* Tobacco Withdrawal * - Anxiety and Depression sufferers

[peterb107]

Hi....

I`ve been vaping for 4 days now, quit the analogs cold turkey after 20 years of 15 a day!


So far, so good..... I haven`t even thought about a real ...!


My only problem is this....I am a lifelong anxiety sufferer!! I`ve been reading all the posts about MAOI withdrawal etc and am worried that I`m going to slip back into a depression, or start getting really anxious again!

I must admit, I do feel ever so slightly edgy, but don`t know if this is me worrying about worrying (if that makes sense) - or if it is indeed tobacco withdrawal!

What symptoms can I expect, and when do they tend to appear? Thanks

 

[CreepyLady]

Hello and Welcome to ECF

Here is a listing of symptoms http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...hen-quitting-tobacco-changing-ecigarette.html

Also- for some that experience more difficulty than others, something like a WTA (whole tobacco alkaloid) liquid can work to alleviate many of the worse symptoms. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/553603-my-experience-wta.html

Good luck and happy vaping!

 

[herb]

If your an ex smoker trying to beat cigs everybody fits into your category , you may not be vaping enough nic for the transition , happened to me and had to up the nicotine.

Just decide whats important to you and you will get through it , if quitting analogs is your goal and your determined enough you will not accept anything but success .

 

[Noble Gas]

Hello, peterb, welcome to ECF. I also deal with anxiety and depression. I was completely off meds when I switched from analogs to e-cigs, and it's been a bumpy ride, but a manageable one. If you can get access to a therapist or psychistrist and medication to help (preferably all of the above), I recommend it. The biggest problem I've had so far has been weight gain, due to overeating to cope with the anxiety. But it's not been too bad, I'm keeping it mostly under control. The thing to remember is that everyone is different - different metabolisms, different reactions to stress and meds, different nic withdrawal symptoms, different everything. You'll need to find out what works for you. Which is why I recommend a mental healthcare professional. A therapist can really help you keep track of what works and what doesn't. Also, writing a journal can be very therapeutic. Reach out to friends, be proactive about taking care of yourself. I've found that often the first and best step towards getting rid of depression is action - doing something about it. Making a plan and following through with it can do wonders.
Best of luck to you!

 

[Shootist]

Had a bout with some Regrets and Depression myself about 2+ weeks into No Cigarettes. I just worked through it. Didn't know then it could of been caused by some other chemicals in tobacco smoke that I wasn't getting from the e-liquids.

Those things are now gone for the most part. The thing you want to focus on is Not Smoking analogs. If you need to, go see a doctor and get a scrip for something to help you out.

Best of Luck to you and Welcome to the forum.

As said by Rip Tripper.
"Smoking is Dead, Vaping is the Future and the Future is NOW".

 

[djsvapour]

Hello Peter.

If you read Noble Gas's post (#4.) I can also say that most of that applied to me. (Good post...)

You haven't mentioned what you are vaping on (your hardware) your liquid strength or how many you used to smoke.

My anxiety/depression was controlled by working out (as best as possible) how to replace my smoking nicotine habit with a vaping one instead. Once I got used to Vaping (which was not an overnight thing b.t.w.) and the new "feelings" (mood etc.) then I started to drop my nicotine levels in the liquid.

If you are vaping on lower-end kit and not matching your nicotine intake, you could be experiencing both nicotine withdrawal and other associated "quiting smoking" issue. None of it is insurmountable.

b.t.w. although it's been a rocky road at times, I haven't used any medication since swapping to vaping...and I have been fine.

So - what are you vaping on? You don't think you have cravings...but is it possible you do.

Lots of question, I know.

Good luck.

 

[3mg Meniere]

My anxiety/depression was controlled by working out (as best as possible)

My initial misreading of this is also another suggestion. Get more EXERCISE!!! Walking, going to a gym, running, whatever. Good exercise is essential for good mental health.

 

[djsvapour]

My initial misreading of this is also another suggestion. Get more EXERCISE!!! Walking, going to a gym, running, whatever. Good exercise is essential for good mental health.

yes... of course. I understand.

 

[realsis]

Hi when I first quit I felt a since of sadness as well and so did my husband. I think it is actually normal. But I was very comfortable because of vaping. I was vaping a 24MG nicotine so I wasn't withdrawing. I can promise these feelings pass quickly. If they dont, you might consider getting some help from a professional. You have to take care of yourself and if you feel the anxiety is bad enough, you might need some help from a doctor. Only you can answer that . But take care of yourself and know there is help available if you need it. I wish you the very best and hope you feel better soon

 

[projectjudi]

Peter
I am so glad you brought this up. This is a huge issue with me as well. I am bipolar with anxiety disorder

 

[3mg Meniere]

yes... of course. I understand.

You Brits just don't know how to speak English right!!

 

[Krafty]

HERRO!! =]

My name's Josh. I am an avid vaper, and I also deal with anxiety and depression. I have been vaping, not smoking, for about 2 months now.

There was a week or two when my anxiety got pretty bad, but now I feel like I am more or less back to normal.

What seemed to help me were a few things. Remember, take comfort in the fact that you don't smoke anymore, and when you vape, you're no longer killing yourself. VAPE AWAY!! It helped me more than anything just to fully submerge myself in the vape community. Watch videos, post here, visit brick-and-mortars, watch coil-building tutorials. Whatever takes your mind to a better, healthier place is good =]

Another thing that seems to help me, is a supplement called 5-HTP. Do some research and see if that might work for you. I'm not sure it is available in the UK, but at the drugstore where I work, we have about five or six different brands.

