So what are we addicted to anyway?

[fiddler]

Yes, for most of us nicotine, but some are vaping happily with zero nic.

Here are the modalities of smoking I have recognized, in no particular order:

Nicotine
Throat hit
Flavor
Seeing smoke
Smell
Seeing fire/led
Handling the device
Lighting a fire
Feeling of security from having enough materials on hand
Joining others who are smoking/vaping
...and maybe more.

I've found that for me, the major modalities are taste and seeing smoke.
Even at very low nic (5mg) I'm happy if I can taste something good, and see lots of smoke. (I was surprised at how much better certain juices seem to be if a add just a bit of VG to get that nice, dense cloud of smoke.) I'm also not insensitive to the secure feeling that I have lots of juice and atomizers, and to feeling something going down when I inhale.

What are the most critical modalities for you?

 

[The Rain Man]

15 years ago I quit cigarettes for one year on New Years eve.For the first week I would just drag on a unlit cigarette.This worked for me the hand to mouth thing was good.I wish after the year was done I didnt pick up again. E cigs are nice but not smoking is even better I would think not one person on the forums will disagree unless they are a nicotine exercises the heart advocate.Either way both are time consuming and Im sure we could find more important things to do with our time.For now I will eSmoke!

 

[Kate]

This thread might interest you - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/3933-cutting-down-tobacco.html

 

[The Rain Man]

Kate your avatar is just wrong I think?

 

[fiddler]

Thanks Kate. I thought that this might have been covered before, but when I did a search I didn't find anything.

 

[puffpuff]

Here's one for that list...

Asphyxiation.

I know for me, that the "feeling in my chest" told me it was time for a cigarette, more than the headache I would get if I hadn't smoked in a few days/hours.
Cigarettes contain bronchio-dilators that open your chest up for about 2.5 minutes. When you stop smoking, you feel like you can't breathe. While you're smoking, you feel fine.

In the 2 months that I've been vaping instead of smoking, I've had to re-train myself to look for signs I was ready for my next nicotine delivery, but still ensuring I wouldn't get more than I intended. Turns out, I don't really need much nicotine at all. But I love to smoke...

It doesn't surprise me that the more recent studies have shown that most of the nicotine absorption is through the upper respiratory tract. I 'feel' it most there, myself, and don't 'blow myself out' by inhaling a lungful and holding it. Your upper respiratory tract is a pretty resilient mechanism for filtering out 'stuff' from the air, and works very effectively for nearly everything except smoke.

Since I read that, I've been reducing the number of deep inhales I do, and increasing the time I 'play with the smoke in my mouth'. More like pipe smoking, than cigarette smoking. And I feel like my nicotine absorption is increasing...

Anybody else care to try that experiment? If so, I nearly have enough posts to create a thread...

 

[Zben504]

I absolutely love all of it. The whole process just keeps me sane I don't know why. It's like a hobby almost.

 

[gotthelife4u]

For me it's a security blanket. Smoking has been with me since I was in my early teens up until now and I am in my mid twenty's. I am glad that I can use a product that brings back the memory's for me with out the nicotine. I used chantix to quit by the way and let me tell you what a experience that was.

 

[kinabaloo]

My theory on this is that the pleasure of nicotine is actually short lived (weeks) but sets up a connection between smoking and 'reward' such that though the reward is empty it is associated with pleasure, with 'my time'. Like a trinket you kept from the girl or guy who gave you your first kiss ...

Hmm, but that doesn't quite explain the cravings

And why I can't seem to talk myself out of it ...

OMG I'm outta juice!!

 

[Nicfits]

I have no problems with Nicotine, I have plenty of it.

 

[Idahojo]

Kate your avatar is just wrong I think?

Mr. Rain Man I do hope you were not serious about Kate's avatar. She is a well-respected and much liked member of our Forum. You will quickly become unpopular for statements like that.

 

[prr2freya]

OMG I'm outta juice!!

NNNNnnooOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

[The Rain Man]

Mr. Rain Man I do hope you were not serious about Kate's avatar. She is a well-respected and much liked member of our Forum. You will quickly become unpopular for statements like that.

A nun with a cigar in her mouth struck me as odd thats all.Alot off things in life strike me as odd.Idahojo stop being so ..... Thanks.

 

[kinabaloo]

NNNNnnooOOOOO!!!!!!!

lol !

survived

some provocative thoughts on nicotine in this article (go down anout 10 lines for main feature):

http://encyclopedia.smokersclub.com/16.html

Might be bunk.

 

[Zben504]

Nuns need their Nic too

 

[Kate]

Mr. Rain Man I do hope you were not serious about Kate's avatar. She is a well-respected and much liked member of our Forum. You will quickly become unpopular for statements like that.

Thanks Jo.

No worries, it's hard to interpret intentions on the internet. Unless I'm given a rational reason for my avatar being offensive or inappropriate then she's staying.

 

[agga40s]

For me, it's throat hit and vapor. When I found that I could get both without nicotine, that's the first hint that I might be able to live my life nicotine-free. Secondarily, I enjoy holding it my hand, fiddling with it - but I could do that with a pen. Yep, it's definitely throat hit and vapor.

 

[waywardsister]

Same here, throat hit and vapour. I'm starting to think nicotine is secondary, for me anyway, though I do need a good hit of it now and then.

(why do ppl think it's weird for a nun to smoke??? makes no sense to me.)

 

[gashin]

Yeah its the act of putting something in your mouth (nothing dirty intended ) that makes us addicted. When Im not holding my DSE 601 on drives, I've actually found myself reaching for pens (and actually trying to smoke them a few times ). I've tried snus and chewing tobacco but they don't really satisfy my need for cigs or e-cigs.

 

[fiddler]

I attended a Catholic grammar school and, although I never saw a nun smoking, there were several that would have looked perfectly natural puffing on a cheroot.

And carrying a machete.