“It took several attempts, but in the end, I was tired of thinking about my next vape”

“It took multiple times until it clicked. I was so miserable going through that cycle of starting and stopping. Things reached a head on the day of the solar eclipse. I wanted to be completely present for that moment. Nature is important to me, and I didn’t want to miss such a rare show clouded by thoughts about hitting my vape next. I didn’t want to be worried about needing a vape while practising yoga, hiking on a nature trail or just going for a walk outside. I’m also sober, and the longer I’ve stayed sober, the more I’ve realised that vaping isn’t aligned with my sobriety.

“When I finally quit, I drank plenty of water and two cups of coffee each morning. I wanted the water to flush out any toxins in my body. Every time I had an urge to use my vape, I reminded myself that it would be the same cycle all over again. I recommend moving your body, whether it’s getting up to go for a walk or engaging in a 10-minute exercise video. Try eating healthier and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Most importantly, keep reminding yourself why you want to quit. My ‘why’ was that I wanted to be present for my entire life rather than looking to escape. I refused to let a device dictate my experiences or limit my potential.

“As a person in long-term recovery, I recognised that if I was capable of kicking my substance abuse and alcoholism and working through heavy traumas in my life, I didn’t want to give away any more of my power to something that had me in its grips.”

Kristina, 32

Keep trying to quit vaping but can’t? 5 women share how they finally managed to stop (and how you can too)