Dang, I caved....

[Circa Survivor]

I've been vaping for 7 months, and the whole time only having 1 cig in the middle, I caved on Saturday and bought a pack of cigs just so I could have one. The reason being is that I have REALLY bad anxiety problems and panic attacks. I went bowling with my brothers to a place 30 minutes out from where I live. I told them to just pick me up on the way, which was a huge mistake. I can not ride in someone else's car without getting anxious and sick, especially when driving a long distance away from home. It's not motion sickness, because I have no problem driving myself or with my girlfriend. Unfortunately I didn't bring any vape gear (dumb on my part) and the whole ride there and back I was thinking "I have to have him pull over" or "I'm not gonna make it home, just let me out right now!" I told him to drop me off at a gas station near my house, and I bought a water and a pack of cigs. I had one, and it helped to calm me down, but I felt bad at first. Then I think about all the times I didn't have a cigarette, and the guilt went away. I'm sure others can relate to things like this or the problems I have. It's really good to have a place where people understand what we go through as vapers and where we have come from.

 

[GinnyTx]

don't beat yourself up and vape NOW

My daughter did that..she had a bad day at work and planned and executed a smoking a pack (sounds like you did too)
.smoked the pack and went back to vaping the next morning thinking how nasty the cigs were, no guilt though we killed off Jewish/Catholic guilt with my generation, *lol* about a month or so ago.

it happens...carry on.

 

[TraceyS]

I have those problems too. I broke down this past June on a trip to visit inlaws. It wasn't going well and I broke my tank. I bought smokes and smoked three that night and one the next morning then drove to local shop and bought a new tank. I continued vaping and the 16 cigs in that pack were just thrown out when we moved in August...so I never wanted them again just had to have something right then when the tank broke. The anxiety don't help. Just keep on vaping

Tracey

 

[TXBiker]

Don't beat yourself up over it. My wife wanted one a few weeks back so I got a pack. She had her one and is back to vaping. I have the pack in my bike and hand them out to people that ask for a smoke. I've had one a week back too. No big deal. Makes me glad I went to the B&M last June for a starter kit.

 

[The Cloud Minder]

Sheesh, I can't even look at you ...
















... but that's just because this is a message board and not skype.

No big Deal, don't sweat the little chit, and it's all little chit.

 

[four2109]

You should be able to buy them in a pack of 2!

 

[Razorback]

Chalk it up, and move forward sir! No biggie... You're still cool with me!

 

[daleron]

It's not the ones you smoke, it's the ones you don't that count

 

[Circa Survivor]

It's not the ones you smoke, it's the ones you don't that count

Very true. In my mind, if my rdas are giving me grief and I'm failing at building something right and I get super frustrated and have 1 cig within the span of a month, then that's perfectly acceptable.

 

[JerryRM]

It's no big deal, lots of vapers have done that. Keep on vaping and if you have a cigarette every now and then, don't beat yourself up over it.

 

[ReigntheGamer]

You should be able to buy them in a pack of 2!

There are a few stores in my area near the "rougher" side of town that actually have packs open where you can buy singles. It's a good idea for people who need a smoke and don't have the means or need to buy a whole pack.

To the OP don't beat yourself up just like the others have said imagine how many you would have smoked by now had you not been vaping. And carry that vape gear everywhere.

 

[wshanncap]

I can relate. I take meds for my "issues". But I still need that nicotine to help when I am stressed. I'm thankful that I have been able to go so long without a cig. Part of it is that I respect (fear) my wife. She would flip if I had another cig. And she has been so wonderfully supportive of my vape hobby. She was the one who suggested I try e-cigs in the first place. I have been able to wean myself down to 3mg and I stay there because like I said, I need that bit of nic. But at times I can step it up to 6mg or 9mg and get thru my problem. But I know if I were to get too far from home without a vape I would bum or buy a smoke. So I guess I have to count myself lucky so far.

 

[DaveP]

I was a 2PAD smoker. When I started vaping by the end of the first week I suddenly realized that I was smoking only about 6 a day instead of 40+. I did that for a long time, allowing myself a couple with coffee and one after each meal. That went on for an extended period and one day I realized it was pointless to smoke any at all since I could get my nic from vaping. I finished that pack and never bought another.

I tell that story just to make the point that tapering off and balancing out the addiction before quitting helps when you decide to go cold turkey. Cut down, taper off, and then quit.

 

[four2109]

There are a few stores in my area near the "rougher" side of town that actually have packs open where you can buy singles. It's a good idea for people who need a smoke and don't have the means or need to buy a whole pack.

There are a few stores in my area near the "rougher" side of town that actually have packs open where you can buy singles. It's a good idea for people who need a smoke and don't have the means or need to buy a whole pack.

