Struggling to quit cold turkey due to intense brain fog

Hey everyone,

I’ve been trying to quit nicotine for a while now, but I keep hitting the same wall, and it’s not cravings. I’ve tried going cold turkey multiple times, and I’ve even read Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking. The thing is, I don’t actually experience strong cravings to vape when I quit. What’s stopping me from quitting is the fact that I literally cannot think properly without nicotine, and this is becoming a huge problem as I’m studying engineering.

Yesterday, I tried to study without any nicotine, and I just couldn’t do it. I kept zoning out, feeling like I was in a dream state, and I barely made any progress. After a couple of hours, I had some nicotine, and suddenly, I was able to get done in half an hour what I couldn’t even manage in two hours without it.

What makes it even harder is that I went cold turkey for 70 days before, but during that time, I still felt like I couldn’t function properly. Even though I didn’t have cravings, it felt like my brain just wasn’t working. So, I know this isn't just a mental thing.

I’m starting to wonder if going cold turkey just isn’t the right approach for me. Maybe I need to use nicotine lozenges or gum and reduce the amount over time. Has anyone else been in this situation where it’s not about the cravings but about being able to function normally without nicotine? Would a more gradual approach with lozenges or gum be better for someone like me?

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!