Recovery World and Vaping

[escaladedude]

I thought this would just be a good topic... Im finding more and more people like me who got there start in e cigs in the rooms of recovery, being either N.A or A.A . For me i had allready tried vaping unsecsessfully with a mall ecig, but when i got interduced to the EGO-T in N.A. Things changed dramaticly for me. I got my first ego-t kit and one for my mom and started researching. It wasnt long till i wanted something more but it got me into vaping. Sense being interduced to vaping and ecigs i have found an amazing world of support with the fellow vapors. Which really has helped me with my recovery from a 10 year addiction ....... I have herd similiar stories from fellow vapors like this and i dont know i just thought id put up the thread and get everybodys thoughts. I think its amazing that this community is here. Thank you all!!! C:

 

[Jackiej5407]

What a WONDERFUL story!!!

Another Friend of Bill's

 

[Scottinboca]

Another 12stepper here from the rooms of NA. Vaping helped me with my analog addiction, but started a new one. Oh well, balance is hard to maintain in recovery. Vaping sure is better then smoking!

 

[Dougiestyle]

Congrats on admitting your addiction and undergoing recovery! This community helps in more ways than one could imagine. God bless you!

 

[escaladedude]

i have about 2 years clean now and vaping makes it allot easier! Its hard to stay board and be a vapor! that was a big problem! heheh well i hope this topic draws some interesting replies!

 

[base234]

Just for today, bro. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

ECF IS a great support group!

 

[KeysBum]

LOL...At breaks in an AA meeting there are more people outside smoking than inside eating donuts. No better place to introduce PV's

 

[markfm]

Is ECF the "Big Board" of Vapers Unanimous?

 

[pyro13g]

I think they should introduce E-cigs into rehab programs of 30 days or longer. Make it a condition to move to the half way house a little sooner.

 

[Doll]

I think that would be a novel idea! Addicts by nature tend to be social
creatures, if not they end up that way in meetings, for mutual support
and all. My mom has been clean for almost 6 years now and all that's
left is cigarettes. She likes to quote ozzy osborne "I've had every known
chemical c...aine booze--and tobacco is the hardest one in the world for
me to quit." I think that if she had other people, besides just me around
her quitting smoking by way of vaping, it would be a ton easier.

 

[swedishfish]

Friends of Bill W.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Thanks for sharing your story. I haven't had nearly as long a road, but it gives me perspective when times feel tough.

 

[John Phoenix]

I would think some anti addiction advocates would frown on vaping and smoking as well as drinking. I don't agree with the AA philosophy personally but I know that's what works for some people. I think most people won't need all that if they just got their head on straight and learned to think about their drinking or addiction in a different way. I happen to think following AA can even be harmful to some.. just depends on your psychological makeup. Still if that's the only thing that gets you through the day without doing something to harm yourself then it's what you need at that time.

This coming from an old drinker who loved to party in the 80's and drank at least 3 times a week just to get drunk for many years. I never was or will ever be an alcoholic. When I decided to stop drinking because I was getting older and it wasn't as fun anymore, that was it. I just say No. Not tempted by any alcohol under any circumstances. I even regularly enjoy Odoul's Amber because I still love the taste of beer. I understand not everyone can be as strong as I am.

Anyway, I have met many anti addiction advocates who were also AA, NA members and the like. They believe that all addiction is bad and you must stop all addiction related to substance use/abuse - even if the substance is legal. Do you find that attitude in the addiction help places you visit? If so, how do the vapers and these people get along?

 

[deach]

John, you bring up interesting points. I know for some reason (at the time about 10 years ago) Every AA meeting allowed smoking in the building sitting at the tables. There also were no assigned "places" for smokers to sit, we just smoked on. Personally, I went to the meetings to share and hear the other stories. I do believe it helped some. I also did the online AA things then (groups) and in the chat rooms that also seemed to help. (at least it gave me something to do besides drink anyway).
I've talked to several people in the field and according to "them" I've not gained too much by vaping instead of smoking from a narcotic standpoint. (in fact nothing). From a health stand point they did not have enough information to make a "informed decision" (as they said) but did agree it almost had to be better as long as no "actual tobacco juices" were making it's way into the formula. (which leads me to another whole other tangent I'll forgo right now). My personal doctor say's it's "probably better" but she also did not have enough information.

I love the fact my clothing no longer smells like cigs when I go into customers homes and give estimates. I'm told my breath is somewhat better LOL. I do hope to stop this whole nicotine nonsense one of these days but for now, I'll just keep a vapin. I've not actually gained any "more breathing" as some have claimed here, in fact I might honestly get winded a little easier but, I do notice I can take a deaper breath and not cought every time as I used to. It is however winter time and I'm not out and about as much so that might help the winded thing too some.

