Non-smoker, non-vaper, so why am I here?

[samsarajade]

Well, the answer to that is simple. My boyfriend is embarking on a vaping journey, and I like many people had no clue what that was until he started showing me. It's all new to me. Joining this forum, which he has found an invaluable support and source of information, is one way I can find out more and understand better what it's all about.

My first reaction to Johns announcement that he was going to try vaping and links to reviews and information that he sent me was 'YES! This is wonderful, it may not be actually giving up smoking (ie nicotine) completely, but it looks like it's getting rid of what I personally hate about smoking. And any step away from cigarettes is a step in the right direction!'

What I hate about smoking is the smell, and that's what has saved me from ever being attracted to smoking myself. I'm assured that vaping eliminates the smell, and indeed the tar that I know is one of the harmful side effects of smoking. And so as far as I can see this is a better alternative from my perspective. There may be wider issues, and I have already touched certain sensitive issues as a result of not understanding smoking from a smokers point of view. But I'm here to learn, and to support a decision that my boyfriend John has made, a decision that has made me very proud of him!

However, he'd better stop making vaping look so damned cool-or I'll be tempted to start myself!

 

[Rosa]

samsarajade, I commend you in supporting your boyfriend in his choice to switch from smoking to vaping. Have a look around, check out the success stories and get to know a few of the really great people that frequent the forum, welcome to an outsiders look at the world of vaping.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-success-stories/

But, please, don't start vaping (I know you were joking, but it's a bit of a touchy subject so I just want to be sure it's clear)_ don't start vaping if you don't smoke. It looks cooler than smoking, that's for sure, but it's still the same - only safer (or completely safe, depending on who you ask).

We are here to answer any questions or concerns that you might have about what your boyfriend is up to.... or why he's now glued to his computer and you get packages in the mail every couple of days or so... I wish I was joking.

 

[Shan B]

This is soooo awesome that you are supporting him!! not to mention that you (non-smoker and non-vaper) are taking interest in his journey. KUDOS!!

I'm not saying you should try vaping... but if you would; use 0mg e-juice. Don't start an addiction to nicotine... fight the temptation, even tho it looks cool.

Welcome to ECF!

 

[classwife]

What a wonderfully supportive person you are !!! He will surely be successful with you beside him on his journey !!
Best of luck to both of you ! You can help choose flavors that will smell nice to you.

 

[samsarajade]

Don't worry-I have no desire to get hooked on nicotine after miraculously avoiding it all these years! And I would also wait to find out what other problems or side-effects could be possible before even trying a zero nicotine vaping product. But I am convinced that for a smoker it is a better option than the smelly dirty sticks sold legally and universally over the counter!
I just like the blue light
Thank You both for the warm welcome!

 

[berty]

I second the above, should you decide to try it use 0 nic. I am working toward that as a final destination.

Congrats to you on your support, that's great. My wife tells me that "I'm cheating" but supports her girlfriends that are quitting with nic gum, nic patches, and nic drops. Needless to say, we have a differance of opinion in that regard as i don't see any differance at all.

 

[James Wall]

Welcome Samsarajade! It's great that you are taking an active part in learning about your boyfriend's healthier choice. If you ever have any questions just post them here on the board. I've found that there is almost always a quick and thoughtful answer whenever I've needed info.

 

[Rosa]

I second the above, should you decide to try it use 0 nic. I am working toward that as a final destination.

Congrats to you on your support, that's great. My wife tells me that "I'm cheating" but supports her girlfriends that are quitting with nic gum, nic patches, and nic drops. Needless to say, we have a differance of opinion in that regard as i don't see any differance at all.

She'll feel differently in a year when you are still vaping (or not if that's your goal) and her friends are back smoking again. LOL.

 

[DreamWalkerGuy]

switching to vaping was the best decision I ever made November of this year will make 1 full year for me

 

[Shan B]

bert i know this is OT from the OP, but I don't see how it's cheating in ANY WAY... Safer? yes! Even safer than the gums, patches, etc. From my POV at least.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Samsarajade...what a beautiful screen name (not to mention that the first part is one of my all time favorite perfumes!) Welcome to ECF! It's wonderful that you are being so supportive to your boyfriend and actually being active while he makes the transition from analogs to vaping. Neither one of you will regret it!

 

[Poeia]

samsarajade, your support is really going to be a help. There are a lot of people in my life who whined about my smoking when I did it. As soon as I switched to PVs their reaction was "That great. When do you stop using those?" To which my reaction was "Gee, thanks for the support. Let me go find a blunt instrument to hit you over the head with." (My father, sister and doctor were completely supportive but I don't live with any of them.)

As for the smell, there is one. Right now the air around me smells like Peppermint Raspberry. A few hours ago it smelled like a Banana-topped Waffle. But, without the tar and the oily smoke, the smell disappears almost immediately. It's as if you bit down on a hard candy and then exhaled through your mouth. The people around you would be able to smell it for a moment or two and then it would be gone. (And it doesn't cling to your clothes or leave your walls covered in brown, smelly gunk.)

Vaping is not an ideal solution. The ideal is to never have had that first cigarette, all those years ago. But, if you don't have a time machine, vaping is so much better than the alternative.

