Once I'd overcome my addiction to analogs ( well, overcome the desire to smoke...in reality I switched my nicotine delivery method...THAT addiction is still going strong) I realized I had developed another, nearly as expensive addiction; e-cig and accessories disorder.
This is a relatively new addiction, with little research having been done on it's symptoms and possible treatment. Common sysmtoms include;
-trolling ECF for the latest "new thing"...e-cigs, mods, atomizers, clearomizers, cartomizers, tanks, batteries, etc. etc.
-trolling a wide variety of vendors sites, for the above.
-trolling, and exchanging information with other addicts on who has the best juice flavors, what the make-up of said juice is, the benefits and drawbacks of different PG/VG percentages, etc.
-ordering large quantities of many small bottles of liquid, and stashing same in a variety of hiding places.
-purchasing large numbers of devices that do the same thing. This may or many not be accompanied by using said devices. In some advanced cases, this addiction may cause the patient to simply acquire devices without actually using them.
-drooling, especially when at a computer and while on the ECF website, or on the websites of one of many e-cig, or accessory suppliers.
-stalking postal workers.
-shrinking bank account
-loss of interest in family, work.
A recently noted system has also been identified...sufferers are frequently seen with small bags or pouches, containing a multitude of devices, bottles of various juices, atomizers, drip tips, spare batteries etc. Caution should be exercised by care-givers when this symptom is observed; DO NOT attempt to separate the addict from his "rig"...physical altercation is very likely.
As a recovering E.A.A.D addict, I'd like to tell my story, and offer some suggestions for those still suffering from it.
For me, it began with with a simple Ego e-cig...a beginners kit. It had evreything I would ever need, or so I thought ( pauses to wipe a tear from my eye...reliving these early, halcyon days is painful emotionally)
The speed that this addiction took hold is frightening...within days, I was starting to show symptoms. Thinking about different juices, wondering if this atomizer or that cartomizer might improve my experience, etc.Within a week, I'd succumbed...I ordered a variety of different LR atomizers, several drip tips ( acrylic, aluminum AND sstainless steel) and more batteries. I should have realized right away when I ordered more batteries that it was taking hold, but alas, I didn't recognize it for what it was...early signs of EAAD.
In what seemed like no time, I'd amassed a huge collection of juice ( upwards of 75 different flavors), several different e-cigs from different manufacturers, and literally BOXES of atomizers, tanks, carts, batteries, pass-throughs, etc.
Then...a bottom feed device...I coupld vape all day on one tank, and one battery...perfect?? for many, yes. Not for the EAAD addict. the satisfaction was short-lived. A low-level dealer, recognizing my growing addiction, said he had a "barely used" Precise slim, at a really good price. He sweetened the deal with 6 extra batteries, and the addict in my screamed "YES, YES!!! I've GOT to have it!!"
And I did. Paypal out, Precise Slim inbound.
Then, a new battery charger. More atomizers, shiny ones this time, to match the Precise...the addiction worsened. Now, I started to notice "shiny things" ( this by the way is a sign of end stage EAAD; the attraction to shiny mods)
It was at that point, I met the man who I've grown to know as " The Greek"..
Oh, in the beginning, he was all " Let's be friends"...nice, friendly, pleasant...until he got his hooks in. First, he said, very nonchalantly, " have you seen these?", and he produced, seemingly from nowhere, a small, shiny bit of precision.
It was beautiful, in a deadly sort of way. He called it "a Stealth". Once I held it's terrible beauty in my hand, I knew I had to have it.
Of course, all of the other things I'd acquired to that point, didn't look right with the Stealth. The Greek had a "fix" for that; he even had a code-name for it...The "Odysseus". Beautiful in it's own right, and of course...I had to have it too.
It was only until afterward that I realized the man I called "the Greek" was really a care-giver in disguise.He's a pioneer in the treatment of EAAD. His unique treatment methods are wonderful in their simplicity...you don't even REALIZE you're in treatment.
Suddenly, my "desire to acquire" began to lessen. Slowly at first, then more rapidly. Oh, there were bumps in the road, as there are with any treatment for addiction. The biggest was when the Greek introduced his "Odysseus expansion kit"
Immediately, all of the old, bad behaviors began again; the drooling, the pacing, the stalking of the postman...
Thankfully, they've diminished again since the expansion kit arrived.
Now, I only occasionally experience twinges from the "bad old days". For the most part, I'm now back to my happy "old self". I can look at different web sites, see different mods and devices, read about the "latest and greatest" without experiencing all of those bad things I used to experience..."can I afford it?" "do I need it?" "how long will it take to get here?"
I've written this down to help my fellow addicts. I want you to know...THERE IS HELP...
