70 and desperate

[maryb]

Posted here about 9 days ago. Haven't had a cigarette but I think about it every 10 minutes! 

I started vaping and it is my salvation. I don't know if that's acceptable but it has been the beginning of my way out after 50+ years of smoking. 

[Penguin]

Welcome to the forum. I'm fairly new myself, though I've been on my quit for a little over a year. I understand the feeling of desperation. Congratulations on quitting tobacco! That's a step in the right direction, and while I will say vaping isn't safe, at least you're not lighting up, and you can receive help here to succeed in your quit entirely. You'll receive a lot of strong opinions here, though in my experience it's well-intended, because the folks here do want to see you free from it all.

[maryb]

Thank you, Penguin. I'm not interested in being judged but if others think I'm not quitting right, well, that's ok too. I'm way too old to give a thought about what anyone thinks. Personally, I will be supportive of anyone who finds a way out! I'm truly working on it and I really appreciate your support.

[maryb]

I am disappointed that there is no site that I can find besides this one dedicated to discussions on how to deal with this. 

Alcoholics have support. Drug users have support.  However, the addiction I am dealing with does not. So many reasons why if one is as cynical as I am. 

[jillar]

Hi @maryb, our site offers probably the most well rounded support for beating our addiction to nicotine there is. We offer discussions like you mentioned but more importantly we offer you the tools to freedom through education and support from people all over the world in all phases of quitting. We even have a video forum if that's more your thing.

I would start in our vape forum so you can educate yourself on the dangers of vaping.

Welcome aboard the train  

 

[despair not]

Welcome Mary

Glad your quitting congratulations check out the site there's lots of good advice around..

It's not smoking that's a problem stopping it's the nicotine addiction that causes issues.If you can rid your body of nicotine the whole process of quitting gets easier.After a week of quitting your body is rid of nicotine but your brain is still addicted anf will try to get u to have another fix.If you succumb your back where you started.

Good luck on your journey.

[DenaliBlues]

Hi, @maryb - welcome to the Quit Train. You’re right that nicotine is a powerful chemical addiction, just like heroin or any other drug. I smoked for over 40 years and found this forum to be an important source of info and encouragement to help me quit. There also are 12-step programs for nicotine recovery if that’s your jam. You can find them by searching online.

 

In my time here I have found that people will offer “tough love” and say things I don’t necessarily wanna hear. But that doesn’t mean anyone is judging me. Just offering a different perspective, which is helpful because the addicted brain is susceptible to false logic sometimes.

 

Read all you can and don’t hesitate to ask questions. We’re glad you found us! 

[Cbdave]

Gday Maryb 

It’s all about freedom from nicotine. Regardless of the delivery system.

I lived as a smoker for over 50 years. Now I’m really alive for rest of my existence.

It’s so…so worth it.

Read watch the videos. Start getting your mind around actually living nicotine free.

Then take that first step. Forward not backward or sideways. Foward. You don’t look back

[garry mhudson]

Welcome Mary,

I smoked till I was 66 years old. Spent 9 days in the hospital and finally got off and it has stuck for over 8 years. Keep strong and keep trying. You have it in you to do this. Lots of help here and information. Post an S.O. S. if necessary. Hang in there and best wishes.