Anger Management Tips?

[Maggiemw]

Hi, I've been using an e-cig for about 4 days now, and am trying to cut down on a 45-year, 1.5 PAD smoking habit, Pall Mall blues. I have 16 mg e-liquid, and am letting myself vape whenever I want and/or can.

I'm down to 2 or 3 analogues a day, which is absolutely great because I've never been able to stop smoking before this, but am having some difficult symptoms, including anger, close to rage, just hovering on the surface of my mind, ready to explode at the least provocation. Today it did explode.

This is really frightening to me, and has left me pretty shaken up, because I'm a teacher and work with exam-stressed older teenagers, who are seriously annoying right now.

Has anyone had this experience and if so, how did you handle it? Thank you!

 

[middleborn]

You may need to up the mg.
16 could be too low!
You might want to try 24...!
Good luck.
I'm sure others will chime in with more tips.

 

[the_vape_nerd]

Hi, I've been using an e-cig for about 4 days now, and am trying to cut down on a 45-year, 1.5 PAD smoking habit, Pall Mall blues. I have 16 mg e-liquid, and am letting myself vape whenever I want and/or can.

I'm down to 2 or 3 analogues a day, which is absolutely great because I've never been able to stop smoking before this, but am having some difficult symptoms, including anger, close to rage, just hovering on the surface of my mind, ready to explode at the least provocation. Today it did explode.

This is really frightening to me, and has left me pretty shaken up, because I'm a teacher and work with exam-stressed older teenagers, who are seriously annoying right now.

Has anyone had this experience and if so, how did you handle it? Thank you!

These types of symptoms are pretty run of the mill for quitting smoking. Maybe use some Camel Snus to get you through until school lets out? I couldn't work with kids and certainly not teenagers. Good luck.

 

[Hoosier]

I think I've been close to your situation. I'm not a teacher though and cannot imagine the self control such an occupation demands though.

I smoked American Spirit Non-filters which are a bit fuller flavored than yours and I would get agitated when I was vaping when I could and smoking when I had to. First I had to find a nicotine level that helped. I ended up at 48mg/ml after starting out at 12mg/ml before I found it. This wasn't the complete answer though. It was when I found a flavor that just made me feel satisfied, like a cigarette did, that my agitation and the need for a smoke just disappeared. Woke up one day and discovered I had forgotten to smoke the day before and haven't felt like that since, nor have I had a craving for burning tobacco.

It may take some experimentation to find what works for you. It wasn't until I started trying the "weird" flavored juices that I found what worked for me.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

 

[Mike36609]

Agreed, this can be typical of quitting smoking, and higher nic content would likely help with this symptom.

I would also recommend that you research relaxation techniques. I have long used a method of controlled breathing - long, deep, slow breaths, then slow, slow exhale - exhale should be three times longer than inhale time - to help me relax. There are many other simple techniques that work as well. You might have to experiment to find what works best for you.

Good luck!

 

[DavidOck]

I agree with the comments about a higher nic level. My first week was at 18, and I had many of the "usual" experiences of quitting smoking. I upped it to 24, same flavor, and my body was happy again. Or happier, as I didn't have all the other crud, just the right amount of nic.

You can lower the nic later, in steps, if you also want to get off nicotine.

The big thing is finding what satisfies your cravings for the stuff. Like you, I was around a pack and a half daily - or hand rolled full flavor pipe tobacco. You're headed the right direction!

 

[Maggiemw]

Here in Israel, it is nearly impossible to get e-liquid with nicotine. The only strength I've been able to find is 16 mg, so I think I'll have to make do with that, at least for the time being. At one point this week I was afraid I might even be in nicotine overdose, not underdose. The rage and the muscle pains I've been having would seem to be due to withdrawal and under-dosing...

I really, really want to use vaping either as a source of nicotine in itself or, hopefully, as a way to get free. No one I know vapes, so this forum is pretty much my only source of support and information. You're great!

 

[Susan W.]

Definitely up your nicotine level. Then when things stabilize you can start slowly dropping it. You will still have some withdrawals symptoms as your body is trying to get rid of the toxins in cigarettes but they will be less prominent. Good luck!!

 

[Faylool]

Breath when it just starts. Easy one. People wont really notice. Quietly exhale most air and intake thru nose and hold for 8 secs or 10 then exhale slowish thru mouth and repat 10 times. Do not be driving. If you dont try this youll never know the easiest most w
Effective instant calmer out there. Calmer i say, not a whole hit of valium type thing. Calm enough to be normal again. If this doesnt work for you repeat and if that doesnt work for you I dont know! Drink more water!

 

[TyPie]

Have you tried THIS:

Get it out of your system - YouTube


JUST KIDDING!!!!! (I don't want to get you any more upset.........)