Since the Greek, there have been other care-givers arrive on the scene, and they are all working towards the same goal; helping the EAAD sufferer overcome this addiction..Keep strong, fellow addicts, you will find help!
This is a relatively new addiction, with little research having been done on it's symptoms and possible treatment. Common sysmtoms include;
-trolling ECF for the latest "new thing"...e-cigs, mods, atomizers, clearomizers, cartomizers, tanks, batteries, etc. etc.
-trolling a wide variety of vendors sites, for the above.
-trolling, and exchanging information with other addicts on who has the best juice flavors, what the make-up of said juice is, the benefits and drawbacks of different PG/VG percentages, etc.
-ordering large quantities of many small bottles of liquid, and stashing same in a variety of hiding places.
-purchasing large numbers of devices that do the same thing. This may or many not be accompanied by using said devices. In some advanced cases, this addiction may cause the patient to simply acquire devices without actually using them.
-drooling, especially when at a computer and while on the ECF website, or on the websites of one of many e-cig, or accessory suppliers.
-stalking postal workers.
-shrinking bank account
-loss of interest in family, work.
A recently noted system has also been identified...sufferers are frequently seen with small bags or pouches, containing a multitude of devices, bottles of various juices, atomizers, drip tips, spare batteries etc. Caution should be exercised by care-givers when this symptom is observed; DO NOT attempt to separate the addict from his "rig"...physical altercation is very likely.
As a recovering E.A.A.D addict, I'd like to tell my story, and offer some suggestions for those still suffering from it.
For me, it began with with a simple Ego e-cig...a beginners kit. It had evreything I would ever need, or so I thought ( pauses to wipe a tear from my eye...reliving these early, halcyon days is painful emotionally)
The speed that this addiction took hold is frightening...within days, I was starting to show symptoms. Thinking about different juices, wondering if this atomizer or that cartomizer might improve my experience, etc.Within a week, I'd succumbed...I ordered a variety of different LR atomizers, several drip tips ( acrylic, aluminum AND sstainless steel) and more batteries. I should have realized right away when I ordered more batteries that it was taking hold, but alas, I didn't recognize it for what it was...early signs of EAAD.
In what seemed like no time, I'd amassed a huge collection of juice ( upwards of 75 different flavors), several different e-cigs from different manufacturers, and literally BOXES of atomizers, tanks, carts, batteries, pass-throughs, etc.
Then...a bottom feed device...I coupld vape all day on one tank, and one battery...perfect?? for many, yes. Not for the EAAD addict. the satisfaction was short-lived. A low-level dealer, recognizing my growing addiction, said he had a "barely used" Precise slim, at a really good price. He sweetened the deal with 6 extra batteries, and the addict in my screamed "YES, YES!!! I've GOT to have it!!"
And I did. Paypal out, Precise Slim inbound.
Then, a new battery charger. More atomizers, shiny ones this time, to match the Precise...the addiction worsened. Now, I started to notice "shiny things" ( this by the way is a sign of end stage EAAD; the attraction to shiny mods)
It was at that point, I met the man who I've grown to know as " The Greek"..
Oh, in the beginning, he was all " Let's be friends"...nice, friendly, pleasant...until he got his hooks in. First, he said, very nonchalantly, " have you seen these?", and he produced, seemingly from nowhere, a small, shiny bit of precision.
It was beautiful, in a deadly sort of way. He called it "a Stealth". Once I held it's terrible beauty in my hand, I knew I had to have it.
Of course, all of the other things I'd acquired to that point, didn't look right with the Stealth. The Greek had a "fix" for that; he even had a code-name for it...The "Odysseus". Beautiful in it's own right, and of course...I had to have it too.
It was only until afterward that I realized the man I called "the Greek" was really a care-giver in disguise.He's a pioneer in the treatment of EAAD. His unique treatment methods are wonderful in their simplicity...you don't even REALIZE you're in treatment.
Suddenly, my "desire to acquire" began to lessen. Slowly at first, then more rapidly. Oh, there were bumps in the road, as there are with any treatment for addiction. The biggest was when the Greek introduced his "Odysseus expansion kit"
Immediately, all of the old, bad behaviors began again; the drooling, the pacing, the stalking of the postman...
Thankfully, they've diminished again since the expansion kit arrived.
Now, I only occasionally experience twinges from the "bad old days". For the most part, I'm now back to my happy "old self". I can look at different web sites, see different mods and devices, read about the "latest and greatest" without experiencing all of those bad things I used to experience..."can I afford it?" "do I need it?" "how long will it take to get here?"
I've written this down to help my fellow addicts. I want you to know...THERE IS HELP...
Since the Greek, there have been other care-givers arrive on the scene, and they are all working towards the same goal; helping the EAAD sufferer overcome this addiction..Keep strong, fellow addicts, you will find help!