I lived in WA for awhile and there was a little store that did that. The health department made them stop. BT knows that if you buy a pack you will smoke it, and probably forget that you were trying to quit. That may change now that sales are dropping and they are accepting the effect of ecigs on their bottom line. Sample size packs might be a good market for them.

I'm usually pretty frugal, but this is where I would rather be able to buy 3 for $2 than 20 for $5.

 

[Circa Survivor]

I can relate. I take meds for my "issues". But I still need that nicotine to help when I am stressed. I'm thankful that I have been able to go so long without a cig. Part of it is that I respect (fear) my wife. She would flip if I had another cig. And she has been so wonderfully supportive of my vape hobby. She was the one who suggested I try e-cigs in the first place. I have been able to wean myself down to 3mg and I stay there because like I said, I need that bit of nic. But at times I can step it up to 6mg or 9mg and get thru my problem. But I know if I were to get too far from home without a vape I would bum or buy a smoke. So I guess I have to count myself lucky so far.

Ya I had been on a medication for a few years and the problem pretty much went away after that, but 2 years later it's worse than it was O_O I've been thinking about going back.... which I probably should. That's good that your wife is supportive. My girlfriend of 4 years gets irritated when I get new vape gear in the mail. She was never really "All right! You quit!" or anything like that. Neither was my family, they were just like "well you're still smoking something." Don't really have anyone that supports my vaping so it sometimes makes me think "why did I quit in the first place? I liked it." It's hard to get anyone close to me to acknowledge or support my quitting smoking by means of vaping.

 

[HauntedMyst]

Very true. In my mind, if my rdas are giving me grief and I'm failing at building something right and I get super frustrated and have 1 cig within the span of a month, then that's perfectly acceptable.

Indeed! 1 cig in a month isn't failure, it's success!

 

[HauntedMyst]

Double post! But while I have your attention, have I told you about all the wonderful benefits of Amway products? Sit down, it's just an hour and a half presentation...

 

[Snugglepooter]

Circa Survivor - don't beat yourself up. I bought a pack last week too - and smoked almost every one.

My ex decided to have a good ol' fashioned "dump on dad" Thanksgiving, probably destroying the last shred of relationship I had with my grown sons.

It's ok to have a smoke when life s**ts down your neck...

 

[Circa Survivor]

Circa Survivor - don't beat yourself up. I bought a pack last week too - and smoked almost every one.

My ex decided to have a good ol' fashioned "dump on dad" Thanksgiving, probably destroying the last shred of relationship I had with my grown sons.

It's ok to have a smoke when life s**ts down your neck...

Thanks for the support! Your situation sounds rough I had always been the outcast of the family of 4 brothers, especially being the youngest. It seems like when I was comfortable with vaping after a while I was always "afraid" to have a cigarette every now and then. I was always criticized for the way I smelled or always having to step outside for a smoke. But it seems like no one even noticed that I quit. A few weeks ago my dad was signing up for some kind of discount medical card type thing, and recommended me to the guy, and was like "you'll have to take the other option since you smoke." "Dad, I don't smoke." "When did that happen?" "I told you about this months ago. Don't you ever notice the devices I'm using, or how my clothes don't smell like cigarettes anymore?" I've tried to educate them on what I'm doing, but I guess they have more important things to pay attention to, like coupons and such xD

 

[jdm1982]

i suffer from anxiety issues myself. its weird to say the least. i can go for a walk through the woods at night unarmed in bear and moose country, and exhibit zero fear of a legitimite threat. i have worked construction on platforms up to 42 stories in the air, not a prob. go to a crowded shopping mall, the walls are crashing in and i want out 5 mins ago lol. makes zero logical sense.

the fear of anxiety itself is the worst part of anxiety.its a negative cycle that if left unchecked by reality, can really warp your perception of things, mine was in crowds of people or being packed into a small area. like a social phobia mixed with clostrophobia i suppose.isolation makes it worse.try not to do that for too long a period.

i have found a mild dose of ssri (the devil, i know i know) 10 mg once daily, mixed with exercise, really helps regulate your moods and confidence to a level that allows you to atleast take some of the edge off. hey, it works for me.

the fear i had of what would happen if i quit smoking to my anxiety was probably my biggest fear about quitting.but the counter to that was the amount of anxiety id get thinking about what lung cancer would be like if i didnt quit.

vaping to me is more a replacement then a cure, and a much lesser of two evils scenario.im down to 6 mg and when people say ' so when you quitting that then?' my reply is ' probably never ' lol


your not alone.i get where your coming from bud.keep on trucking forward.dont dwell on a moment of weakness, your human.it happens.