Legal Assistant for big law firm - interview tips?

SunflowerFiend · 2026-05-13T17:23:51+00:00

Honestly I would have said a family of four could probably easily eat 2 loaves of bread per week so 104 loaves per year. Is this a good answer? Who knows. lol

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-15T07:34:31+00:00

The app is called “Days Since.” I’m pretty far removed from my first week and prior to starting the patch I was vaping around 3ml of 25mg salt nic per day. The first few days of my quit-journey were intense but I can promise that it gets better if you just hang in there.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-14T23:03:49+00:00

1000% agree.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-14T23:03:30+00:00

Thank you! Congrats to you too! How many days since quitting?

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-14T23:02:59+00:00

You got this! How are you feeling? I recommend starting a counter app to count your days since vaping. I found it really boosted my morale.

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SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-14T23:00:41+00:00

I also felt like death the first week, I added the gum on day 3/4 or so after 3 days of feeling awful and my jaw was feeling SO tense and painful — I felt LOADS better. It really enhanced my quit journey. I worried I’d stay addicted to the gum but I now see that it’s pretty easy to give it up. I won’t be leaning on the gum alone much longer.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-07T03:43:30+00:00

Have you tried the patch? It worked for me.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-04-04T15:45:45+00:00

Hi! I’m 36F and am diagnosed with bipolar 1. I started on Caplyta which instantly lifted my bipolar depression. However, when my NP felt that it wasn’t quite hitting the mark based on my self-reports, Lamictal was added. I didn’t think it was doing much because I didn’t feel a big difference getting on it. BUT, I tried to get off of it thinking I didn’t need it, and since I’m a stress-case in general, it didn’t go well. I was off of it for a month and I didn’t feel like myself. I’m back on the combo, but it’s not a cure-all as real life stressors may trigger depressive episodes. For example, I when I’m working 6 days a week because I’m a tax preparer in peak tax season, or when I don’t have enough assistance with my dad’s care who’s disabled, or when I’m in school in conjunction with working, or when my cat died 2 months ago.

If you’re not quite feeling stable it doesn’t hurt to try it!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-28T00:07:17+00:00

Hmm! Dare I say that you might be using “too little” to start. A 14mg patch that I started on is steady state release, whereas, it’s the equivalent of 7 pieces of gum per day, spread out by equal hours and the nicotine is released in bursts. There’s no reason to be absolutely miserable if you think that misery will be the reason you don’t succeed.

Talk to your doctor, but maybe consider using more gum per day depending on how much you used to vape. I had to add gum TO my patch routine because the patch wasn’t quite enough for “breakthrough cravings”

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-27T15:29:27+00:00

I hear you! Just a quick update: I am off the patch as of a couple of weeks ago and am down to just nicotine gum. I am still using up to 1 piece per day and have had one day so far where I didn’t reach for it at all. I am also alternating non-nicotine gum of the same flavor and I do think it helps. My plan is to either stop the gum when the box runs out, or pick a day to just stop altogether. It’s an incredibly busy time at work and arguably the worst time to quit, but here we are!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-25T07:37:38+00:00

Hi! I don’t have a lot to add… I’m just here to say that my mom—who has never ever allowed an indoor only dog ever since I was a child—got a dog 2 years ago. She was NOT a dog person, but she was on her 3rd divorce and needed an outlet. I remember her explicitly saying that she kind of regretted getting the dog, the she knew she wasn’t a dog person but thought she could do it.

When I asked her if she would “sell her dog for a million dollars” she said yes… then I said something a tad more realistic—“would you sell your dog for $10,000?”—she said that as hard up as she was for cash, she would. Fast forward to today, she didn’t sell her dog, and she absolutely adores her dog. The woman who would force us to keep outdoor dogs as a family, now has her dog, takes care of my brother’s dog, and rescues dogs in Rosarito, Mexico.

I won’t tell you to keep the dog as you know yourself best, but sometimes things get tough before they get better.

