If you fancy electronic cigarette smoking, then chances are you’re either a cigarette smoker that’s slowly on the process of quitting, or a casual smoker that appreciates the various flavors that come from electronic cigarettes – or colloquially termed e-cigarettes. However, there may be a time when you’ll find yourself wanting to quit electronic cigarette smoking as well – which, as anyone who’s experienced having to give up a hobby would know, can be difficult. It’s not impossible, however, especially if you follow these key tips on how to quit electronic cigarette smoking over time.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research states using e-cigarettes as an aid to “quit” smoking hasn’t been fully recommended by the US Food and Drug administration due to insufficient research, although some do agree that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes that are composed of more than 7,000 deadly chemicals. Despite having the potential to be an aid for quitting smoking, it’s considered unsafe for pregnant women, young adults, and the youth – especially since they can hinder on full development and, in the case of pregnant women, may also hinder the growth of the child.
It’s also important to remember that electronic cigarette smoking has various effects in the body that you should be aware of. Prolonged electronic cigarette smoking may hold risks that you would want to consider if you’re still in doubts about quitting. These include:
- Some electronic cigarettes have chemicals such as formaldehyde, as in the material used for construction, and another substance that is used in antifreeze. Both increase the risks of cancer.
- Diacetyl is a chemical that tastes like butter, which is often added to popcorn. This chemical has a potential to be toxic when inhaled, however.
- Continuous exposure to nicotine can actually make you resistant to insulin, and it can increase blood pressure and your heart rate to dangerous levels.
- Nicotine, aside from being addictive, can also risk making you addicted to other drugs as well. It also has the ability to impair the development of the prefrontal brain in adolescents. This can cause things such as poor impulse control and even the development of attention deficit disorder.
Tips On Quitting E-Cigarette Smoking
If you’re interested in learning about key tips on quitting electronic cigarette smoking, read on below for a few tips you can even start today. Do remember however that these Ecassoc.org tips are meant to be done on a regular basis, and won’t be making you quit e-cigarettes entirely.
- Shift your perspective: Chances are, the reason why you tend to relapse is because you think you’re being deprived of electronic cigarettes, when in fact you want to quit. So instead of thinking of it as “depriving yourself” of your vice, think of it as actively choosing to quit. This can help improve your discipline with yourself, as you can constantly tell yourself this was your choice. It now becomes a challenge of self-control. If you feel uncomfortable because you want to smoke, you have to let yourself feel that uncomfortable sensation and acknowledge its presence.
- Read more about smoking: If you get the temptation of smoking, try to read about cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, and especially on how their effects on extended periods of time can be detrimental to your health. Try reading up about addiction, substance dependence, and what happens during relapse. Knowing about these on an intimate level will allow you to be more understanding of your situation and have another “anchor” to pull yourself together with whenever you feel the urge to smoke.
- Avoid “triggers”: Your “need” to smoke is likely caused by triggers such as stress, a location, or particular situations. Try to make an assessment what your “triggers” are and try your best to avoid them so you can slowly forget the unconscious “conditioning” that makes you turn on your electronic cigarette.
- Find a new hobby: This can be challenging to do, but you ought to try to find something else to do whenever you feel smoking. Try to pursue a talent or a skill or even a sport you want to experience. This allows you to find a new way of redirecting your craving for the e-cigarette. Pursuing a new hobby or interest can let you redirect your focus onto something else, and you might end up not needing to smoke entirely.
- Other forms of rewards: Try to make quitting a challenge to look forward to, instead of something you should suffer. Try to “negotiate” with yourself by providing yourself with a “rewards” system of sorts that you can give to yourself in exchange for not smoking. This can include mundane things such as a snack, or even complex things such as a new phone or a new gadget.
- Focus on your fitness and health: Perhaps another interesting alternative to quit electronic cigarette smoking is instead focus on your health. Try to get yourself a sport or a routine to do everyday in order to unwind and release the tension around your body. If you’re starting to like your progress, you’re going to likely consciously buy healthier food and even consciously reject the need to smoke because of its health impacts.
- Take it slowly: One of the most important aspects of quitting is you can’t expect it to happen overnight. If you really feel as though it will be hard, try to make incremental changes and removals from your “smoking sessions.” For instance, if you used to smoke three times a day, try smoking just once a day. And then afterwards, try to lessen how much juice you buy, or how often you get to bring your e-cig with you.
The Takeaway: It Takes Time, Effort, Patience
If there’s anything to take away from the above, it’s that quitting electronic cigarette smoking is not an instant process. You’ll likely find yourself on the verge of getting back to e-cig smoking, and you’ll find days when quitting is easy. Take your time to familiarize yourself with your mannerisms and find ways to continuously motivate yourself into quitting electronic cigarette smoking.
