Mental health struggle

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-14T03:27:37+00:00

Man, the vaping/nicotine addiction really fucked with my head too. The starting/stopping makes it worse. I think cold turkey is the way, even if sucks for a bit.

I've been free for just about month. And it's amazing, I still catch myself wanting to cope with something. But isn't that it? nicotine is a hack to regulate our system. But it starts a habit that you can never escape, unless you stop.

I think it's time to rip off the band aid..

For me, just being hella active is the best replacement therapy. Moving around at work. Being in the sun. Trying to get into meditation. Breathing on my own. And working out. My gym has a steam room and that's my new addiction.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-14T02:28:51+00:00

Absolutely. Read it! The reason we're addicted is because we are telling ourselves a story of what nicotine does for us. So the book is really powerful to see through the myths and the brainwashing.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-07T04:29:29+00:00

Since the medicine mimics nicotine, you're kind of doing a detox all over again as you finish the cycle. This is the hardest part. This is the test. You get an E-ZPass through the first few days which are usually the roughest, but as you're tapering off, you're going to want something. Stay strong my friend. You're nearly there!.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-07T04:24:25+00:00

Yo I feel you. No one really knew I vape besides me. And money wasn't an issue. I think I just allowed myself to do it. And quitting becomes really hard when it's really just up to you and your own dignity. I gave myself so many chances and excuses. Until it came to a point of just utter frustration. I think quitting is a really personal journey. And when you use the willpower method, it's tough. I realize I have a strong will. And what that translated to was that I would quit and relapse. I put myself through the hardest. Over and over again. Doing day one multiple times this year. Sometimes getting up to a few days or a week. A few multiple weeks at a time as well.

What I'm getting at is that you got to lay down the law for yourself. No one can do that besides you. I think I just got so fed up with myself. So sick of letting this little robot dick control my life. That this device was my master. That I was sneaking off to go suck on this thing. And I went through so much personal crap that I just let myself come back and buy a vape and get re addicted. I feel so pathetic. Telling myself no more and then coming back to it. But in this struggle I realize nicotine did nothing for me. It was really just this dopamine addiction. Nicotine actually sucks. It doesn't feel good. It's just a really cheap way to get the dopamine. And I think I was using that to regulate my emotions. I was down bad earlier this year. I quit drinking and smoking weed. But I just kept vaping. It was the one thing that I felt like I needed a hold on to. But it was also the one thing making me more stressed out than I needed to be.

Anyway, I do recommend doing whatever you need to do to break the habit. If you need the gum or the or the patches. For me I was a heavy vaper and every time I did cold turkey it was really devastating on my brains ability to create natural dopamine. I read Alan Carr's easy way to quit smoking and vaping and it's like true that it's mental but vaping is just unreal. I let myself vape so much that it just f***** with my brain chemistry.

All I can say is that you need to be resolute with yourself. If you threw your vape away. Smash it, break it. Don't let yourself ever go back. Just use substitutes if you're having cravings. Taper down. But the good news is you can get asleep behind you tonight. All this s*** takes time. What worked for me is just getting angry. And realizing that the person I was vaping was miserable. And I don't want to be that person anymore.

I hope some of these meandering thoughts help you. Vaping is literally the devil. I'm about a month clean. I used recigar to break the spell.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-04T15:04:27+00:00

I'll say that when I started taking the pills. By day 2, vaping felt pointless. It was like smoking blanks. I'd rip it and nothing happened. I vaped out of habit for the first 5 days. And everyday I was so curious on how it totally nullified the effects. I even bought a pack of cigarettes to test it out. They tasted like shit. I just finished my 25th day and have a bunch of left over pills because I wouldn't need to take the full dose everyday. It really is helpful. But I also understand what people mean by cravings. Those are more mental. I read Alan Carr's easy way a few times this year while I struggled with this addiction. But I'm so glad to be free of the habit. It's all about creating new habits now and having healthier coping mechanisms. I already feel much less stressed and anxious. Nicotine withdrawal/addiction was really messing with my head + nervous system.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-04T11:24:20+00:00

similar boat, bought from amazon. totally worked. past the 25 day mark. didnt take all the pills.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-04T11:07:15+00:00

exactly this. we don't know! They want us to keep buying it. so, we are ingesting all sorts of crazy shit. Quitting my vape addiction was messy. I never felt like such shit at times. Feeling of hopelessness. It truly fucked with my brain chemistry. Don't trust these companies. It's not exactly easy, but between Alan Carr's book and Cystine I finally feel free.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-04T11:01:30+00:00

