Hi Māmā Ruru, I’m addicted to vaping and I am having a really hard time quitting, can you help me please?

Hey, thank you so much for being open and sharing where you're at that takes courage.

Something that might really help is talking to someone you trust such as maybe a close friend, whānau, a teacher, or a counsellor. Having someone in your corner can make such a difference, especially when it comes to staying accountable and feeling supported.

Take a moment to reflect on why you started vaping, what was going on for you at that time? Understanding that reason can help you work through it with more kindness toward yourself, and might make your journey to stopping feel a bit more manageable.

It can also really help to pick up new hobbies or find little distractions that keep your mind and hands busy. And if you can, try to avoid situations or people where vaping is happening or even let those people know about your goal so they can support you too.

Most importantly, try to focus on the positives. Don’t stress too much about how many days you’ve gone without vaping as sometimes counting can add pressure and make it feel harder. Instead, celebrate how far you've come and all the little wins.

And please be gentle with yourself. One slip up doesn’t erase your progress. This stuff is hard, and healing isn’t always a straight line. You're doing the mahi, and that’s something to be really proud of.

Arohanui, Māmā Ruru