Had to put on the brakes.

[Lurker]

Well, after not smoking real ciggs for over a month, I am back on them. When I started vaping I was using 18mg juice and was able to cut back from 30+ a day to just a few. I was quite thrilled with that. So I started using 24mg and 36mg juice to quit analogues completely. Unfortunately I could not control myself from vaping too much. I was increasing my nic intake a lot and it started taking it's toll on me. Not good. As of yesterday I am only smoking real ciggs again. I need to "normalize" my addiction for now. Once I know that I don't need twice as many ciggs as before, I will start vaping again. I am going to order new juices ranging from 0 to 18mg and use vaping to decrease the real ciggs again. I will NOT try to completely stop real ciggs this time. I have learned a lot about my addiction during this time and owe it all to this forum. We shall see how it goes. I would also urge anyone else that is increasing their nic intake to rethink what they are doing. You are probably just digging a deeper hole and you could really end up in a bad situation.

[bribri]

I agree with you to some extent Lurker. I bet others however would find your comment quite controversial.

[Kate]

I hope you get sorted out soon Lurker.

For what it's worth, I was reading some research recently that said increased tolerance does not necessarily mean increased dependence. Even if you have become used to higher nic levels, cutting down or quitting shouldn't be more difficult than before.

Why do you think you increased your nic intake? Was it to try to stop tobacco cravings?

[fiddler]

Addiction is a thing that no one seems to understand very well. One thing is surely true - it affects all of us differently and each of us has to deal with it as best we can. Backsliding is part of the process and I suspect that many of the members here have done some of that (I certainly have!). If you feel the need to smoke real cigs for a while then that's where you are in the process.

The time to try again will come and with good luck you will be better prepared to use vaping to better effect. If decreasing rather than trying to stop is what you feel you can do, then it is surely better than not decreasing. I would only suggest sticking to medium nic for a while rather than trying to go low.

At any rate, good luck.

[Lurker]

...

Why do you think you increased your nic intake? Was it to try to stop tobacco cravings?

I think it's complicated. Yes trying to stop cravings. Trying to get my fix. Trying to feel "normal". Trying to get that warm fuzzy feeling. Maybe other things as well like trying to get max vapor, getting real good at getting a nice big hit, having all these flavors to keep trying. Maybe my lungs started working better giving more nic per hit. I'm an excessive person. The nic just kinda snuck up on me a few times. It's easy to know once your over but making yourself stop is another story. What can I say? I'm an addict.

[Kate]

I think it's complicated. Yes trying to stop cravings. Trying to get my fix. Trying to feel "normal". Trying to get that warm fuzzy feeling. Maybe other things as well like trying to get max vapor, getting real good at getting a nice big hit, having all these flavors to keep trying. Maybe my lungs started working better giving more nic per hit. I'm an excessive person. The nic just kinda snuck up on me a few times. It's easy to know once your over but making yourself stop is another story. What can I say? I'm an addict.

Thanks for your reply, I think a lot of us are in the same boat. My downfall is all the available flavours, I've got quite a few with higher nic than I should be using.

You've given me an idea for another poll

[Prodigal1]

I would definately agree there kate... ahh the flavors... im so addicted. makes me wonder whos going to design the e-pacifier....

[bluewolf]

I would definately agree there kate... ahh the flavors... im so addicted. makes me wonder whos going to design the e-pacifier....

I thought it WAS a pacifier

[SANJP]

What exactly were your symtoms Lurker ?

[gep]

My experience:

I find myself very "attached" to my e-cig. If I'm not actively vaping, I either have it in my teeth like a pipe (not a very feminine habit but too bad ), puff on it like a pipe, in my hands or close by. I did not increase my nicotine level but used a lower nicotine level than when I was using analogs.

This way, if I want to vape my brains out, the likelyhood of getting an OD headache from the nicotine is diminished. (I'm hooked on Janty RY4 and Puresmoker's Riskee Juice. )

Mostly, my ecig has become my pacifier/crutch/nervous tic. Students of psychology can mull that over at their leisure.

All I know is that I don't smoke regular cigs anymore, I can breathe and a cold does not put me in bed for 10 days with a wracking cough and that makes me very very happy.

...back to regular programming.