I know that nicotine is a HUGE no for me.
Since you have friends that vape without nicotine, they can be the biggest help to get you started if that's what you decide to do.
The decision is up to you. If you feel it will help with times of stress, you will have to try it to really find out.
Here are some facts about nicotine you may not know:
It needs to be remembered that nicotine is a normal and natural part of the diet.
Everyone tests positive for nicotine in the blood and for its metabolites in the urine.
There has never been a large-scale clinical trial of nicotine where anyone tested negative for nicotine.
The last test by the CDC in the USA involved 800 subjects and all tested positive for nicotine at measurable levels, even where the subject was a non-smoker, had never smoked, and had no possible contact whatsoever with smokers, including children.
The reason for this is because many vegetables contain nicotine, and also the co-located and similar compound nicotinic acid (also known as vitamin B3 or niacin).
Tomatoes, potatoes and several other vegetables all provide dietary nicotine.
Tea often contains nicotine, which after all is one of the reasons it works as a pick-me-up.
Some vegetables such as aborigine (eggplant) contain significant amounts.
These vegetables are broadly (but not exclusively) members of the Solanaceae family, one of our most often-consumed vegetable groups.
Nicotine is a perfectly healthy, normal and natural part of the diet.
Some individuals may need more than the usual dietary quantity, as is observable for many other dietary constituents.
Just as some may need a very large supplement of 2,000mg of extra vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid) in order to normalize cognitive function, short-term memory and work capacity; so a similar increase of nicotine may be necessary for such persons.
This has been demonstrated by clinical trials that showed the positive effects on stress, work capacity, memory and cognitive function for some individuals.
Nicotine, science has shown, by itself is NOT additive.
Not trying to convince you to add nicotine, just thought you would find it interesting.
Good luck in your venture.