Cigarette to vaping... Depression?

[Tornadotwist]

I didn't read all the replies here, but I can say from experience, the sooner you ditch the stinkies altogether the better it will get. Going through withdraw is different for everyone, and everyone has different symptoms of withdraw. I for one go through phases, I have tried to quit so many times my husband and I have named my phases and always know how to prepare and deal with them. Phase 1 for me is the anger, I go through massive mood swings for about 2 days, then Phase 2 is MASSIVE anxiety, to the point where I have passed out in a bath towel in my front yard. Phase 3 is depression....I don't think I need to elaborate on this one, and it seems to be the one that doesn't last as long as the others. I also have physical symptoms of withdraw, sickness, dizziness, tiredness, insomnia etc...I get these symptoms every time I quit smoking, and with vaping it is no different, my symptoms were milder this time, but I still went through withdraw, and you will too, which is why the quicker you stop the stinkies altogether the better, going 2-3 days with none, and then smoking 5 and going 3-5 days with none is torture for your body, and can cause a whirlwind of withdraw symptoms that will linger on as long as your smoking analog's. I know quitting cold turkey isn't for everyone, which is perfectly fine because everyone has their own way that is best for them, and no one way will work for everyone, but this is what worked for me personally. I quit analog's 2 days before I got my PV in the mail and used disposables at the advice of ECF and the more than willing husband lol.

I really don't think vaping causes depression, though as I said above everyone is different. I have had no changes from taste, smell, breathing etc....that everyone else has had after switching, the only thing I have that is different is stronger withdraw's when I need to vape, though it could be because of how I vape, and the fact that I am likely getting more nicotine than what I did in an analog. I guess we will find out when the new 12mg juice comes in since I am working up to a 0mg nic level. Anyways, give yourself and your body time to adjust. If you don't mind I would like to say a prayer for you and your family, I hope that your situation get's better and you can recover financially from Hurricane Sandy, and hopefully you will get some much needed relief emotionally as well. If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me, though I am still new too, we can learn how to do this together! Nothing wrong with having a vaping buddy!

 

[GiddyLydia]

I'd be more concerned if you Weren't depressed from time to time. Poor you! Hang in there. About your boyfriend and his friends smoking, if it feels like a temptation at first, don't sweat it too much. My sister and niece still smoke, and instead of tempting me, the smell drives me into the next room! Eventually you will come to know you will never want to smoke another cigarette in your life. And that is a real joy and freedom!

 

[Paranorm]

I agree with upping the nic level if that works for you. Great if it does, if not, do whatever helps you feel better and more comfortable. I was living in New Orleans during and after hurricane Katrina, so I understand what you're going through. I smoked like a chimney in those days during the aftermath when nobody knew what was going on. If analogs help you feel better, use them. You're already going through catastrophic changes in your life and environment, drastic changes in your habits and behavior can be put on the back burner if you need them to be.

Just remember, you're still alive, you have someone to go through this with (even if there's job issues), and nothing about you can be changed by a hurricane.

It will definitely subside after a while, getting a daily/weekly routine will help a lot if you can manage it. Pick something productive, like a chore, and own it. Don't let anyone else do it for you, and do it every day. That's something that worked for me when I was feeling gross and worthless after Katrina. Don't be afraid to remember the horror of the experience. I don't know if you were there for the event itself, but watching it unfold on the news is every bit as traumatic. Reliving it may be painful, but it helps keep it from resurfacing later.

I hope this helps, good luck to you.

 

[Racehorse]

I've been overall happy recently. Despite the fact I'm still "homeless" from Hurricane Sandy and my boyfriend is unemployed, I've been good. Been using ecig for about two weeks, and notice suddenly the loss of my house is on my mind constantly, I've been on my boyfriend about the job thing hard, I randomly burst into tears and go on about being fat/ugly/worthless, and torture myself about why exes left me.

I try to stay away from the "analogs" and some days I have none, some days as many as five, usually one or two a day. I find that if I put down the ecig and have a couple cigarettes, I'm "better" for a while.

Normal? Will this subside eventually? I know there's more than just nicotine that we become addicted to, if I suck it up and keep vaping, can I ride this out? Anyone else go through this?

Thanks
Kitty

Given your situation it would not be unusual to feel anxious and/or depressed.
It would be hard to separate out exactly what the etiology of your depression is given that you have had a lot of loss and changes going on.