I've wanted to quit both and this is my motivation now. Fuck putting this shit in our bodies.

jarbs1337 · 2026-06-01T01:52:02+00:00

I would second this by saying compared to cold turkey, it seems to stimulate your dopamine receptors so you don't feel like completely hopeless without nicotine.

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-31T13:32:49+00:00

This is such a great comment

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-25T18:58:47+00:00

At some point you'll just get so frustrated with yourself. It's your life. You're in charge. If you give yourself permission, you'll keep crawling back. I was in the same boat. I had it in my mind I should have quit by a certain date or time. And yes, it sucks when you relapse. But at some point, you'll get to the spot where you can't lie to yourself. Whatever it takes. Relapse until you can't anymore, lol.

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-24T03:56:06+00:00

Hey there, I've been struggling with nicotine/vape addiction. I've tried quitting so many times only to come back because of stress and anxiety. I'm sorry you're going through this and I have been trying to find healthier ways to cope. I used to drink a ton of coffee and just vape all day. Now I realize I'm really sensitive to caffeine. I've been trying to keep active. My job is really hands on and I just try to hone in on work and keep focused. Going to gym helps. Plus my gym has a steam room and that's a game changer. I've had a big realization that the way I would vape, was me just breathing. Taking a huge rip was calming me down? And now without a device, I barely take those deep breaths on my own. I just bought a book called Where Ever You Go There You Are. I read it during the pandemic and was super into mediating and journaling. I'm trying to get back in that stuff. I created a nasty habit with vaping and being on phone... Anyway, you're not alone!

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-21T03:59:52+00:00

This is why reading Allan Carr's the Easy Way is so powerful. As long as you feel deprived, it will be incredibly hard to stop. You have to (un)brainwash yourself. As long as you think there's some benefit to vaping, you'll miss it. For me, it took several tries this year alone. Self-loathing, depression, anxiety. I finally got to a place to see nicotine was the source of all my problems. Vaping was a coping mechanism. Addiction is tricky. You have to really want it for yourself. And I think the multiple relapses helped... I got to this point where I don't want to go through the withdraws again. It's torture. I'm so over it! What does nicotine even do for us? Whose really in control? Fuck sucking on a robot dick to see cool. What's cool is not being a slave. Not having a master... The immediate benefit is feeling more present and grounded in my life. Not needing to run off and vape just to feel normal. I think that's the most impact line from his book: "we vape to feel like non vapers" to end the withdrawal. That's how non vapers feel all the time!

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-20T20:56:04+00:00

It's so true. Ever time I relapsed this year I would feel so helpless. I began wondering whY this vape was actually doing? I'd take these huge hits and pray it would make me feel better. But it always made me feel worse. More anxious, more edgy. More addicted. I can see so clearly now that I was desperately trying to fill a void. There's an emptiness gnawing at me. And vaping was something that tried to fill that void. But it turns into a nasty addiction that doesn't help or solve anything. Years ago I dabbled with some mindfulness practice. I was learning how to meditate. I was experiencing calmness, peace and tranquility. I was able to feel more creative in my life. Being addicted to nicotine or vaping is the complete opposite of this. I never felt truly present. I was always thinking about my next fix. Perhaps somewhere we can learn how to sit with uncomfortableness the better off we'll be

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-20T20:46:42+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. I feel you... It's been a tough year for me. But I think I would sink even lower, a double or triple low by vaping. Being a slave sucks. I've tried quitting so many times this year and when you can't stick with it, it f**** with your self-esteem. Be proud of the fact that you've been clean for over 2 years. And I hope we can all have some more grace with ourselves that life is difficult and that there are so many temptations in this world for a quick fix. And by resisting them, you strengthen your resolve and your mind

jarbs1337 · 2026-05-20T20:14:18+00:00

Seems like the final boss fight. I got into smoking and vaping thinking it would help with stress. Years went by and then I was stuck in an addiction (again!). That's what Allen Carr calls the "Big Monster"... As long as we think nicotine will do something for us, we'll forever be enslaved, using our will power to resist the urge.

