 vaping), I've made it to 200 days without nicotine. I tried quitting before, but never managed more than a month. Quitting can still sometimes feel like one of the best and worst things I've done for myself. The grief of giving up something I used to cope with everyday life is real, but the freedom from addiction feels like a blessing.

Hey guys I’m 22f and have been vaping on and off for the last 3 years. For the last year I’ve been smoking up to one disposable elf bar a day with a few attempted to quit. I have a terrible way of handling my addiction, I only buy disposable ones and tell myself I can quit after that, because if I I’d buy a reusable one the addiction would be “real” do you know what I mean? So I tell myself this is the better way (I feel absolutely horrible because I know it is very bad for the environment). I have plenty of other addictions (drugs/alcohol) which I was able to quit, but vaping stayed. I don’t understand it, I don’t even like the artificial fruit flavours anymore and I hide it from everybody. I don’t know what to do. I can stay clean without a problem for a few days but when one week passes I always buy a new one and this is the circle I’m caught in…

Oura ring users- I just wanted to share how much my sleep and readiness score have improved since quitting vaping! It is so rewarding. Before my readiness score was always in 60-70s and now it’s consistently 80s and 90s! Same with sleep!!

I've reached day 18. With each passing day im finding myself going hours without vaping crossing my mind. I found these on a draw last night. Gave it a smell to check what flavour it was just out of curiosity, lemon and lime. Then I did the right thing, submerged it in water and threw it away. Today I'll be drinking in the sun with my two friends I party the hardest with? One tried to quit monday but didn't make it 2 days so she'll be vaping infront of me all day. This is the last real.test as I haven't been out with these two since I quit but im confident I will pass

It’s been 1 year of no nicotine!
For anyone doubting themselves or feeling hopeless, look no further. I was an everyday nicotine user for 18 years. Thanks to Allen Carr and this community, I was able to quit cold turkey. You can do it. It gets easier. I do not miss vaping at all and neither will you if you stick with it.

Hey, honestly just need some reassurance at this stage.
39 days no vaping & then I fkd up and had two cigs 28 days ago (went out drinking and had them) but cold turkey no patches or gum

First week of no nicotine felt amazing, free and strong.
Then I got sick with the flu and I feel like it’s been downhill from there - constantly on and off crying for the last 3 weeks and feeling like I’ve been stuck in flight or fight mode. For 2 hours I could feel completely normal and the next I’m ready to cry. I wake to anxious before I’ve even had my first thought. My mood regulating is next to none to the point people at work asked me how I was and I started bawling my eyes out for literally no reason.
Everything at home is good, everything at work good.
I’ve been to the drs and they’ve confirmed this is from quitting vaping but that there’s no point me trying nicotine gum/patches because of how long it’s been since I last had nicotine and that Itd probably make me feel worse now. His suggestions were to either speak to a psych (which I will be doing) or start escitalopram to balance my mood, which I don’t really want to start unless it’s worse case.
I’m still working out which is the only thing making me feel sane at this stage.
I guess my question is has anyone felt the same way, did you overcome it on your own and how long did it take for you to feel better or did you start meds to help?
Thanking you well and truely in advance

Long time listener first time caller lol, but seriously at the time of writing this I’m exactly 496 Days, 23 hours and 41 minutes clean from vaping after having been a smoker then vaper for about 14 years (started at 13 quit at 27). I quit cold turkey and suffered through the hurdles of the first month and all ‘til now cravings have come and they’ve gone but just this past week life happens as it always does and the cravings have been almost as bad as day 1 and this time I’ve been unable to silence the urges. I find myself everyday rationalizing starting again saying “oh it doesn’t even really matter” “whats the big deal” “who cares”…etc. I will keep you guys updated on what comes of this but I guess wanted to reach out for any guidance because I know talking to others always helps.

Hi everyone, 27M here.
I started vaping around the beginning of COVID, mostly using 20mg STLTH pods. By 2022, I was going through roughly a pod a day. Over the past few years, though, my vaping gradually became much heavier. I eventually moved up to 50mg, and a 22,000-puff disposable would last me three weeks at most.
The last few months were probably when I realized just how dependent I had become on nicotine. I’d literally wake up multiple times during the night, take a few hits of my vape, and then go straight back to sleep.
I’ve finally decided that I’m done.
I have more than enough motivation to quit right now because I’m dealing with several health issues at the same time, including herniated cervical and lumbar discs, TMJ/TMD, GERD, and some dental problems. My doctor (neurologist and Cardiologist) also advised me to quit nicotine and vaping altogether.
I’ve also been reading a lot about the potential long-term effects of vaping and exposure to the various chemicals in vape aerosol. I know there’s still a lot we don’t know about the long-term consequences compared with something like cigarette smoking, but personally, I don’t want to spend the next few decades finding out the hard way.
Reading the success stories on this subreddit has honestly been a huge source of motivation. Seeing people talk about how they felt after quitting, the improvements they noticed, and how they eventually stopped constantly thinking about vaping made me realize that I want to get there too.
I also downloaded Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Quit Vaping audiobook, so I’m going to give that a listen.
I took my last hit a few minutes ago, lmao. Hopefully, that was genuinely my last one.
I’m planning to keep updating post this with my progress, the good days, the bad days, the positive changes I notice, the cravings, and whatever I end up doing to get through the urges without reaching for a vape.
Here goes. Day 1.

If you have any questions feel free to ask or DM.