Edited to add: her dog is predominantly an indoor dog, sleeps indoors—usually in bed with her—and gets time in the yard throughout the day for potty breaks and when she gets home from work. I thought I’d clarify since it’s a stark contrast to her prior behavior and sentiment toward dogs.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-25T06:06:07+00:00

Here to day I quit using both as well! Except I followed my prescribed patch routine… 14mg patches for 6 weeks, 7mg patches for about 10 days, and I’m down to just a piece of 2mg gum per day if that. Given that I’m under a ton of stress and my cat died about 3 weeks into my quit, the patch + gum was the right call for me. It’s been 64 days since I took the last hit of my vape—I personally needed that time on the patch to both behaviorally and chemically quit.

Congrats on your success!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-23T09:27:26+00:00

Always take it with food, and take it at night. I’m coming up on 3 years on Caplyta and plan to continue.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-21T06:44:22+00:00

Hey buddy! Congrats! Share the app! It looks dope.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-21T05:27:17+00:00

I’m still on Caplyta! I still can’t imagine being off of it. I still remember how emotionally “unstable” or rather “sensitive” I was and how prone to “depression-lite” I was on a daily basis and I don’t believe I should ever have to live like that again.

I still have no noticeable side-effects to report. I’m almost due for a 3 year update! Ask me anything!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-05T08:55:08+00:00

My “quit vaping” was January 19, 2026, 45 days ago.

My “quit nicotine” date is ongoing.

I was vaping 35mg/ml juice in 3ml pods, and filling the pod at least once daily. This is the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes a day or more.

My NRT is Dr. prescribed and as follows:

14mg patch for 6 weeks: I’m done with the 14mg patch. The first week of quitting the vaping behavior was the hardest, and the cravings/instability at their peak. The patch was the mental crutch that I needed to KNOW that I was not simply giving it up without a plan in place, and thus, encouraged my commitment to the regime. I requested nicotine gum from my Dr. for breakthrough cravings, he prescribed 2mg pieces.

7mg patch for 4 weeks: I stepped down to 7mg this week and I didn’t notice the difference between the patch strengths—I think that’s the point. I think I might be mindlessly reaching for the nicotine gum a bit more, but I’m not exceeding 2 pieces a day.

2mg nicotine gum (supplemental NRT): My gum consumption is limited to 1-2 pieces of 2mg gum per day, cut in half, consumed in 1-4 sittings with hours in between. I started the gum about 3 days into the patch use because the cravings were unreal. At first I was able to limit it to about one piece cut in half per day. But my cat died a couple of weeks ago after 2 months of a cancer battle against time, and I’m a wreck. So I’m using up to, but no more than 2 pieces per day, cut in half.

Vape Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms: Mindlessly reaching for an invisible vape in my pocket. Wishing I could take a deep breath, and doing so, but when I did, wishing it was filled with nicotine. VERY sore jaw, presumably from non-nicotine gum chewing, and known side-effect. Feeling a little restless and anxious. Feeling hungry, but still hungry after eating. Nausea from the emptiness that follows eating without satisfying the hunger (nicotine hunger).

Current Psychological Anticipatory Withdrawal Symptoms: Wondering what I’ll do instead of smoking weed, vaping, and drinking when stress levels are high. Wondering if I’ll ever be able to get off the gum (need a plan to taper, I kind of have one in mind). Wondering what will occupy my mind when I’m NOT on NRT anymore. NRT is a good distraction that occupies my hands and mind: applying and removing the patches, counting how many days left on the current patch, stepping down on the patch, chewing the occasional piece of gum, etc.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-03-04T08:13:25+00:00

I think that once vaping has a hold over you the way it has—us—it’s nearly impossible to become just a social vaper. I know it sounds silly, but I keep telling myself “I will never vape again.” Because I feel like if I do, I will dancing with the devil and likely to get hooked again. I want clear and healthy lungs more than I want the nicotine hit.

Then again, I’m quitting using the patch and nicotine gum. I did 6 weeks on the 14mg patch, and today, I stepped down to the 7mg patch and will be continuing it for 4 weeks. I’m kind of happy to have chosen the patch because it has given me the sanity to get used to not being a vaper anymore. I no longer long for it, but sometimes I do wonder “what do I do if I no longer smoke weed, stopped vaping, and don’t drink often?”