On a serious note, I would increase the nicotine, or, as someone suggested, use smokeless tobacco to supplement your vaping until you can get hold of a supply of high nicotine juice. (You need to calm that gorilla on your back......)

 

[Spazmelda]

I hate to say this, but since you can't seem to find higher nicotine, maybe you could cut back cigarettes more gradually. Is snus available there? I'm guessing probsbly not, but thought I'd ask.

Maybe try the relaxation tips and perhaps smoke a few more per day until your situation calms down, then start to cut back again? That stinks that you can't get higher nic.

 

[Maggiemw]

Thank you all so much! I'm going to try the breathing exercises and some EFT tapping, too. I'll also see if snus is available here - I've never looked, actually! I just cannot let the rage take over as it did today. Too scary.

Sunday is my 60th birthday, and getting rid of burning tobacco is a major gift I want to give to myself, so whatever will work is welcome.

 

[cags]

I hate to say this, but since you can't seem to find higher nicotine, maybe you could cut back cigarettes more gradually. Is snus available there? I'm guessing probsbly not, but thought I'd ask.

Maybe try the relaxation tips and perhaps smoke a few more per day until your situation calms down, then start to cut back again? That stinks that you can't get higher nic.

I agree with cutting back on cigs more slowly. I think that while you try relaxation and the other tips here until you find what helps, you might have a couple of hits off a cig when the rage is rising.

 

[angeldreams]

I started with 18mg and was having issues so I bought a 5ml bottle of 24mg it helped at times an others I just got a raging headache and very very ummm we'll say snappy instead of what I'd normally say.

Right now my first option is to try a few deep breaths, if that doesn't seem to help I reach for my trusty bottle of Lavender Essential Oil (I actually keep a bottle of it with me at all times as it has multiple uses and is safe) and just open the bottle and take a few breaths with it. I know I can always rub a few drops on the back of my neck an on my temples as well to help calm and relax me. If all else fails as it did earlier today, I'll take just one or two drags from a cig put it out and safe the rest...by doing this that 1 cig lasted me almost 2 days!!

 

[MsComptrtchr]

Yay - another vaping teacher!! Today was the last day of school. I couldn't PUSH them out fast enough, lol. I'll be vaping all summer - woo hoo! I know what you mean about rage, except, mine manifests itself in panic attacks. I actually lowered my nic, but I don't know if that would work for you.

 

[Strangebrew]

These types of symptoms are pretty run of the mill for quitting smoking. Maybe use some Camel Snus to get you through until school lets out? I couldn't work with kids and certainly not teenagers. Good luck.

Please not Camel Snus! RJ Reynduffus' stuff.

 

[BostLabs]

Here in Israel, it is nearly impossible to get e-liquid with nicotine. The only strength I've been able to find is 16 mg, so I think I'll have to make do with that, at least for the time being. At one point this week I was afraid I might even be in nicotine overdose, not underdose. The rage and the muscle pains I've been having would seem to be due to withdrawal and under-dosing...

I really, really want to use vaping either as a source of nicotine in itself or, hopefully, as a way to get free. No one I know vapes, so this forum is pretty much my only source of support and information. You're great!

I smoked cigars. Swisher Sweets Cigarillos to be exact. I was about to type that the nicotine was higher than what I'm vaping now. But I decided to take a peek.

They generally have higher levels (100-200 mg nicotine) than cigarettes (8.5 mg)

Wooo! No wonder I'm vaping 18 mg like it is going out of style. I inhaled those bad boys so I was getting it all. Probably the only saving grace on them is how long it took to smoke them.

so, if at all possible, vape often and bump up the nic if you can. Every time I would try to quit cold turkey I would have exactly the anger issues you talk about. Always just underneath everything ready to snap at anything. I'm lucky that I can vape at work as much as I want. It keeps the demon at bay.

 

[SASmith]

Hi, probably is not enough nicotine, I was a two pad a day smoker and needed 24mg, to get off the stinkies, probably a good idea to wean yourself off the stinkies more slowly. Remember to drink lots of water, our schools take two months off in the summer, do you have something similar, if you do that would be a good time to go completely stinky free. Hang in there, please don't get discouraged.

 

[Ryedan]

Maggiemw, just a thought on another option for getting more nicotine is to vape your juice faster. All juice delivery systems are not created equal in this regard. In my experience the clearomizers are bottom of the pack, followed by cartos (in tanks if desired) and then a big jump up to properly setup RBA's. I've read of people having to drop nic levels with RBAs to avoid nicotine overdosing.

 

[bnrkwest]

Hang in there and get lots of exercise as well, it releases good endorphins which may help. Can you also get nicotine gum or a patch there? Maybe have it on hand for those class room times so don't get a lull. I went thru about a week when I was really edgy/snappy and I normally am pretty easy going, so it effects us when quitting for sure. bnrk