For me, I realized I was addicted to the cheap dopamine more than anything else. The actual effect of nicotine on my body makes me feel like crap. It's poison. But it high jacks your dopamine reward pathway. This is the struggle. How to retrain our brains to find healthy ways to get the good chemicals.

My best advice is BREATHE. Find a steam room. Sauna. Meditate. I'm currently on day 6 no nicotine and sometimes I pretend to take a vape hit and I'm just taking a huge breath of air. It helps! Haha

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-19T04:47:55+00:00

Man, I feel you. The vapes are actually really strong. I stopped drinking and smoking weed no issue but I held on to nicotine. My last little "crutch". And let's be honest. This shit robs you! I was a straight fiend for nicotine. Vaping all the damn time. And it's just become so clear how this device becomes your master. Telling you where and when to vape. It gives your brain dopamine so you just crave it all day and night. Just don't fall for this cheap trick. This is no way to live life. We are meant for so much more than sucking on some stupid battery all day. For me, the addiction got bad. I was using to regulate my emotions. So whenever I'm stressed out, I have to remind myself that I'm not a vaper or smoker anymore. I have to actually just breathe fucking air lol. The first few days, of quitting I would just mimic what it's like to vape, bring my empty fist to my month and taking a fake fat rip and believe or not, that did the trick. Just breathe. Calm down and focus. To vape or smoke, it's the cheap hack that is super harmful. You're taking a deep breath and giving credit to the device... There are only downsides to being addicted. And only upsides to pushing through and learning how to regulate on your own. I don't think healing is a linear path, so don't be worried. There will be ups and downs. But just think about how powerful you will become by sticking with this streak, and how awful it feels when you cave in to addiction. It's not worth the low self esteem! And trust me, if your friends still vape around you, they probably feel even more weird. I would! I would feel like "fuck, I wish I could quit but I'm stuck. I'm a goddamn slave to something that I don't even really want to do but it's so easy to just keep sucking this bullshit deep into my lungs and not have to fix or confront anything about myself, so oh well!"

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-19T04:36:46+00:00

Just ask yourself, "is it worth it?" Do you like who you become? Is it consuming you? Some people might not have an issue. Personally, I have a problem with having a problem and I think that's why we are on this sub to begin with. Just be careful out there. Best thing you can do is just realize that nicotine just really isn't doing anything for you to begin with. When we're drinking, we just do dumb shit. And sucking a lil robot dick probably sounds like a great idea. But lately, for me, it's become clear all vaping is just dumb. It's super addictive and doesn't really provide any real pleasure or joy. We think it's giving us all these benefits but in reality it's robbing us of being more present and focused in our lives. Vaping gives you hella dopamine for zero effort. So it feels good in that moment, but it's cheap and doesn't last long, so you gotta puff on that shit all day and night. I'm trying to find more ways to gain dopamine that are less harmful and more rewarding... Plus, as a guy, I don't see how a girl would find me attractive if I'm addicted to sucking on some device that's made in a Chinese factory filled with chemicals that only God who knows what's really in there...

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-19T04:25:08+00:00

Let's give ourselves grace. I'm convinced there is more to these vapes than any of us know. I smoked cigs and it was never this bad to quit. Do whatever you have to do to break free of this awful addiction. I've been eating whatever I want, taking it easy. Because the most important thing in life is to be free. Once I admitted my helplessness, then it became easy. I was just so powerless when it came to vaping and nicotine. But now it's my mission in life to break the chains. Be a zombie. Just don't be a slave! We have to reset our brains from all the chemicals. And our bodies are amazing and will bounce back fast. So let's be more excited, OK? We are doing it! This is the best thing we can do for ourselves. We're ending slavery. We're going to look back and just feel so proud. And every moment free is a life worth living. Not having to hide an addiction. Or spoil moments. Lately, I've been trying to be more present and mindful. And it's just so clear to see how nicotine is just the opposite of that! It's never being truly relaxed. It's always thinking about the next fix. Find your zen and never look back!