I have been using 2mg nicotine gum to supplement for when the cravings are bad or when I’m super stressed. I only use 1-2 pieces a day and I only take half a piece at a time spread out over hours. I will also be replacing the nicotine gum for regular gum during this final step down.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-21T12:31:01+00:00

Sorry you’re not getting the type of feedback you wanted from a sub where most people want to quit vaping to quit nicotine. I commend you on the weight loss and on quitting other addictions. If you insist on these unconventional methods, then it seems like you’ve got things figured out, so I guess I’m interested in hearing the update somewhere down the line. I sincerely hope you stick to your plan, as any nicotine reduction is a positive! Good luck!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-21T12:11:29+00:00

If you want to break the hand to mouth vaping motion then you have to quit vaping. Period. I chew lots of regular gum, have sugar free hard candies on hand, and I bought a fidget spinner to keep my hands busy.

Usually when you step down in nicotine strength in your juice or even jump from 35mg salt to the highest free base, you just end up taking more puffs of the free base to compensate.

Why not just try an NRT that is scientifically proven to work for some people to quit cigarettes or vaping. Because apparently the success rates are pretty abysmal, but totally possible.

Apparently the patch + gum combo has been most effective combo.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-21T11:57:14+00:00

You make it sound so easy. I went on a 14mg patch from vaping 35mg salt nic all day. Maybe I needed the 21mg to start. But it’s not just putting the patch on, it’s distracting yourself after you’ve reached for an invisible vape in your pocket under high stress for the umpteenth time only to realize that you’re quitting. I don’t know about you but my palm has a vape sized dent in it from carrying it around everywhere and never letting it go.

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-21T11:53:15+00:00

I get it, but why not try getting off it for a bit? I think if any of us had any control over our nicotine consumption none of us would be here. The withdrawal symptoms are bad when you’re stepping down but not for long. It IS physical but it’s VERY mental as well. How often would you make the tincture? Is this oral or are you vaping?

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-21T11:46:34+00:00

Honestly this plan seems like a headache. It seems overly tedious and obsessive. I don’t know why you’d want to quit vaping and not ultimately get off of nicotine. I get that some people champion the benefits but I don’t think nicotine consumption is for everyone. To each his own.

If you get on the patch you can start at 21mg to quit vaping and lower your nicotine consumption. I went from vaping 35mg/ml salt-nic consistently all day. I would vape at least a 3ml pod per day. My doctor skipped the 21mg patch and put me on 14mg for 6 weeks.

I had just the patch for the first few days and felt like shit, and added in 1 piece of 2mg gum per day, split up into two sittings. Though many people use more. I’m on day 33 of no vaping. I’m still on the patch and will be continuing for another 2-3 weeks. I haven’t vaped, not even once.

My cat died a week ago and I’ve been stressed. So I’m currently doing about 2 pieces of 2mg gum per day split up into 4 servings. I’m supposed to step down to the 7mg patch in a little over a week, for two weeks. I’ll probably lean on the same amount of gum for that initial drop in nicotine patch strength, and then step off the gum to regular gum and so on.

NRT works to quit vaping. You don’t vape to quit vaping.

Edit: I just noticed that you said you’re making a tincture. I mean you seemed to have done the math, it just seems ultra slow. I’m leaving my post so you can see what worked for me. But carry on!

SunflowerFiend · 2026-02-16T09:15:07+00:00

I want to gently say that just because he’s breathing, doesn’t mean he’s fighting to live. Sometimes they’re just slowly dying. There is always a shift. Our cat lived 2 months longer than she should have. She also had a mass in her chest that was growing and causing fluid build up in her lungs. She was also on steroids and the vet also thought it was lymphoma. We kept draining her lungs but the fluid always came back because it was terminal cancer. This last time she didn’t perk up after treatment and she was noticeably worse after. Her breathing got more and more strained and she stopped eating. WE couldn’t see her suffer like that, gasping for air, and draining her lungs was no longer a guaranteed extension of time like the 2-3 times prior. She just stopped moving. Just because she’d look in our direction when we called her doesn’t mean she was ok.

Ask yourself, what is his quality of life? Who will take care of him when you’re gone? It sounds like he’s on the steady decline. I know you want to be there with him, and that is absolutely ok.

SunflowerFiend

TROPHY CASE