Some of it, yes, I'm sure, is tobacco withdrawal. There are other things in regular cigs that your body is used to getting on a regular basis other than nicotine. Check out the "A list of symptoms when quitting tobacco and changing to an ecigarette" post. It helped me a lot right after I quit smoking; started vaping and I didn't experience all of those symptoms, but all of the ones I did were on the list.

Feel free to get back to me =]

Keep vaping, its worth it.

 

[Dave Bowman]

Along with the chemical withdrawals that former cigerette smokers have, there is a loss of ritual and familiarity. Smoking a cigarette was an event, even if it's a simple and short one. Once that ceases, you can be left feeling like something crucial is missing in your life. That is why vaping is such a good stepping stone to completely quitting (if that's ultimately what you want to do). You have a new ritual and habit. I suffered from anxiety unrelated to smoking and I found that simply telling my close friends and family about my panic attacks, when they happened or are happening, gave me great relief. It takes the internal struggle you are having and brings it out into the world. Made me feel like my loved ones were helping me share the load. I never was a big cig smoker but I hope if anyone has anxiety, you have some people you can share it with.
Vape on.

 

[3mg Meniere]

Once that ceases, you can be left feeling like something crucial is missing in your life....
Vape on.

I have a theory that the beginning vapers' spending spree has something to do with a vague feeling that something is missing. If that is what happens, then, so long as you don't bankrupt yourself, go right ahead. Don't analyze yourself into going back to smoking.

 

[peterb107]

Thanks for the replies so far...

To answer a few questions....I am not on, nor will I ever take medication for my depression and anxiety. I believe that time and understanding are the best healers.......I have only recently come out of a 3 year long anxiety/depression/depersonalization state (hence the fear of relapse!!)

I am currently on a starter kit and am vaping 18mg juice......maybe 8 or 9 puffs an hour, so don't think I am overdoing the nicotine.

I am not craving a real cigarette whatsoever! I just feel little spaced out and foggy headed (very similar to derealization if any of you know what that is, or have been through it yourself)

I'm gonna stick it out though.....I've conquered far worse!!

Can I just ask WHEN these sorts of symptoms generally tend appear......does it take days/weeks for your body to notice that 4000 odd chemicals are missing?? Does it get worse? How long do symptoms last? Etc....

PS. Can anybody point me in the direction of
UK suppliers of WTA liquid?

 

[annecat5]

Have to put my two cents worth in I too am a lifelong sufferer of depression and anxiety with a host of other things that go along with them, including hypochondria. I have spent the last couple of years tapering off medications for anxiety. When I quit smoking almost two months ago and took up vaping, it didn't really occur to me at the time that I was quitting both my powerful anxiety meds AND cigarettes at the same time. But I have to tell you, I have NOT felt overly anxious or depressed. When I quit smoking once before with patches, I wanted a cigarette 24/7 and felt like I'd lost my best friend. Gained LOADS of weight too. But I really have no desire whatsoever for a cigarette since I started vaping. I don't miss it and feel like the vaping is an amazing hobby that I'm having fun with. When I get hungry, I pick a juice that tastes like something yummy. And this go around, I really haven't gained. In fact, I've lost a bit.

I understand about worrying about worrying Maybe you're feeling edgy because you've had a bit too much nicotine. What mg dosage are you using? Or, you may still be going through the last little bit of withdrawal from smoking?

From one anxious person to another, relaaaaaaaaaaaax...enjoy yourself, and just give it a bit more time

 

[peterb107]

I'll try!!

Still fancy trying WTA juice though....do they sell it in the UK?

 

[m1911]

For me, when i started vaping, my analog intake dropped dramatically. It wast an effort at all. On the first day, i vape all day, and tried 1 cig, it tasted like burnt trash. Eventually it dropped to an average of 1-4 cig a day. I noticed everytime i consciously try to cut down my analog, thats when i ended up smoking 4 or more, where as if i didnt think about it, i noticed i forgot to smoke at all....like today

 

[Im a Monster]

Hi....

I`ve been vaping for 4 days now, quit the analogs cold turkey after 20 years of 15 a day!


So far, so good..... I haven`t even thought about a real ...!


My only problem is this....I am a lifelong anxiety sufferer!! I`ve been reading all the posts about MAOI withdrawal etc and am worried that I`m going to slip back into a depression, or start getting really anxious again!

I must admit, I do feel ever so slightly edgy, but don`t know if this is me worrying about worrying (if that makes sense) - or if it is indeed tobacco withdrawal!

What symptoms can I expect, and when do they tend to appear? Thanks

When I first started, it took some getting used to. The first few days of vaping, I was very shaky. I started with 18mg of nicotine, because that's the amount of nic in the cigs I used to smoke. It didn't take too long to adjust, and it wasn't that much of a problem. I've had withdrawls far worse when I tried quitting using other methods, such as; cold turkey, the gum, medication, and the patch.

The shakiness was bad at all, it was only my hands shaking a little bit. It didn't interfere with my daily activities, or my job.

 

[m1911]

As for the withdrawal, i guess vaping (medium rated nic) all day took care of my nic craving. If i seemed to feel any stage of stress or edgyness, honestly i try to smoke...it usually taste like crap anyways.

Im not promoting you to go back to smoking, everyone works differently i guess