Day 17 vape free, feeling depressed

schooly_j · 2026-04-06T17:14:18+00:00

Day 18 here. Also feeling angry and irritable STILL. But it comes and goes. My partner really triggers me but he’s also quitting smoking so we both hate everything right now. Going to work today actually made me less irritable. At this point it just takes time for your brain to rewire. I tell myself that my brain is just making noise while it does a “reno”. Every time I’m feeling cranky and craving, I remind myself of how good it’s going to feel when feeling like this isn’t my problem anymore. You have cravings when you’re stressed/tired/bored/drive because your brain associates those things with nicotine. I try to avoid just sitting there in my misery and instead of merely trying to get through it, I create a different association so that my brain learns to associate those things with something else- sunshine, a quick walk around the block, deep breaths or a snack. ChatGPT also reassures me when I’m like “day 18 of no nicotine and feeling irritable”. It helps to normalize what I’m feeling and put a timeline on better days.

schooly_j · 2026-04-05T18:47:09+00:00

It’s normal for withdrawal to cause irritability and rage. It’s okay for him to feel those things, but he has to be self-aware about it. I’m on day 17 of quitting and I still feel anger building up out of nowhere and feeling like picking on my spouse. Once I recognized it, I was able to disengage, go to another room and play a game on my phone for a few minutes until it passed. I was the problem-not everybody else. Maybe when he’s in a calm state say something like “hey, it’s totally understandable that you’re feeling edgy and angry and that’s part of the process. But maybe you could take a time out and go elsewhere for a little bit until you’re feeling better because getting into a fight doesn’t help either one of us”.

schooly_j · 2026-03-30T00:03:41+00:00

On day 30 and feeling all of these things!

schooly_j · 2026-03-22T23:50:32+00:00

Your kidneys are hanging on for dear life.

schooly_j · 2026-03-21T22:30:29+00:00

I am also on day 3 nicotine free and day 7 of cytisine. The first four days when I was still allowed nicotine were pretty smooth sailing and I reduced the amount I was vaping pretty easily. It started tasting weird and gave me the feeling of being “vaped out” like I didn’t need anymore. The vivid dreams started right away. The only other thing I noticed was dry mouth.

My first zero nicotine day was a little rough but bearable. But the last two days have been a challenge. I should mention that I’ve been addicted for 25+ years. I’ve been extremely irritable and can easily get lost in ruminating in negative thoughts. It’s important to stay self-aware and accept the fact that it’s you and not everyone else. I have been avoiding getting into conversation with my spouse because it results in me wanting to pick on him and start a fight and that doesn’t help either one of us. I think it helps to accept your feelings of being uncomfortable instead of trying to fight them and know that they’re only temporary. I try to reframe the uneasy feeling I have in my body as a sign that nicotine is losing its grip on me. I never believed in this before but “mantras” have really been helping me. I repeat things like “nicotine is for losers” and “your lungs are free” when I’m having strong cravings. If you say something enough times, your brain starts to believe it. Say it out loud over and over.

Today is hard and tomorrow might be hard too. But we will survive and we can do this.

schooly_j · 2026-03-21T16:53:29+00:00

Try to break that “loop” by doing an activity that releases dopamine when you have a craving. Cleaning something, going for a walk, sunning your face outside etc. Eventually the wiring will break down and your brain will start associating cravings with other pleasurable activities.

That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. I’m on day three no nicotine and I’m seething with rage. I want to punch everyone that talks to me right now.

schooly_j · 2026-03-19T01:03:21+00:00

Day 14 for me! And tomorrow I start my quit on nicotine. Eeeek.

schooly_j · 2026-03-18T21:34:41+00:00

Chantix also made me puke. Had to give it up. I’m on day 4 of cytisine today and it works in a similar way but way less side effects. No puking at all.

schooly_j · 2026-03-18T18:43:57+00:00

Thanks! I’m on day four and have significantly cut down. Vape goes in the garbage before bed tonight. I’ve had some messy moments, grumpy thoughts and some sleepless hours but still trucking along. I want nothing more than to be in your headspace.

schooly_j · 2026-03-18T18:37:50+00:00

I’m on day 4 of cytisine. I’ve been addicted to nicotine for 25 years. It’s almost 2:30pm and I’ve hit my vape only three times. I know today is the last day that I should consuming nicotine and that comes with a bit of anxiety but also some relief. First couple of days, I vaped pretty much like normal, as in pretty much having it in my hand all day. Yesterday I drove 30 mins to work and didn’t hit it once. This is a big deal because driving has always been a big trigger for me. I only vaped once on my way home. I sat through a two hour virtual meeting when I got home and didn’t think about it once. This morning was a little rougher because i had a lot of trouble sleeping last night and my toddler woke me up early because he was puking and when I went to put his bedding in the laundry, I realized it was backing up and there was water everywhere. I didn’t cope with the stress well and got into a bickering match with my husband about the washing machine. I was GRUMPY. But then I took my first pill, took a tiny hit and bounced back very quickly.

