Why do people vape?
E-cigarettes have become hugely popular and easily accessible. Many adults start vaping as a way to give up traditional cigarettes and tobacco, seeing it as a safer alternative to smoking. However, some people find they become even more dependent on nicotine through vaping as it can deliver higher levels of nicotine.
People’s motivations for vaping can range from quitting smoking to simply enjoying it. Fruit and mint or menthol flavours and the ability to customise nicotine levels enhance its appeal. Fruit flavours are the most popular in e-cigarettes. Some use it as a coping mechanism for stress, as it can offer a brief distraction or relief.
Younger people are increasingly experimenting with vaping, partly due to the influence of peers. There has been a large rise in vaping among 11 to 15-year-olds, even as their traditional cigarette and drug use declines. They are often attracted by the novelty and flavour choices, as well as the perception that it is less harmful than smoking. Unlike tobacco products, e-cigarettes are currently much more visible and easily available to teenagers.
Around 4.5 million regular vapers in the UK
More than 1 in 5 children has tried vaping
51% of young people want to quit vaping for health reasons
Over 1,000 NHS hospital admissions related to vaping from 2020-2023
What drives people to give up vaping?
Originally marketed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, vaping still poses dangers. Combined with other factors, this can be the motivation you need to stop vaping.
Health concerns
As well as increased nicotine dependence, there are growing health concerns about other risks around vaping. There have been cases of severe lung injuries, with symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath and chest pains. Vaping also worsens existing mental health conditions, doubling the likelihood of a depression diagnosis.
The long-term health impacts of vaping are still largely unknown, with potentially harmful ingredients found in some e-liquids. The NHS acknowledges that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco products but not risk-free.
Costs
Even though vaping can initially be cheaper than smoking, the ongoing expense can become a financial burden. More than 20% of younger vapers say they want to quit due to the cost of their addiction. New vaping devices, accessories and e-liquids mean constantly paying out to support a habit.
Influence of others
The increasing awareness around the potential harm of vaping means you may feel embarrassed or judged for vaping. You may have been encouraged to quit by a partner, family or friends and want to improve those relationships.
Freedom from addiction
Some people hate being dependent on their vaping. It may have gone from something you enjoyed because you want to do it to something you now rely on daily. You want to be able to take back control of your life.
Why do people struggle to stop vaping?
Addiction
Quitting vaping can be even more challenging than stopping smoking, mainly due to nicotine addiction. The higher levels of nicotine that are often present in e-cigarettes, delivered through smoother inhalation, can lead to a strong physical and psychological dependence. Vape pens can contain nicotine salts that intensify addiction.
99% of the struggle to stop vaping is mental. With enticing flavours like ‘I Love Cookies’, e-cigarettes are designed to be more addictive than regular cigarettes. Young people can find it especially hard.
Habit and withdrawal
As a daily habit, vaping becomes ingrained. You might associate it with particular activities, like watching TV or going to the pub, which can make it difficult to break. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings are common and can require a lot of willpower to get past. You are likely to feel irritable and anxious, as well as being restless with difficulty concentrating.
Surrounding people and environment
If you have friends, family or colleagues or vape, it can be harder to stop. You are likely to feel more tempted more often, especially if they are not supportive of your attempt to quit. The same is true if you work somewhere where a lot of colleagues or customers vape regularly.
E-cigarettes are widely available with large marketing displays in some shop windows. You may work or regularly have to visit somewhere that sells or advertises e-cigarettes, which can also make it a struggle to stop.
Reduced harm perception
Most people believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Even if you acknowledge the risks of vaping, you may not feel a great sense of urgency to quit compared to traditional cigarettes. You are also likely to vape more throughout the day than most smokers, so will have more nicotine exposure and a greater level of dependence.
Other issues and coping mechanisms
For people who use vaping as a coping mechanism for stress or boredom, it can be a struggle to manage these emotions. Without effective strategies in place, it can be easy to relapse. It can be especially challenging for people with conditions like anxiety or depression. If people who struggled with other addictions, they might struggle more than others with a nicotine addiction, so should seek extra support.
How can a vaping addiction be overcome?
To quit vaping successfully, you will need to plan strategies to combat your cravings, avoid vape-friendly environments, and recognise the mental aspect of addiction., ensuring a thoughtful and resilient approach to achieve a vape-free life.
Timing and preparation
As tempting as a giant January health kick can be, you might find it too challenging to give up chocolate, chips, alcohol and vaping all in one go, especially if your addiction is severe. For long-term success, you should carefully prepare for stopping vaping and have a plan in place. Set a date to throw out any vaping devices, tell friends and family what you’re doing and decide how you are going to manage cravings.
Recognise your triggers
It’s important to identify situations that might cause you to relapse, such as activities, places or feelings that you associate with vaping. You can then plan how you will cope with these.
Support networks
Having people around you who support you quitting can make a big difference. They can provide you with regular check-ins for accountability, as well as helping to motivate you. If you can quit alongside someone else, the shared experience can help you both to stay committed.
Reducing nicotine strength
An alternative to going cold turkey is to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine in your vapes. This can be beneficial if you are addicted to a high level of nicotine, but it does mean quitting will be a slower process. There are also nicotine-free vaping options, although ex-smokers can find they lack the same throat-hit satisfaction.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Patches, gum or nasal sprays enable you to manage nicotine cravings while removing the hand-to-mouth associations of smoking and vaping. However, they must be used carefully to reduce nicotine dependence.
Apps
Quitting apps are an easy way of tracking your progress and celebrating milestones. You can get personalised plans and resources to support you.
Seeking medical advice
You should consult your GP if your addiction is severe: for instance, if you’ve found it extremely difficult to quit vaping after multiple attempts. Get medical advice if vaping has led to significant health problems, you have other conditions that make quitting more complicated, or you’re struggling to manage withdrawal symptoms.
With hypnotherapy for vaping, you and your hypnotherapist form a collaborative team, exploring the route to better health and lasting results. Quitting can seem daunting, but in one transformative session, stop vaping hypnosis can help you change your behaviours. You’ll learn how to understand your psychological barriers, unlocking the tools to quit for good.
Rather than ‘giving up’ you and your hypnotherapist work towards the benefit of improved health, reframing the process positively. Hypnotherapy for vaping weakens your desire to vape as well as strengthening your will to stop. This therapeutic technique offers a holistic approach to tackling psychological and behavioural aspects.
As you visualise a life without vaping, we use hypnosis to stop vaping. By guiding you into a relaxed state, the hypnotherapist can identify your triggers. They then work with you to reprogramme your mind to resist cravings and regain control. This addresses the core of your addiction and rewires your ingrained behaviours.
Through hypnotherapy for vaping, you’ll uncover the reasons behind your vaping and retrain your mind for lasting freedom. Join the ranks of those who broke free, paving the way to a healthier, vape-free life.
Our Stop Vaping Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
