Stop the obsessions

[Dustyrider99]

I have now accomplished three weeks without a analog except for a couple of hits three times to remind myself how horrible it tastes. I feel like I can breath easier and have more energy. I did go through so hard withdraw for the first couple of weeks but hard to tell how much was analog withdraw because I was also stopping use of morphine at the same time (perhaps a story for another time).

One the biggest problem I have is obsessions with this accessory and that bigger batt. I tend to have problems with this pertaining to other things at times but it is almost uncontrollable at times. I find myself looking at every model of e-cig from every retailer. I browse for hours looking at e-juice and liquid, reading recipes and reviews. I know this problem is complicated by the fact I am disabled an unable to do much because of back injury and nerve damage, but with increased energy from getting of analogs (not to mention narcotics) I can not get my mind off these things.

Just interested if this is a normal reaction to getting of analogs and if ppl experience this for long. I love feeling healthier but hate fighting myself from spending to bankruptcy.

 

[mlinky]

Uhmm..you mean spending countless hours on this site isn't normal? I might be in trouble.

 

[Stosh]

Keep track of how much you are actually spending on PV and juice and subtract it from what you would
have spent on cigs since you quit. If the savings build up enough, there is no harm in rewarding yourself
with a new and different, juice, atty, carto, etc.

I've been filling out wishlists on various vendor websites, just not pulling the trigger and placing the order.

 

[Jessara]

Hi Dusty, welcome to ECF! Wow, I really admire your strength and courage! Quitting two serious addictions at the same time takes a lot of willpower and just plain stubbornness and I'm so happy for you making that decision!

With that said, I'll try to give you my opinion about your question. I also have been kind of obsessed with all things e-cig related. I spend nearly all day looking at this forum, looking at e-cig websites, watching reviews of this and that, playing around with my e-juices (trying for the "perfect" mix of flavor/TH/vapor, etc), and of course, just vaping. I just *know* that if I had a credit card in my hand, my husband and I would be in serious financial trouble right about now because I'm always seeing things I want to "try".

From what I've read from others, this is pretty normal for those of us new to vaping (and some that have been around awhile too, LOL). I think it's kind of a combination of a subconscious way of us keeping our minds busy, and a way to feel support in what we are endeavoring. Giving up smoking is giving up a LARGE part of our lives and we *need* to replace it with something else - not just nicotine, and not just hand-to-mouth movement.

So yeah, I think it's a "normal reaction" that most, if not all, of us have gone through and are going through. You are not alone. But I will say, while you are going through this stage, set a specific budget for yourself. Decide how much you can spend on e-cig stuff per month, and only allow yourself to spend that much. I've had to do that, and it's hard as heck with all the COOL stuff out there, but it's necessary for me.

 

[jj2]

Hi Dustyrider.
Join the crowd because many have made ECF & other vaping sites their obsession.

When you get your post count up, come join me at
Wellness: Wrecked & Bonkers

My hubby is disabled: Neck injury with nerve problems causing sever pain.
Would like to hear from you on this.

 

[trouble2k]

It's definitely a side effect of using ECF. Trying to quit cold turkey would not be recommended because the symptoms would be unbearable.

 

[Zen~]

I think we all do this to some degree, I know that when I first started vaping I spend many hours a day looking at stuff online. Now it's only an hour or so... and getting shorter...

So, I think what I'm saying it's perfectly normal.

 

[Frick]

I get obsessed with every "hobby" and interest I find. I've done it with tennis rackets, guitars, amps, guitar effects, audio equipment, television/video, cameras and lenses (a very serious hobby of mine), banjos recently, and now eCigs/PVs.

But, I do it for a reason: I like to purchase once, and purchase right. One can save a lot of money by doing a lot of research first, and learning what the best values are and what the consensus of people who actually use the products is as far as what constitutes the best products available for the price you're willing to pay.

As long as you're not buying every new item that comes out, you're fine. Or, if you can definitely afford to be an early-adopter, you can go that way too; just don't find yourself doing without essentials in the search for the one "perfect" item, because it doesn't exist.

 

[grandmato5]

Obsession of your new PV habit is extremely normal. It will likely last for at least several months. Absolutely nothing wrong with browsing just don't let that credit card out of your pocket unless you can avoid to do so.

 

[Ray Ray]

Good to hear dusty.
Yeah in about a months time, I've already bought 3 different kinds of PV's and waiting for my second order of liquids. But even with all I've bought, I'll even out and start saving money in about a week from now compaired to what I used to spend on anologs. There's sites that do the math for ya on what you used to spend on anologs and how much you've saved ect.... since you started with PVs

 

[Poulside]

Hey Dusty - ditto here. I feel guilty about how much time I have been spending reading up on this and trying to decide who has the best ejuice to buy. There is a lot I want to try, but I have decided to set a budget and stick to it. I also love to learn, so I can read all day long on here. I figured at some point it will become second nature much like smoking was and I will settle into a nice routine and get back to work. Until then, embrace the information, learn everything you can, and share your experiences...they are important to new users. I would not be where I am without this site and the great contributers on it. I love reading the newbie's stuff because that is where I am and it's good to know we are not alone in this. Keep sharing!!

 

[Aaeli]

Yep, I do this too. I expect it will last for a few months for me, too.

There are so many aspects to it and so what is going to work best for each person is going to differ. Do I want cartomizers or cartridges? Do I want to drip? Debridge? Ego? Riva? 510s? THEY MAKE BACON JUICE?!?!? You get my point. Each little step requires research and your own testing to decipher what is going to work for you and what isn't.