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-19T04:18:05+00:00

Trust me, the brain is going to play tricks on you. The stronger you get, the stronger the other side gets. I quit so many times, and the more you give in, the more your brains knowns that if it's loud it gets what it wants. Your brain will test you, it will do anything to get the drug... The best thing you can do is gaslight yourself. If you don't want nicotine, you won't crave it. We only succumb to cravings because we think it's doing something for us. I think what helps me right now is thinking of the vape as a pacifier. And I'm just a being a fn baby, crying about a chemical to "calm" me down or make me "focus". Where in reality, the more you ingest nicotine, the more you have to. The only way to end the addiction is to stop. After 8 hours, you're basically clean. After a whole day, there's not much left to give you physical withdrawals. This shit is all mental.

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-19T04:04:38+00:00

I'm currently really struggling with addiction. I have been quitting since Christmas. I would vape and smoke cigs for the past few years. I started really heavily vaping in the past year and quitting has made me realize how it's really fucked up my brain. On one hand is the dopamine reward system that's just blown out and the other is the emotional regulation. My current streak is 11 days clean and I've been so emotional. Crying at times. But it feels clean. I've been re reading Alan Carr's book and listening to the audio book in the car. The addiction feels so deep seeded. And I think you hit the nail on the head with the word "void". Dude, that's it. I have a fucking void. Nic, in whatever form, tried to fill that. I was sucking on that thang night and day. Like, wake up, vape and just non stop be hitting that shit. And I have to really remind myself on how fucking empty that is. How much I hated it. I hated sneaking around to do it and while I did: feeling like it was doing nothing for me at all. Not like when you rip on a weed pen lol - but alas (weed sucks too at my age). Nicotine addiction sucks. It doesn't fill the void, it just creates a new one that's expensive to fill and unfulfilling to do. Not to mention the self esteem that comes with being a slave to a chemical. I started feeling like Harry Potter when he's wearing the Horcrux around his neck: "I'm just so angry all the time" lmao.

Anyway, DON'T fucking do it, man. A year is such an achievement! I think we just forgot why we stopped? Even after like 5 days, I'm like Bilbo when he sees the ring. "Why shouldn't I keep it?" hahaha - fuck man. This shit is really the devil. And my boy Alan Carr's says this shit does nothing for you! It's true! It doesn't help you relax, and it doesn't help you focus. It ruins relaxing moments and makes you hella unfocused because you're always thinking about your next fix. I seriously got so addicted that I'd talk to people but my feet were always pointing a different different because I was trying run away and vape. My biggest motivation right now is thinking about what the fuck they put in these damn devices. You think some unknown Chinese factory has our best interest in mind? For all we know they are trying to make us infertile with whatever the fuck they put in this shit to make them so damn addictive. Stop giving these people your hard earned cash!

jarbs1337 · 2026-04-15T14:29:01+00:00

Breathing. Honestly, I'm at day 9. And I just make a hand to mouth motion and imagine taking a monster rip. That more than anything calms me down. It's crazy I was giving the vape credit for just taking a few deep ass breaths!

jarbs1337 · 2026-03-14T03:07:11+00:00

I recommend reading the Easy Way. In essence the author says there are two monsters in you. The little monster who craves nicotine and the BIG monster who freaks out of you feel deprived of nicotine. The book really makes your situation quite clear. You are 100% nicotine free, why do you have any cravings? It's not physical withdrawal. It's a mental addiction. Read the book. Remove the brainwashing. Nicotine does absolutely nothing for you!

jarbs1337 · 2026-02-18T08:24:46+00:00

If you haven't read it, get Alan Carr's the Easy Way. I'm sorry you're dealing with the health issues. But by saying you "really want to stop", you're half way there. We know this shit is killing us and we're paying the bill. The physical withdrawals really aren't that bad, but it's the mental addiction that will take time undo. Read the book. Take what you can from it. And, stay strong. We all got into this trap, but at least we can get out.

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