BACK STORY: I started smoking when I was 18. I had a few cigarettes before that (was probably 13 or 14 when I had my first one, stolen from my sister), but not enough to consider myself a smoker. For the most part, I was a 1/2 a pack to a pack a day smoker, and at my worse, I was at 1 1/2 packs a day! With a ton of begging from my parents, I "quit" when I was 19. I tried both the gum and the patch, but neither of them really worked for me. I still smoked the whole time I was using the gum, and the patch stopped working almost as soon as I stopped wearing it. Plus, it was really itchy where I had applied it!!!!! I smoked off and on (without my parent's knowledge) from that time until I was 24 (October, 2011 to be exact). my parents found out I was smoking again, and basically told me to quit or move out. My mom suggested I try e-cigs, and ween myself off of nicotine that way. I was kind of intrigued by the concept of e-cigs, so I decided to buy my first starter kit (Blu, for anyone that's curious). It worked better than the patch or gum, but still not enough to get me off smoking. A couple months later, I switched to a gas station e-cig (Mistic), and used those for about a year. I'd still have a cigarette now and again (like maybe every couple months or so) just to see what I'm missing, but as soon as I light up, I find it gross, and am like "why am I doing this?" Then, about a month and a half ago, I switched to Ego's, and I haven't looked back since.
I think a lot of the reason why vaping works when things like the patch, gum, etc don't, is because it gives you that act of smoking. You're still inhaling and exhaling "smoke" (or in this case, water vapor), and your hands are still busy. You still get the social aspect as well. You can go outside and vape with your friends who are smokers or vapers, and chat.