I think the answer is hidden in the nature of addiction. I contend that every single person walking this earth has some form of addiction. Drugs, booze, chocolate, salt, exercise, talking, sex, etc. The two questions that have to be asked are: 1. Is this intense desire hurting me or anyone else? and 2. Do you control it or does it control you?
Most of the time if people are hurt (like smoking or booze), it is easy to see. Not so easy to spot in a bulimic or someone who obsessively works out.
To me, control is the bigger issue. If it controls you, it has to be changed, even if the addiction seems positive on the surface.
I could never have stopped smoking, no matter how damaging it was, because I couldn't control the urge. Pills and patches were useless. No pencil was safe because I would gnaw them to bits (damaging my teeth). Substituting the nicotine didn't address my control issue.
I wanted the rituals of opening a fresh pack, tearing the foil, tapping the first one out, the flame to light it. I wanted to sit with my head wreathed in smoke more than I wanted the nicotine!
vaping covered all of my intense desires without the damage level of cigarettes. Am I in control now? No, but I'm a lot more on control than I was. The desires have eased.
I guess what I would ask is what about the booze calls to you? If its the buzz, you are out of luck with vaping. I have never heard of someone getting high or drunk from vape. If its the flavor, I haven't found a booze flavor close enough to stir memories. If its the ritual, maybe the filling, cleaning and maintenance of vaping will address that.
I do know, from my doctor, that vaping is safe for diabetics because despite sweet flavors, vape wont change your blood sugar. If you have a doctor you trust, ASK!
Most of the time if people are hurt (like smoking or booze), it is easy to see. Not so easy to spot in a bulimic or someone who obsessively works out.
To me, control is the bigger issue. If it controls you, it has to be changed, even if the addiction seems positive on the surface.
I could never have stopped smoking, no matter how damaging it was, because I couldn't control the urge. Pills and patches were useless. No pencil was safe because I would gnaw them to bits (damaging my teeth). Substituting the nicotine didn't address my control issue.
I wanted the rituals of opening a fresh pack, tearing the foil, tapping the first one out, the flame to light it. I wanted to sit with my head wreathed in smoke more than I wanted the nicotine!
vaping covered all of my intense desires without the damage level of cigarettes. Am I in control now? No, but I'm a lot more on control than I was. The desires have eased.
I guess what I would ask is what about the booze calls to you? If its the buzz, you are out of luck with vaping. I have never heard of someone getting high or drunk from vape. If its the flavor, I haven't found a booze flavor close enough to stir memories. If its the ritual, maybe the filling, cleaning and maintenance of vaping will address that.
I do know, from my doctor, that vaping is safe for diabetics because despite sweet flavors, vape wont change your blood sugar. If you have a doctor you trust, ASK!