It's says a lot that you're willing to take the time and find what works for you, instead of just giving up at the first leaky cartridge.

 

[Nixsdaddy]

What drives a lot of us is the search for our "perfect" vaping experience. That just depends on the person. Differences between atty resistances, voltage, portability, battery life, taste of juices, dripping, dipping, carts and even cartomizer mods that hold tons of juice. It's a personal quest to find our sweet spot and to stay totally off the analogs forever. Am I close to that? I'm getting there. Am I saving money? I have no idea. But it's way more fun vaping than using analogs.

It is definitely a worthwhile quest to be on.

 

[maureengill]

I think that this site is a big part of the quitting process. Anytime I start thinking about a cig I find myself coming here and distracting myself with "forum stuff"...I find it's a good reminder of why I started using a pv to begin with. Sometimes just banter in subforums helps to get your mind off of things....I find it really helps.

Thanks to this forum and all the people in it for helping me stay occupied in times of weakness. I'm honing in on the end of day 3 without any cigarettes and talked myself out of buying a new pack on day 1 when I stopped for gas.

 

[mlinky]

I think that this site is a big part of the quitting process. Anytime I start thinking about a cig I find myself coming here and distracting myself with "forum stuff"...I find it's a good reminder of why I started using a pv to begin with. Sometimes just banter in subforums helps to get your mind off of things....I find it really helps.

Thanks to this forum and all the people in it for helping me stay occupied in times of weakness. I'm honing in on the end of day 3 without any cigarettes and talked myself out of buying a new pack on day 1 when I stopped for gas.

TRUE!! I have to log on first thing in the morning...it helps the a.m. craving.

 

[dormouse]

I think it's fairly normal if you're on this forum because you see people talking about so many juices and PV's it make you curious if it could be an even better experience than it already is. I've been vaping 2 months and already have 3 1/2 PV's. I am not on a huge battery kick though - I have no problem with charging batteries at home or work and I have a PCC I charge every night in case I need to charge elsewhere. I was a lights and ultralights smoker for the last 2 decades of my smoking so at least I am not chasing a huge hit or something.

I just wanted to try the other ones to see if what I was using really was what I would like the most and also so I could know more about those models and help other people choose. There are still some I want to try. Fortunately I am more in mini land so the cost isn't too bad to try other models. I just don't buy much more than I need to try the others - i.e. smallest kit or 1 battery, 1 atty+cart or carto, charger, and only buy more if it's something I want to use regularly. Still I put a big hurt on my credit card, especially with juices. And I am also a gadget freak in general so gadgets give me pleasure. And I am a web shopaholic. And not getting paid right now. Not a good combo.

I hope I will stop buying too much too. I think I have slowed down with the buying of new different things. It was sort of a spurt of buying and now that I have two different PVs that please me and several juices I like and I sort of honed in on what kind of juices I like so I don't feel like I have to buy everything.

 

[DarbukaDave]

I agree with everyones post. For me personally this has become a very addicting hobby, which I happen to like. I also just quit analogs a little under 3 weeks ago and since then I've gone through.

1 Elektro ecig (first pv)
1 joye 510 starter kit
1 joye eGo starter kit with extra 900mah battery
a whole slew of cartos and different attys as well as a boatload of juice from different vendors
and to top it all off, I've moved onto box mods and am currently awaiting the arrival of my new Phidias from fono and I spend entirely to much time on this forum. All of this within 21 days!!!

Do I have an obsession? why, yes...yes I do

Be well

 

[Aaeli]

I agree with everyones post. For me personally this has become a very addicting hobby, which I happen to like. I also just quit analogs a little under 3 weeks ago and since then I've gone through.

1 Elektro ecig (first pv)
1 joye 510 starter kit
1 joye eGo starter kit with extra 900mah battery
a whole slew of cartos and different attys as well as a boatload of juice from different vendors
and to top it all off, I've moved onto box mods and am currently awaiting the arrival of my new Phidias from fono and I spend entirely to much time on this forum. All of this within 21 days!!!

Do I have an obsession? why, yes...yes I do

Be well

LOL Me too! Same progression.

 

[Jessara]

I think it's fairly normal if you're on this forum because you see people talking about so many juices and PV's it make you curious if it could be an even better experience than it already is. I've been vaping 2 months and already have 3 1/2 PV's. I am not on a huge battery kick though - I have no problem with charging batteries at home or work and I have a PCC I charge every night in case I need to charge elsewhere. I was a lights and ultralights smoker for the last 2 decades of my smoking so at least I am not chasing a huge hit or something.

This sounds sooo much like me. I use a 510 (only pv I have) and along with my PCC and a few cartos filled with my favorite juices, I'm good to go. I am perfectly happy with my 510, and have some juices I really like, and have discovered (after trying several cart mods) that cartos are my preference. I've quit smoking and don't even have the slightest desire to even *try* another analog. But yet...

I read on the forums how awesome the eGo is, so I'm holding out for the eGo-T (wanna wait a couple months and see if the Reviewers still love them then)... I read about how awesome certain juices are (I soooo wanna try some Waffle and Green Apple). A forum friend sent us a sample of his favorite juice loaded into a Boge carto - after using that carto I've discovered the cartos I'm using aren't as good, so now I want to get some Boges. Ughhh, it just never stops, LOL. On top of it all, I reallllly really want to get into DIY juices. I just know that with the right base flavor liquids I could make some masterpieces, LOL, so I really want to get all the stuff for DIY mixing.

So I guess for me it's not really that I don't love what I already have, I just want MORE! I want my cake and to vape it too!

 

[banjo]

Welcome to the ECF community & our mutual obsession for all things vaping.