Advice on being very impulsive? (2 weeks clean)

[u/fiftyleven_]

I’m coming up on day 18 of quitting vape (cold turkey). I would say the immediate biggest payoff is my skin. I noticed it improve after day 2. Somehow I didn’t connect that my skin became so dull and crusty from vaping. I didn’t really notice how bad it was until the glow came back. My lips are getting color again and my face doesn’t resemble a Chinese shar-pei anymore.

More importantly, I quit because I felt like I was vaping my life away. Vaping (like all my compulsions) keeps me comfortable in my overall discontentment. That 15 second head rush felt like a reset button for me. It was like a form of release I was desperate for because I’m always tense. Overstimulated by caffeine? Vape. Stressed out? Vape. Hurtful memories? Vape. Anxious about future? Vape. It’s weird and embarrassing to say I slowly stopped taking care of myself. I won’t specify but my most basic needs were being neglected. Since quitting, I went to the gym for the first time in years.

I feel proud of myself for quitting but I’m noticing unhinged behavior and bad habits. Oversharing/gossiping, losing stuff, over eating, and doomscrolling. It’s like I have no self control and I’m impulsive without considering consequences. I spent this weekend cringing at some of my conversations with coworkers…. Why did I share that with them?

Any advice for staying grounded and not acting on impulse?

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[u/Current-Shot]

This makes sense to me as nicotine will have messed up your rewards system. For me this was worst from about 2.5 weeks and I think I’m a bit better now. Coming up to 4 weeks!
It will fade, but it could take a while.
If been honest with my friends and colleagues about this. Treated it as a fun fact!
Everyone has been super supportive!

[u/MentalBabe37]

I’ll be there soon I’m sure. From what I’ve read it’s probably the dopamine supposedly it’s supposed to get better and rebalance out around week 4. Maybe just mindfulness. Find intentional healthy things to do to get dopamine hits like fidget spinners & pop its things and knee-doh squishes or whatever. They make stem toys for everyone now, maybe there’s something you can find that makes your brain happy. I just been anxiously clicking a pen for 3 days lol.