Smoking is a habit every victim wishes they could break. Individuals have such difficulty in overcoming their smoking addiction because they have incorporated that cigarette into every aspect of their daily routines. In the world of a smoker, from the morning cup of coffee – to the commute to work – to socializing with friends and family, are all associated with cigarettes
There are hundreds of products available on the market for smokers who are trying to kick the habit. Products such as nicotine patches and nicotine gum have helped many individuals to stop smoking, but have also been ineffective for others. The reason these products do not work for certain smokers is due to the inability to simulate the different physical routines involved with smoking; for example, after eating a meal, one individual always needs a cigarette and the other individual always lights a cigarette when driving a car. These routines are all connected to one’s smoking habit and the reason for why patches and gum may not be the best choice for certain individuals.
If you are the everyday smoker who just can’t seem to put down that cigarette, then vaping may be the right path for you to take. I am going to explain the strategy I used in order to make the successful transition from a cigarette into a vaporizer.
The first step I took was to recognize the general cues and locations which would trigger me to smoke a cigarette. After a few days of reflection, I was able to determine my triggers: driving to school and work, drinking a cup of coffee, the walk in between classes, alcohol, and the sporadic break at work with colleagues who smoke as well. I decided to choose a trigger (one that would the easiest to do without) and substitute the cigarette for the vaporizer. I began to only use the vaporizer on my walk from building to building in between classes and with ease, I was able to successfully change one my smoking routines.
The second trigger I eliminated was smoking in the car and this was not accomplished cold turkey. For a month I would vary between smoking and vaping; soon enough, the number of cigarettes I was having in the car diminished to zero. This was the major turning point for me because a month later I was only smoking in certain social environments, such as a bar or party.
Dropping the cigarette in a social setting was a long and challenging process. In my experience, I had difficulty developing a comfort level when using the vaporizer in public. The main issue was just how unaccepting the vaping in public was. Once vaping began to grow in popularity and I wasn’t the only person standing outside of a bar with a vape pen – I was able to vape socially without feeling insecure. Shortly after, I said goodbye to the cigarette for good.
The post The chronicles of an ex-smoker: Part 1 appeared first on Hacking Vapor Magazine.