So I'm trying something different this time in regards to quitting. I bought a pack of clove cigs off amazon, these are tobacco and nicotine free. Going to see how long I can go without nicotine and HOPEFULLY the clove cigs at least trick my brain into thinking I'm getting my nic fix. Three days is the threshold to pass for the chemical to leave your body and brain so maybe this will bridge the gap.
I have leftover patches and gum if the cravings get too severe and I need one for my mental health.
If vaping is an option, I would suggest giving that a try. If I may offer some more unsolicited advice, here's what worked for me:
When I first started vaping, I would still smoke cigarettes whenever I wanted one. Over time I wanted the cigs less and less and eventually stopped smoking them. I bought a refillable pod device (the vaporesso xros series are solid and cheap) and eventually learned to make my own juice. I can find the guide I used if you're interested, it's not difficult but does require care when dosing the nicotine. I tapered down on my nicotine dose over a period of ~6 months. I started out at 24 mg/ml, then went to 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 3, 1.5, 0.75, 0.25, 0.1, and then nic free. I stayed on the nicotine free juice for a while afterwards because oral fixation, but that eventually went away as well.
Not only does this allow you to set your own pace, but it saves you a ton of money in the long run as well. I was a pack a day smoker (~$200 USD/mo), vaping cut the costs down to ~70/mo, and then making my own juice reduced it to like 10-15/mo (2 pods, 2 bottles of juice). The upfront costs of making your own juice can be a little steep but you'll be saving a ton in the long run. I think it cost me around 120 or so to get set up. The bottles of VG and PG lasted me longer than it took me to quit, as did the nicotine. Flavors and bottles were my only reoccurring expense and those are dirt cheap in comparison to cigarettes or premade juice.
Best of luck OP!
Honestly think this is the best advice you’ll get. Though I’ll add to the recommendation to buy nicotine free ‘base’ juice and add your own nicotine. Lets you taper your dose way easier than store bought which is hard to get not in 20 strength.
The main thing to be careful about is to make sure you get it all from reputable suppliers - there have been plenty of reports of nicotine free juice having loads of nicotine and other active chemicals in it to keep people hooked.
Also fair warning: vapes are delicious and there isn’t a ‘stop point’ like with a cigarette that you finish. A vape you can keep sucking on indefinitely. So you can end up taking way more nicotine than you would smoking. So if you don’t smoke indoors or while driving or something then I would keep up that habit, and try to keep the vape to just a ‘smoking break’ type thing.