Sophie Law, a journalist in her thirties, has shared her compelling story of escaping the grip of nicotine addiction after discovering she was consuming the equivalent of 100 cigarettes a week through vaping. What began as a casual habit quickly took over her life, leaving her tethered to disposable vapes like Lost Mary from dawn until dusk.

Sophie detailed how the convenience and social normalisation of vaping masked its dangers. Initially a substitute for social cigarettes, her habit escalated into constant use—at her desk, in bed, and even during moments of boredom. The physical toll soon became evident, with dry mouth, headaches, breathlessness, and brain fog becoming unwelcome companions. Yet, despite multiple attempts to quit, she found herself falling back into the same pattern of addiction.

It wasn’t until Sophie read Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke that her perspective changed. The book revealed the brain’s cycle of pleasure and pain caused by addictive substances, allowing her to understand the root of her compulsive vaping. Realising that her search for a fleeting dopamine high was leading to greater suffering, Sophie decided to quit overnight.

The process was not without its struggles. Sophie speaks candidly of intense cravings, fatigue, and irritability in her first 48 hours nicotine-free. However, by day five, she felt her mental clarity and energy return. She credits the following steps for her success:

1. Removing Triggers: Discarding all vaping devices and avoiding scenarios linked to the habit.
2. Enduring Discomfort: Learning to confront feelings of restlessness with breathing exercises, walks, and healthy diversions like water or chocolate.
3. Cold-Turkey Approach: Choosing complete abstinence over gradual reduction to reset her brain’s reward system.
4. Accountability: Enlisting the support of friends and family to stay committed.

Sophie’s story is a wake-up call about the hidden dangers of vaping. It’s often dressed up as a safer choice than smoking, but the truth hits hard. The NHS has made it clear—vaping can take a serious toll on your health. It damages your lungs, causes non-stop coughing, and adds to long-term problems thanks to nicotine’s addictive pull. And then there’s the impact on the planet. Those disposable vapes we don’t think twice about? They’re piling up as waste, harming the environment with every puff.

For Sophie, quitting wasn’t a walk in the park. She spent years glued to her vape, stuck in a never-ending cycle of cravings and feeling clouded by addiction. But she decided enough was enough. The road to freedom was tough—she pushed through exhaustion, irritability, and every excuse her mind threw at her to stay hooked. Now, more than a month vape-free, she feels like herself again. Her story is proof that you can break free with the right mindset, support, and the courage to face what addiction is really taking from you.

Source: Express.co.uk