Vaping has quickly become a widespread practice among teens and some older people. However, because 99% of vapes contain nicotine, it is very addictive, making users slowly dependent on vaping. This eventually causes health problems and disrupts the user’s social life.
If you or a person in your life is struggling with this substance abuse and wants to quit, here are some tips from New Horizon Counseling Center:
Have a motivation to quit
Identifying why you want to quit increases your motivation and success. Having a goal validates your decision to break your habit, motivating you to find a new healthy coping mechanism.
One of the main reasons people quit vaping is the health effects related to its chemicals like organ damage, lung and respiratory issues, and brain changes. You can also change for financial reasons or to protect the people around you from secondary vape smoke.
Professionals at New Horizon Counseling Center say there is no wrong or right reason to quit vaping. It just has to be enough to motivate change.
Choose a good time
Quitting can be challenging, but choosing the wrong time will make it harder. According to New Horizon professionals, choose a time when you are under minimal or no stress. Most people find it helpful to start the process on a significant day like a birthday, making the journey more meaningful.
You should also choose whether you want gradual or cold turkey quitting. Whatever method you choose, ensure you have your end goal established.
Develop a strategy to deal with withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal is one of the main reasons why people have difficulty maintaining recovery progress. Some withdrawal symptoms you will experience include:
Difficulty sleeping
Headaches
Mood changes like frustration, nervousness, and increased irritability
Tiredness
Anxiety or depression
Increased hunger
Trouble focusing
These symptoms are also accompanied by a craving to vape. This is normal; you don’t have to be so hard on yourself. However, it would help if you came up with techniques to keep you from vaping. Nicotine replacement therapy is one of the most common and effective techniques.
This therapy gives you small amounts of nicotine to reduce the craving and avoid the nicotine rush you experience from vaping while relieving the withdrawal symptoms.
Experts advise that you start this therapy the day you start your journey to quit. Some products that you can use include nicotine gum, nicotine patches, lozenges, inhalers, and sprays. Ensure you get them from a pharmacy to get the proper doses. You can also practice deep breathing, meditation, walks, or playing a puzzle.
Identify your triggers
Triggers can be emotional, social, or physical, and identifying them will give you a good plan for dealing with them.
Create a conducive environment
When you start your journey to quit vaping, New Horizon Counseling Center experts recommend you do that in a conducive environment. Throw out all vaping equipment, distance yourself from people who vape, and inform the people close to you about your journey.
Ask for help
Recovering journeys are challenging, but having a support system makes it easier. The first option is to look for a therapist or counselor like those in New Horizon Counseling Center. You can also join recovery groups virtually or physically, where people share their tips, challenges they encounter, and how to overcome them.
Recovering from a vaping addiction can be challenging, but having the right strategy and help makes it easier and more successful. New Horizon is an addiction recovery center with programs to make your journey more successful.
These programs are approved by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Their professionals are also well-trained and experienced in helping people of different ages.