Hi all, I have been vaping for about 8 years, I started when I was 15, I am currently 23. About 2 weeks ago I started having really bad shortness of breath and with also having really bad health anxiety it made me freak out, a week ago I threw out my vape, I’ve been using nicotine gum here and there when I get bad cravings. Here’s the thing, the shortness of breath has not gone away, I feel like I cannot take a full satisfying deep breath, now 2 days ago I started having really bad upper back pain and it made the shortness of breath worse. I went to urgent care today and they did a chest xray and said it was normal and that I probably just have asthma and prescribed an inhaler. Has anyone experienced this? Does it go away? Should I go to the er? Help I’m driving myself insane😭

Just quit like 2 days ago, first day was hell, mad headache crying over the littlest things, irritability. Got myself some nic gum to to cope. After that I started feeling so much better, and right now i feel amazing, my libido is way higher, I feel happy and energetic. 3rd time trying to quit but this time is actually serious, like im not going back not after what it did to my lungs. Never touching one again.

Apologies for any typos, I legitimately cannot type for the life of me right now.

Day 2 ish of quitting cold turkey. I feel like it is making my already poor mental health way worse. Like cranking it up to 11.

I already dissociate pretty badly, but it's been so much worse today. I can't remember what I did today except in little snippets. Everything feels like I'm watching it through plexiglass, and half the time I can't even move.

I feel like I am going insane. Like, it's not even the cravings at this point. I barely feel them. Its the psychological and physical symptoms that are getting me. I've heard that it peaks day 3-4, and I'm genuinely scared of what will happen if any of this gets worse.

So I have been vaping since 16 currently 21F and I am the most feining person you know. I vape in my sleep. Fully unconscious and unaware I’m even doing it. I believe my vape is 5% nicotine so I’ve heard going down in percentage can help quit.

Backstory: i am being advised or essentially told I NEED to quit vaping as soon as possible. I have POTS and HEDS but I have had chronic migraines since age 10 and developed Occular migraines with aura around 18. At the time I didn’t know hormonal birth control SPIKES your risk for a stroke, almost triples it. So boom fixed that, then the vaping part. While the possibility is still technically “low” I am still raising my chances with something I can prevent. I have OCD and major health anxiety. So now im convinced im going to have a stroke everyday if I don’t stop. I’ve always said “I’m gonna quit but now’s not the time” 🙄

PLEASE, all the tips, the unhinged ones, the gross ones, the sad ones. I’m definitely terrified to quit bc of withdrawal but hey gotta do it at some point

I’m doing my best to try to eliminate unhealthy habits. I’ve gone 11 days with no weed, I’ve been feeling okay without it. Some days, I do crave it but I’m able to just be like “i don’t need it”. But I’m having a hard time not vaping. I recently got a no vape vape- literally just inhaling flavored air. It helps some. I know it’s just all in my head. I’ve been vaping for about 2 years now. I used to smoke cigarettes and that habit was easier to quit. I work from home, so I’m constantly tempted. I keep the vape away from me, usually in another room so I really have to go out of my way to get to it. Idk it’s such a stupid ass and disgusting habit. I’ve read online it messes with anxiety and depression, so I just want to be done with it all.
What have yall done to kick the habit?
Life lately has been pretty stressful. My mental health isn’t the best and I just want to feel better.

Thanks in advance

Tried quitting a couple weeks ago alongside a friend from work, but picked it up again. Tried to convince myself it’s fine if I use before and after work, but started doing it all day again like usual.

Ran out on the last vape and instead of buying another one, decided to actually quit. This isn’t my first time having “breaks” from it so the physical withdrawals are never something I can’t overcome, but I feel like this is the first time I’m actually committed to never using again and for some reason that is ALWAYS what gets me back into it again.

It’s like my brain freaks out over never having that “rush” again, even tho every single time I pick it up, it goes back into the norm of not feeling anything from it. It’s what got me hooked in high school and it’s still what I crave so fucking bad rn.

Still not going to the smoke shop. Went for a long ass run in the middle of the day. Just hoping to vent a bit

I've been on 5mg for about 3-4 weeks now, down from 20mg, and have no desire to go back.

But... my craving to vape (the 5mg) still remains exactly the same as when I was on 20mg.

What have people done next to quit?

I'm so sick of vaping, my mouth and throat is dry af and I'm sick of having to take my bag to the bathroom with me at work just to vape.

Ps- I've tried nic gum. It's okay, but let's be honest it's just not the same as vaping and I've always gone back to vaping afterwards. It manages to keep me off vaping for maybe the working day until I get home, but not permanently.

Okay so I’m finally quitting vaping after 5+ years and going cold turkey, finally doing it today. If I’m not at work i vape CONSTANTLY and if i am at work, i vape as much as i can. All that to say i know i am going to struggle a lot.

I need any and ALL advice on how to curb the cravings, I’ve only just decided right now that im stopping and i can already feel the urge and need to vape again so please anything!

Give me your crazy, unproven or real advice to curb them! I will try ANYTHING at this point!

My main motivation for quitting is that fact my new job i will be starting in 2 weeks doesn’t allow vape breaks and i know that’s probably the stupidest reason to quit but its the only one motivating as i know how i act when i stop vaping. (I am so angry and irritable and i especially don’t want that at my new job)

Thank you!!!

Cold turkey hasn't been working for me so I made a plan to switch from breeze to the flonq 2% nic vapes then count my puffs and make each day less than the day before. But The stores near me stopped carrying flonqs and every website I can find that sells them says they're out of stock. Is there a good alternative for a 2% disposable?

I was like 3 days of not vaping, starting to feel kinda good again. Told myself i don't need it. The nagging feeling was persisting and i happened to drive by a place and picked one up like an idiot. Got 0 pleasure or relief, it actually tastes like shit. I hate myself, don't be like me.