Thanks Cactus for the info on sqonking...very intesting
Andria--thanks so much for your honest comments I will try to do like you say...I am in the same boat as far as smoking cigarettes about 38 years and believe me I am a former nicotine patch, nicotine gum, Chantix, ecig user etc! quitter!
Except I never a quit...so I thought I give it a try. I must admit your comments are refreshing!
Congrats to u for quitting!
Mike
Well, it's different for everyone, of course -- some folks apparently quit just by walking by a vape shop.
But there are some of us whose habits are really stubborn, who really need to prove it to themselves. Some take a month, some take years.... The main thing is, as long as you're still trying, still vaping, you're NOT a failure -- you're moving in the right direction -- some just take a little longer to get there. If you just keep vaping, eventually you'll get there too; one reason is that continued vaping starts making cigarettes taste like a nasty brushfire, then the cindery aftermath of a nasty brushfire, etc. And of course, vaping is MUCH cheaper than smoking -- pay no mind to those infected with "shinyitis" who seem to have zero self-control when it comes to acquiring vape gear -- you do need a good base of mods and atomizers, just so that no matter what, you have something to vape (vape gear is terribly prone to "shit happens"), but you don't have to end up looking like you're running a vape shop.
Vaping is harm reduction, not harm elimination. While it's true that there really is no safe level of smoking, if you're continually smoking less and less, then you're reducing harm, so vaping is already working in the way it's supposed to. Also, you might run into this or that physical problem with vaping -- none of them as serious as the problems that are all too likely with smoking, but which will need to be addressed so you can keep vaping comfortably -- the PG/VG ratio is a biggie, and everyone is different on what suits their body; the nic level -- again, all are different, and it doesn't seem to have much to do with how long you smoked, though the strength of the cigarettes you smoked might be pertinent to what nic level you find comfortable.
Taste is another huge issue -- personally, I had to find something that was at least similar to the taste of the cigarettes I smoked; everyone said that was impossible, but I discovered it's not -- it's difficult, certainly, just because vapor isn't smoke so there's none of the bitterness of cigarette smoke, but I did find a Virginia flavor that was close enough to Virginia Slims that I sometimes kinda freaked myself out by vaping indoors -- then had to remind myself, doing THIS indoors was just fine.
Or maybe you're one who wants or needs to get right away from the taste of cigarettes -- and if so, you're lucky, because that's a lot easier than trying to find a vape flavor that's anything like smoking.
But as I said, and I will tell anyone who wants to quit the same thing: go easy on yourself -- nearly 4 decades of smoking isn't gonna just fall away instantly, but if you just keep trying, you're doing it right; if ending up a non-smoker is what you really want, just keep reminding yourself of that, and making the effort -- without stressing about it -- and eventually, you WILL get there.
Andria