I know that this is a good place to hang if you're quitting smoking, lots of encouragement and good advice.

 

[mkbilbo]

mkbilbo: it's definitely a shock to the system. We keep saying we're lucky to have places to go, I've been at my boyfriend's and my mom has been at my aunt's. We keep thinking, we'll have a new house to go back to. The hardest part is that my dog had to go with my mom and although I see her once or twice a week it's tough. But, there are people who are truly homeless or stuck in hotels or shelters.

This was the northern Katrina, and my block was hit the hardest in the area. The road was filled with reporters and apart the entire neighborhood less a few houses that were up high enough were empty for months. My uncle immediately came out from Missouri to help and he had no idea what he was coming out to. Many have made it back in now but about half of the houses ony block are still vacant.

I'll go back home, eventually. It'll be a new house and I'll have my little dog and my new car and fresh paint and nice furniture and be healthier without my cigarettes

It's weird that the "aftermath" is so... strange? My little suburb was one of the last reasonably intact areas before you hit the really bad stuff so they staged the relief there. It was bizarre. Military convoys, non-stop helicopter traffic, guys with assault rifles at doors of shops, and lines... oh man the lines... everywhere.

(We had the only intact grocery store for miles. For a while, the line to get in was two to three hours. I ate hurricane supplies a while. Did not wanna deal with it.)

<brrr>

But cut yourself some slack. It was a seriously huge event. I've read the thing had four times the power of Katrina. Um... urk? It wasn't, you know, just a rain storm. It was a big, historic natural disaster. You kinda have the right to be "out of sorts" a while.

So you "slip" now and then. Don't beat yourself up. Just keep going. I took six weeks to stop smoking entirely. Kept slowing down and slowing down until one day the last pack was empty and I didn't care. It was weird. A good weird though.

 

[vwkitty]

This is a photo the police posted on Facebook after the storm, my house on the left and my car under water this was after it had gone down about two feet.

So yes. Very odd indeed to see this. This is Connecticut, not Venice!

Well over 48 hours now! The weekends were my slip times the past few weeks so this is very good. Work days should be easier because of the routine, but we shall see.

 

[Leoleoleo]

Good job Kitty, and good luck for the rest of the week.

 

[vwkitty]

Four days! Almost gave in last night, our friend came over and my boyfriend asked if I wanted to come outside for a REAL cigarette. I thought for a half a second and grabbed my VP.

He's still giving me a hard time about it. His friends all laughed at me, until they tried it. Now they constantly ask me for puffs of blueberry lol. Maybe I'll convert a few, I doubt they'll be full converts but they may join me and at least cut back some. One was commenting that he needs the real "cigarette feel" and not feel like he's playing a recorder though. Maybe I can get him to try an eroll. He also asked if there was bacon flavored juice, so I found it! They were amazed lol.

Plus some house progress is being made, cut down some hedges to prep for the lifting, roofers are on their way to give an estimate. One day I'll go home.

 

[shannannagans]

Four days! Almost gave in last night, our friend came over and my boyfriend asked if I wanted to come outside for a REAL cigarette. I thought for a half a second and grabbed my VP.

He's still giving me a hard time about it. His friends all laughed at me, until they tried it. Now they constantly ask me for puffs of blueberry lol. Maybe I'll convert a few, I doubt they'll be full converts but they may join me and at least cut back some. One was commenting that he needs the real "cigarette feel" and not feel like he's playing a recorder though. Maybe I can get him to try an eroll. He also asked if there was bacon flavored juice, so I found it! They were amazed lol.

Plus some house progress is being made, cut down some hedges to prep for the lifting, roofers are on their way to give an estimate. One day I'll go home.

My friends all made fun of me at first today, and slowly, more of them started trying it. Now, they all have one!

And yay for house progress!

 

[HauntedMyst]

I didn't go through depression. If anything, mine has gotten better since quitting smoking. Circumstantially, you are in a very difficult place so I wouldn't attribute it to depression but rather on the fact that life kicked you hard in the kidneys and it would depress anyone. This too shall pass just as all things do.

 

[vwkitty]

A lot of people at work have asked me about this odd device I'm "smoking." Of course I gladly explained as much as I could. One guy caught me today and told me he ordered one last night! I'm excited he was interested enough to give it a try, I gave him a few tips that helped me and he said he'll let me know on Monday how the weekend went.

 

[spegtoast]

So how is your recovery?