Cigarette to vaping... Depression?

[vwkitty]

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

 

[Lucky1127]

Under those circumstances anyone would be stressed keep your head up sorry for your situation

 

[jefsview]

I'm a depressive by nature. I started on the cigalikes, and a week into my first ego/tank set up I was terminated from my job. But I didn't start smoking again.

You absorb less nicotine with ecigs than cigarettes, and if you're using a cig-alike, it's likely not enough for you. I might have gone back to smoking if I didn't have my Triton Ego set-up.

I still get depressed, but not enough to start smoking. I can't afford to smoke anyway, especially now with no income. If I was still smoking, I would have lost my apartment by now.

Anyway, I wish you luck.

 

[BigSpoon]

in my humble opinion, which is just that I'm far from an expert or psychologist, but it seems to me, even though you made the right choice to convert to vaping, you did so at a very stressful time in your life. I'd wager just as an example, if you had been vaping until weeks ago then tried to convert to analogs you would feel "better" when you vaped. I certainly dont think the problem is you or that vaping wont work for you, I think its just a lot of extraordinary circumstances that aren't fair. I commend you for your honesty and just the act of coming here for support leads me to believe that with enough effort and time you'll be laughing about the days when vaping depressed you.

vape on kitty! this wonderful community is here at your disposal

 

[spegtoast]

Some say it takes ahwile to get off the analogs. Some say they get off them quickly. Don't beat yourself up over it. when your ready you will drop them.

When I am depressed I hate the talk of gratitude, but it works. I give thanks for finding a smoking alternative, and simple things like having a meal, etc.

I would consider your mindset when choosing to smoke an analog. It may stem from your depression. Often we choose be unhealthy when depressed. Overeating, drinking, drugs... I like to think I have a choice to be happy. Today I choose to be happy. I find that when I take possitive action I often get a possitive reaction.

Get off your boyfriend, and Mother Nature for your problems, and start working on yourself. This attude of fat/ugly/worthless, and your past is heavy a heavy burden for you, and those around you.
Will it subside? Only if you choose to leave it behind.

Vape On! and Best of luck

 

[SASmith]

Hi Kitty
Sounds like you've been having a pretty hard time even without quitting smoking, perhaps you are using too low a nic juice? You are under a considerable amount of stress, if you break down and have the odd cigarette don't beat yourself up. Some people need to wean themselves off of cigarettes, I smoked and vaped for the first little while and now have been smoke free for two months, I certainly had a few bad days. Please remember to drink plenty of water as vaping is dehydrating and if your not vaping too high of a nic juice, think about perhaps upping the nic level. Hang in there!

 

[shannannagans]

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

Hey, first off, way to be strong! That sounds like so much and like a really difficult time. It's okay to get upset sometimes, and with all you're going through, completely fine. To me, and I am no doctor, it seems like you're going through a lot of difficult changes and that cigarettes make you feel better because you're used to them. Ecigs are a change, and with all the changes, cigarettes are probably comfortable to you.

It sounds like you're a strong person that's trying really hard right now, so I think you can ride this out. But if it's really overwhelming you, maybe talk to a doctor if you can. See what they suggest.

Again, you're being so strong right now, and that's great! And you're making better decisions about your health right now, so that's another positive. Just hold your head up and know that you have people here supporting you!

 

[Bookworm]

Depression is a common side effect of quitting smoking, even without having to deal with everything you are dealing with in the moment. There are a lot of chemicals in cigarettes, and some act as MAOIs. It definitely gets better with time. In the meantime, don't beat yourself up if it takes a couple cigs a day to deal while you're going through these issues. Vape when you can, and think of all the cigarettes you aren't smoking. As it adds up, that will help you feel better as well. Good luck!

 

[VaporGrande]

What nic.level are you using? If you are at to low a level you may not be getting enough.A friend at our vape meet dropped to 12 mg and had all kinds or effects.He went back up to 18mg and feels fine.I hope this helps.

 

[evilfrog]

I agree with those saying to up the nic level. If that doesn't work, you could consider supplementing with snus or a WTA liquid to get the alkaloids you may be missing.

I rode out what problems I had lowering nic, but my overall situation was much more untroubled then what you are dealing with. For me, these issues were short-lived.

 

[zapped]

Post Traumatic Stress isnt uncommon even years after a natural disaster and major upheaval like you've experienced. I would recommend seeing a professional as soon as you can instead of blaming it on vaping. There could be any number of serious underlying issues including the one I mentioned above causing this.

Many people are reluctant to go see a Dr, especially when it could be a mental health issue.Better safe than sorry when it comes to your health and well being.You may genuinely feel a lot better just getting things off your chest.

Good luck with everything.Keep us all posted and let us know how it works out.

 

[StormFinch]

Depression is a common side effect of quitting smoking, even without having to deal with everything you are dealing with in the moment. There are a lot of chemicals in cigarettes, and some act as MAOIs.

