Does vaping ever feel compulsive to you?

[sk8man121]

Lately I've noticed that I rarely go anywhere without having a vaping device on me, and not even a half hour goes by where I don't take at least a few drags. In many ways, it's similar to the relationship I had with cigarettes - I have to have it around, kinda thing. It's a compulsive behavior that I'm not sure I'm comfortable with any longer.

Can anyone relate? Sometimes I feel like it'd be better to treat vaping as a ritualistic activity. Wake up in the morning, have a nice meditative session with my MVP and just "think" on things, put it down and get on with my day to maybe revisit for an afternoon session.

Seems like a good alternative to running around taking drags in the cold on my way to the store.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

Yes. This feeling is known as addiction.

 

[wv2win]

Yes. This feeling is known as addiction.

I think the more apt term would be "dependence" vs addiction.

 

[wv2win]

Lately I've noticed that I rarely go anywhere without having a vaping device on me, and not even a half hour goes by where I don't take at least a few drags. In many ways, it's similar to the relationship I had with cigarettes - I have to have it around, kinda thing. It's a compulsive behavior that I'm not sure I'm comfortable with any longer.

Can anyone relate? Sometimes I feel like it'd be better to treat vaping as a ritualistic activity. Wake up in the morning, have a nice meditative session with my MVP and just "think" on things, put it down and get on with my day to maybe revisit for an afternoon session.

Seems like a good alternative to running around taking drags in the cold on my way to the store.

I don't really see the point. You did the same thing with your analogs with the one big difference being, that one was killing you and one is not.

 

[sk8man121]

I don't really see the point. You did the same thing with your analogs with the one big difference being, that one was killing you and one is not.

True, but part of quitting analogs was trying to get out of that cycle. Another thing is that I feel like we can't be sure whether or not vaping in heavy quantities is doing long term damage...

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

No matter what you call it, I'm never far from a PV. Prior to quitting cigarettes, I was never far from them either.

Does it really matter?

 

[GeorgeWachsmuth]

I think the more apt term would be "dependence" vs addiction.

Well..being in the addiction field both terms are about to become old hat very shortly. (DSM IV is going to DSM V) The correct term will be " substance use disorder" (with a scale of order..mild, medium or severe)....its probably mild to moderate for most of us.

 

[sk8man121]

It's the kind of thing where sometimes I wish I had the same relationship with vaping as I do with a certain leafy substance, which is very rarely compulsive and more of a "session" type thing.

 

[GeorgeWachsmuth]

All that being said..I really enjoy vaping, I do! Cigarettes were nasty, stank, increased my blood pressure, removed my sense of taste and smell, robbed me of energy and, towards the end, were not enjoyable.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

I think the more apt term would be "dependence" vs addiction.

Difference being?

 

[sk8man121]

Mental vs. physical.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

That is the "habit" of being addicted. Like a crutch. Vaping is healthier. Personally, I am slowly working to reduce the nicotine. When I don't have to carry the "crutch" around, I will be less concerned about stopping what I am doing to get a fix. I do enjoy the hobby, but hopefully it will be an end of the day relaxing thing.

Not only removing the nicotine habit, but the usage habit. I hope for that day.

 

[Bigflyrodder]

I'm not sure if I would say I'm addicted

Took forever to type this message using one hand while vaping with the other though. May be time to invest in dictation software ;-).

 

[sk8man121]

I'd also like to start weaning down from 18MG nicotine. Thinking of jumping down to 12 with Halo juices on my next order.

 

[wv2win]

True, but part of quitting analogs was trying to get out of that cycle. Another thing is that I feel like we can't be sure whether or not vaping in heavy quantities is doing long term damage...

We can be SURE that it is not doing long term damage even a fraction to the extent smoking was doing to you. I think your level of paranoia is on the extreme side. There are now enough studies to make a fairly safe conclusion that vaping, even long term, is probably on par with using nicotine inhalers long term from a safety standpoint.

But if you are looking for 100% certainty, then you should probably just quit vaping. It should be easy enough to do.

 

[wv2win]

Difference being?

Not being a professional in the field, I would say that addiction denotes a stronger need than dependence.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

Mental vs. physical.

There are physical symptoms to nicotine withdrawl. Try going cold turkey for 5 days.

 

[Dan_The_Viking]

Not being a professional in the field, I would say that addiction denotes a stronger need than dependence.

I don't understand the difference.

Dependent: 2.needing something: having a physical or psychological need to use a drug or other substance regularly

Addiction: 1.drug dependence: a state of physiological or psychological dependence on a potentially harmful drug

Seem pretty similar to me...(bing dictionary)

 

[GeorgeWachsmuth]

Not being a professional in the field, I would say that addiction denotes a stronger need than dependence.

One of the reasons this changed in the DSM V is that it is a pretty hazy line between the two. They changed it to one category with a checklist indicating the degree of severity. Even when we are no longer physically dependant on the chemical we are still dependant on the neurochemistry that the substance produced. And this takes time to disapate..oftem much longer than the physical dependance did.

 

[CalamityJess]

I don't find it any more compulsive than smoking was. I have my PV with me when I'm out, just like I had a pack and a lighter before. What I do find is I enjoy it more, I'm less stressed about how long until I need to go to the store, I'm happy. I've reduced my nic from 24 to 18 now. And as I need to I'll reduce it further. But I'm ok with keeping nicotine in my life. It helps me with my focus, my anxiety, and tht is important to me. It's 90% of the reason I kept smoking.