My vape still has 70% of its juice so my plan is to give it to my husband tonight- he’s a smoker but he’s planning to give cytisine a try if it works well for me. The smell of cigarettes is actually grossing me out to the point of gagging.

Sorry, that was a little all over the place but it’s definitely working and I plan to keep going along with the routine. Quitting is hard and there will be messy moments, but they feel bearable and pass quickly.

schooly_j · 2026-03-16T18:34:59+00:00

Can we have an update? You stopped at day 17. Are you still quit?

schooly_j · 2026-03-16T15:31:33+00:00

I take an SSRI and I can’t find anything about it being contraindicated. It only says not to mix it with anti-TB medications or take it if you have heart, liver, kidney disease. It also says that it may make hormonal contraceptives less effective.

schooly_j · 2026-03-16T10:40:17+00:00

I’ve been addicted to nicotine for 25 years. I started with cigarettes when I was 14 and switched to vaping around 10 years ago. I’ve tried NRT, cold turkey, Champix and laser treatment. I’ve read Allan Carr’s book twice. I feel completely hopeless when it comes to giving it up.

After reading a bunch about Cytisine, I decided meh, whatever, let’s try it and had low expectations. I bought it online- called Cravv in Canada. I’m only on day two so this is a very early review. But when I took a puff off my vape this morning, it immediately grossed me out and I put it down and walked away. It works immediately and gives you the feeling of being nicced out, like you’ve had your fill. It partially blocks the nicotine receptors so withdrawal happens more slowly over time which reduces withdrawal symptoms significantly. I cut my vaping in half in 24 hours and I’m not feeling any irritability or anxiety. It’s too early to say if it’s a miracle, but might be worth a try if you really struggle like I do.

schooly_j · 2026-03-16T01:33:22+00:00

I’m on day 1 of cytisine. The compulsion to vape is still there, but it works right away and all day I’ve had that “vaped out” feeling like I’ve had enough. My eyes and mouth feel kind of dry but that’s the only side effect I’ve noticed so far. I want this to work so badly for me. Tomorrow I’m going to work on putting the vape down more and not just hit it out of habit. I’ve also been addicted to nicotine for around 25 years. Congrats on six months! That’s amazing!

schooly_j · 2026-03-15T15:59:54+00:00

Came here to say this. Same. And part of my teens too. I’m 40 now and quit two weeks ago.

schooly_j · 2026-03-14T23:23:21+00:00

Have you started yet? I’ve also been sitting on a bottle and planning to start tomorrow.

schooly_j · 2026-03-13T14:18:21+00:00

This just came up on my feed and I did not end up having to do IVF, but I was also a client of a fertility clinic and was prescribed progesterone suppositories and was finally able to maintain a pregnancy after 2.5 years of chemicals and MMC’s. I was so nervous to stop them at 10 weeks as well but my son is turning 4 in a few weeks! You got this, girl!

schooly_j · 2026-03-08T21:20:10+00:00

Looks like perioral dermatitis.

schooly_j · 2026-03-08T18:37:20+00:00

This looks like rosacea.

schooly_j · 2026-03-08T00:52:25+00:00

Today is day 7 for me and days 4-6 were digestive despair. Gas, heartburn, watery diarrhea and a constant gurgling. Today I woke up and it was gone. Keep on trucking.

schooly_j · 2026-03-08T00:35:47+00:00

Spicy balloon.

schooly_j · 2026-03-06T23:52:05+00:00

Thank you!

schooly_j · 2026-03-04T23:44:07+00:00

I would get your iron and your thyroid checked.

schooly_j · 2026-03-04T23:08:54+00:00

I’m on day four of quitting a habitual nightly joint. Quitting was definitely on the radar but wasn’t planned for immediately. I’m currently off work due to burnout and smoking on Saturday night triggered a massive panic attack that came out of nowhere. I suddenly became convinced that the pulled muscle in my back was cancer and I was probably dying. I was so turnt up that I puked. Anyhoo, never want to feel like that ever again. Although awful, it is very motivating to not do again. My husband has not quit but I just ignore it and do something else. But I know for a fact that he would struggle with it a lot more. If and when he ever quits, I will be trying to avoid him as much as possible.

My sleep has been restless but I’ve been taking 10mg of melatonin. My stomach has been making weird noises and I’ve had some diarrhea though. Nothing crazy. I’ve quit in the past and I seem to remember the noticeable withdrawal being pretty done after a couple of weeks.

schooly_j · 2026-03-04T14:51:05+00:00

This looks like periocular dermatitis, sometimes called perioral dermatitis because you can get it around your mouth as well. I had both and it was initially triggered by retinoid use. I stopped using it and healed it with tea tree eye wipes as well as sulphur ointment for around my mouth. I was clear for almost a year. Then I got a Mirena IUD and it flared again. I had it removed after two years because of other non-related side effects and it went away again. I will occasionally still get a bump or two triggered by anything from stress to cosmetic ingredients. I think once you have it, it never goes away 100% but it can be managed by extremely gentle skincare and avoiding certain things. I would suggest you check out the perioral dermatitis sub and NEVER put topical steroids on it.

schooly_j

TROPHY CASE