Good luck to one and all that choose the vaping path. I hope each achieve their goal whether to simply vape forever instead of smoke or vape, then stop that too.

Deach

 

[pyro13g]

Many of these anti-addiction advocates are addicts themselves. They just don't acknowledge it. Like my best friends step mother. Up and down my friends backside for years about drinking and smoking while she sits there and drinks gallons of sweat tea a day, that is causing her a lot of harm.

Her tea habit fits the definition of addiction just as well as her step daughters drinking and smoking. Almost had the best friend off smokes when she lived with me. Unfortunately. I had to kick her out. I'm sure you can guess why.

 

[tippyclubb]

She likes to quote ozzy osborne "I've had every known
chemical (edit) booze--and tobacco is the hardest one in the world for me to quit."

Truer words never spoken..

I want this analog monkey off my back so I can live out the remaining years of life addiction free. I'm going to vape until 2013 and then get off the nicotine too. No move vices for me, well maybe some wine!

 

[escaladedude]

yaaaaaaaa im glad my thread is getting attention! ^_^ I dont fully agree with N.A/AA and totally hate the idea u have to cut out all things addictive even caffine. I find these people who do this are usually finding addictions in odd places I.E even going to N.A meetings i see these people that cant even get through a few hours with out completely revolving around N.a/aa meetings. Well if this is so have they ever really found recovery? IDK just my opionions im so happy to find the vaping world! You all my family My battle with opiates atleast lead me to a very strange obsession with vaping!

 

[deach]

yaaaaaaaa im glad my thread is getting attention! ^_^ I dont fully agree with N.A/AA and totally hate the idea u have to cut out all things addictive even caffine. I find these people who do this are usually finding addictions in odd places I.E even going to N.A meetings i see these people that cant even get through a few hours with out completely revolving around N.a/aa meetings. Well if this is so have they ever really found recovery? IDK just my opionions im so happy to find the vaping world! You all my family My battle with opiates atleast lead me to a very strange obsession with vaping!

When did AA start this no caffeine thing? Granted it's been 10 years since I've been but we smoked and drank coffee like it was going out of style? That's a new one to me.

Also, as far as the few hours without a meeting, I'm not gonna comment on that one cause I didn't need that but some people have addictive personalities. (ok there "MAY" be a few right here on this forum). They totally immerse themselves into one thing to stop another. As someone having "almost" 10 years sober, I can tell you whatever it takes...and I honestly mean WHATEVER it takes to get that booze monkey off one's back is ok by me. (shy of illegal drugs)

My PERSONAL (and I cannot stress that enough) opinion is anyone still vaping and having nicotine in their juice is addicted to a drug. A LEGAL drug but non the less a drug. A drug that I've spent countless 10's of thousands of dollars on in 40 years. Probably more than I did booze but it's gonna be a close one thinking about the end of a colorful drinking career. (Whew what a ride)...

I give all my respects to those that anything cold turkey, that takes guts. I went to less than 10 aa meetings when I stopped drinking and did the rest online in chatrooms since I legally couldn't drive any longer. I honestly wish I could give up nicotine the same way but, at my age don't foresee that happening. (and not even gonna try).

Good luck to those that came before me.

Deach

 

[David Winkler]

been a friend of Bills' since 1981, I push my provari at every new comer I can. The lea and leo have started to make an appearance with other old timers. Sometimes we chat about hardware and juice more than anything- unless we have a twitcher with us.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Well, I recognize that I am a user of nicotine. What vaping has done is make me face the fact that I've been so for years, and that that, and the behavioral/habitual patterns of smoking, are what I liked about the habit. I've kept those and basically nothing else from smoking, so I feel that I've improved my life.

Now, what do I think is the difference between using nicotine, and abusing it? Interesting question -- how many PAD of analogs do you need to smoke to be an "abuser" instead of a "user"? (That'd be a controversial damn topic to bring up with a group of smokers!) It just depends on how your own body metabolizes nicotine.

For me personally, I struggled with going up from 12mg to 18mg, but in retrospect starting at 12mg was too low for a 200-pound guy who'd smoked, not heavily, but regularly. My wife was very supportive and wanted me to not feel bad at "failing" at 12mg. But I wouldn't go higher than 18 (personally) and I'm going to make it a goal to get down to 12mg in the next few months.

That's just my personal feelings about nicotine. It makes you feel good, let's not pretend otherwise. And we have a very convenient delivery method. I say concentrate on the fact that you're not smoking cigarettes and that you've cut unknown thousands of chemicals out of your intake.