Bingo. There are alkaloids in tobacco which indeed do act as MAOIs. Those alkaloids have been removed from the nicotine used in e-juice, so your subconscious has you turning to cigarettes to recoup those "feel good" chemicals. There are several ways you can handle the situation. You can, as others have said, not sweat the cigarettes you do smoke until your situation is under your control again, you could try some of the WTA (Whole Tobacco Alkaloid) e-juices on the market and see if they supply what you need, or if you aren't adverse to it you could try supplementing a few swedish snus to your vaping. Here's the skinny on the WTA subject: WTA eliquid - ECF InfoZone

 

[Marius_Kingsley]

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

My mother and I both switched to vaping on the same day. I adjusted immediately. At the end of the first day, I had a cigarette just to see if I still wanted it, and it actually made me a little sick. My mother on the other hand is still smoking as much as vaping if not more. Based on the responses I've read already, the switch will effect different people in a variety of different and unpredictable ways. Since reading this thread, I've come to think that my switch to vaping may be the reason I've only been able to sleep for a few hours a night at best since the switch. But as I keep away from the smokes, I'm sleeping a little more each night.

I'm not sure what nicotine content you're using. When I started vaping, I told the guy that I smoke a pack/day and he recommended 18mg/ml, so that's what I'm vaping now and it's working very well for me.

How are you using your PV? Are you treating it like a cigarette? I.E. Taking a few puffs from your PV as often as you smoked? Or are you vaping more steadily?

 

[vwkitty]

Thank you everyone for input and kind words.

I've been using a blu 24mg, coming from smoking about 3/4 of a pack a day on average. However this ranged from 3 a day to a pack a day. I'm more of a habit smoker than a craving smoker I guess. Drive to work? Cigarette. Break time? Cigarette. So on days the routine changes, so does my smoking. I spent a month on the sofa with a broken foot in 2010 and had about five cigarettes the entire month.

There were two main things that lead me to vaping: getting a brand new car I didn't want to smoke in, and cost.

My father passed away at 61 in 2011, cancer of everything from esophagus to bowels. From smoking for 45 years. This is another major factor in needing to change.

 

[shannannagans]

Thank you everyone for input and kind words.

I've been using a blu 24mg, coming from smoking about 3/4 of a pack a day on average. However this ranged from 3 a day to a pack a day. I'm more of a habit smoker than a craving smoker I guess. Drive to work? Cigarette. Break time? Cigarette. So on days the routine changes, so does my smoking. I spent a month on the sofa with a broken foot in 2010 and had about five cigarettes the entire month.

There were two main things that lead me to vaping: getting a brand new car I didn't want to smoke in, and cost.

My father passed away at 61 in 2011, cancer of everything from esophagus to bowels. From smoking for 45 years. This is another major factor in needing to change.

You can do it!

 

[bwood12043]

As others have stated, please don't beat yourself up over having a few analogs from time to time. Each of us gets down this adventure road in different ways.

I started vaping 5 years ago next month. At that time, devices were so primitive compared to now, and I did the best I could and did well, even with the short-lived units we used at the time.

Then in January of 2009, our family was hit by a horrible tragedy. The first baby born on my side of the family in 30 years, a great nephew, passed away suddenly due to SIDS. I suddenly found myself only being able to do my best to literally keep my family up off the ground. My niece, sister and BIL, and Mother needed someone to hold them up when I could barely stay on my feet myself. Not to mention the culture/climate shock of going from Texas to Louisville KY in January to the ice and snow for a week.

Needless to say, I was totally unable to deal with battery charging, filling carts, etc, and so smoked like a freight train.

After a couple of months, and the advent of the first 510 units, I was able to drop the cigs again in April '09, and have not had even one since. Those units were still very primative compared to what the market offers now, but still so very much better than the little cig looking things we were using up to that point.

Vaping is an adventure, and today's vaping is SO much better and continuing to evolve at a rapid rate, giving more satisfaction than ever. There was a time when just the mechanics of the process was stressful in itself.

Keep your chin up, don't give up, and in your most unfortunate situation, DO NOT beat yourself up or doubt yourself !

This forum is one of the best support groups you could ever find, and we are here for you. The support and help you find here is most effective.

Good luck in your life situation and we all hope your issues are resolved or improved very soon. In the meantime, vape on and don't give up.

 

[Leoleoleo]

All the good advice has already been given. I just wanted to say welcome to the forum, congratulations on making your decision to switch, you're doing awesome under the circumstances and I hope things start to get easier for you.

 

[sfeltch]

Hang in there.

 

[helxi]

I stopped smoking a month ago and have also been feeling more anxiety/depressed. I am vaping at 1.2 nic and I do not think it's because I'm not getting enough nicotine because I over vape and get a tingling feeling in my fingers frequently. I am thinking of dropping down to 6mg because I don't want to OD on nicotine.

I am questioning the other chemicals in the cigarettes as others have mentioned. It's shocking to learn about all the chemicals because I had no idea until I started reading the vaping forums.

Hang on there...time helps with all things. That is what I keep telling myself.

 

[BurnedPile]

I quit drinking 3 years ago, depression is normal regardless of what you are quitting.
Not to mention, your life sucks right now. I don't mean that in a bad way, but you have a lot of stuff going on that isn't good.
If you weren't depressed, you would probably be mentally ill.

This too shall pass, things will never stay the same, and that's OK.