 

[samsarajade]

Cheating? No way-it's not getting away entirely from the addiction, but it's as good as any other nicotine replacement therapy surely? And probably easier to make the change too as it satisfies the habitual stuff-like holding something, keeping the hands busy etc. They invented sticks and stuff to help with that with nicotine replacement stuff, so I certainly don't see vaping as cheating in that respect.
I think what the draw-back may be is that as vaping appears to be an alternative life-style rather than an uncomfortable step away from cigarettes, the temptation to keep vaping and not think about moving away from the habit completely my be seen as something that may ultimately discourage completely giving up the habit-as it still feeds the psychological addiction. But then we get into a whole snake-pit of what is an addiction-physical/psychological, where is the distinction between habit and addiction, and what level of indulgence in things that are maybe not completely good for us is acceptable. Personally I enjoy a drink now and then, eat some foods that are not nutritionally balanced, and take the attitude of adventure is worth a bit of risk. The fact you appear to be able to decrease the nicotine levels if you want to wean yourself off an addiction to it with vaping is a major plus that makes it an alternative that CAN be used like the patches etc if someone chooses to use it that way.
Bottom line, my boyfriend had smoked many years longer than I have known him. I met him as a smoker and I know well that you can't change something like that for someone else, they have to do it their own way, in their own time, and for their own reasons. He always knew how I disliked smoking-but I love him more than that dislike! He made this decision all on his own, and so for me that is a wonderful bonus!

 

[Rosa]

It may be true that he could decide that he's not ever going to quit vaping. That's something that you can think about if that day ever comes.

However, FWIW, I'd make two points:

#1. There's no evidence yet that vaping is any more hazardous to ones health than coffee. so there's that.
#2. I suspect that it would be much, much easier to stop vaping at some point than it was to stop smoking (which I was able to do on several occasions - none of which lasted)

I think your support of his new vaping journey is really very refreshing, thanks for joining the discussion!

 

[samsarajade]

Poeia,
I have un-wittingly stepped on those issues as I assumed that vaping would be a step towards nothing! I meant to be encouraging but I think I touched that nerve that only a smoker would really understand! I've been reminded though to accept it for what it is, and when I realised how what I was saying came across I made sure I re-empathised how proud I was for the change to vaping in itself. It can be difficult to understand from the outside what the journey itself is about.

womanofheart
I have that perfume! Although I chose the name before I'd heard of the perfume-because of it's meaning in Hinduism/Budhism, the Jade bit was symbolic too The non-screen name I'm usually known by is Tia. Just to complicate maters further! lol!

 

[Avid]

With a PV in hand and a very supportive non-smoker by his side, I think he's going to be successful in his vaping adventure! Either way, he's still a lucky guy

Good luck to both of you!

 

[samsarajade]

Rosa, I completely agree, and I have seen myself, second hand, the evidence of how difficult it can be to quit smoking and how people will seem to crack it only to cave in and return. A bit like dieting in that respect only it involves a genuine physical addiction and not just a psychological one (I say 'just' pshychological, but I actually think that the psychological part of any addiction is the hardest part to crack!)
It is great to see so many people supporting each other here, and making successful changes towards something healthier than before, and as you say much more sustainable than other options.
I'll check out your link and keep reading. Thank You

 

[Pheisty]

Cheating? No way-it's not getting away entirely from the addiction, but it's as good as any other nicotine replacement therapy surely? And probably easier to make the change too as it satisfies the habitual stuff-like holding something, keeping the hands busy etc. They invented sticks and stuff to help with that with nicotine replacement stuff, so I certainly don't see vaping as cheating in that respect.
I think what the draw-back may be is that as vaping appears to be an alternative life-style rather than an uncomfortable step away from cigarettes, the temptation to keep vaping and not think about moving away from the habit completely my be seen as something that may ultimately discourage completely giving up the habit-as it still feeds the psychological addiction. But then we get into a whole snake-pit of what is an addiction-physical/psychological, where is the distinction between habit and addiction, and what level of indulgence in things that are maybe not completely good for us is acceptable. Personally I enjoy a drink now and then, eat some foods that are not nutritionally balanced, and take the attitude of adventure is worth a bit of risk. The fact you appear to be able to decrease the nicotine levels if you want to wean yourself off an addiction to it with vaping is a major plus that makes it an alternative that CAN be used like the patches etc if someone chooses to use it that way.
Bottom line, my boyfriend had smoked many years longer than I have known him. I met him as a smoker and I know well that you can't change something like that for someone else, they have to do it their own way, in their own time, and for their own reasons. He always knew how I disliked smoking-but I love him more than that dislike! He made this decision all on his own, and so for me that is a wonderful bonus!

It's so awesome that you're not only being supportive of your guy, but you're also being open-minded and wanting to actually learn about the world of vaping.

As for this being an 'alternative lifestyle', you're right. And I've had plenty of my friends and family say, "When are you going to quit your e-cig?" You know, I don't rightly know. I may do it for the rest of my days, and I may quit vaping next week. Regardless, it's much better than the stinky, cancer-causing alternative.

We all have our annoying habits/hobbies that other people find repulsive, stupid, silly, or a waste of time and money. I guess if vaping is that one thing I do that others disapprove of, I'm okay with that. I don't need their approval, and neither do my lungs.

 

[berty]

Samsarajade:
I think you are correct, and the reason vaping seems to have more success stories than other nicotine replacement methods is the phychological addition that goes beyond just nicotine. (Disclaimer: the FDA has not santioned this vaping as a safe alternative to tobbacco) ;-)

I simply look at it as a way to slowly decrease my nicotine addition, while feeding that oral fixation habit that isn't really harmful to anyone. It would certainly "seem" to be much less harmful as a matter of pure common sense, when looking at what one is inhaling. It also comes with the added bonus of not offending or harming others.... nice.

So even if it is "cheating", I'll take it.

 

[faeriekari]

Samsarjade,

Welcome to ECF! I love this board and how helpful everyone is. I spend a lot of time in live chat. You should pop in too!. Great place to chat with people about vaping