vaping and mental illness
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I have severe depression, general anxiety disorder, (throw in some social anxiety) and PTSD. And vaping has not affected any of it in any way except for the self esteem boost from quitting smoking.
Listen to everyone else (especially me), but I'd really encourage heeding Racehorse & Rsundrl's suggestions.
Also, happy to have you around.
Also, happy to have you around.
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Same here for all that, though I've managed to keep both the depression and most of the anxiety in abeyance for some time. And I struggled pretty badly with the depression, during my first smoke-free go-round, back in the spring, but I managed to get past it -- then when I had the appendectomy, and all the digestive issues were really kicking in and I went back to smoking, when I finally got smoke-free again, the cravings came back 10 days later, so I started using WTA -- and using that, this go-round, the depression hasn't troubled me one iota. Sure it's a lot more expensive than regular ejuice, but one hell of a lot cheaper than Effexor!
Andria
Same here for all that, though I've managed to keep both the depression and most of the anxiety in abeyance for some time. And I struggled pretty badly with the depression, during my first smoke-free go-round, back in the spring, but I managed to get past it -- then when I had the appendectomy, and all the digestive issues were really kicking in and I went back to smoking, when I finally got smoke-free again, the cravings came back 10 days later, so I started using WTA -- and using that, this go-round, the depression hasn't troubled me one iota. Sure it's a lot more expensive than regular ejuice, but one hell of a lot cheaper than Effexor!
Andria
Now that you mentioned it, Effexor is one of the ones I take. I've actually been able to lower the dose from 300mg to 75mg lately with no ill effects. And that sucks that it's expensive though. My provincial health coverage makes it so I pay maybe a dollar for a months supply.
I had to get off it, when we lost our health insurance. I priced it about 5 yrs ago, and at that time, it would have run me about $120/mo. Given how inflation has just had a freaking party in the last 3-4 yrs, I'm sure it's probably at least twice that, by now. So I'm ecstatic about the price of WTA, compared to that.
Word of warning... if you ever have a need, or feel the urge, to discontinue Effexor... do it verrrrrrrrrrry slowwwwwwwwwwwly... at least 2 yrs' time -- the withdrawal from that stuff makes cigarette withdrawal look like a blast and a half of a party.
Even over the course of 2 yrs' verrrrrrrry gradual lowering of my dose, it was still EXTREMELY uncomfortable. When I finally managed it, I felt as elated as when I first discovered it and it pulled me from the brink of suicide.Andria
ok Schizophrenia is an entirely different mental illness than anxiety disorders.
Dally, vape away. I've worked with probably thousands of folks with schizophrenia in the five years I worked at our county's psychiatric facility.
what I did notice was after the more frequent smoke breaks that I instituted on our unit (hell you only give me one cigarette a day you'd have had to medicate and lock me up too) that prn med use went down, as well as a better response to medications and an "easing" if you will of "the voices", less agitation, etc.
you're a grown up, vape if you want to kiddo! tell mom you want to, that's reason enough right there, and give her some literature or direct her to some websites like this one and others.
good luck!!
Dally, vape away. I've worked with probably thousands of folks with schizophrenia in the five years I worked at our county's psychiatric facility.
what I did notice was after the more frequent smoke breaks that I instituted on our unit (hell you only give me one cigarette a day you'd have had to medicate and lock me up too) that prn med use went down, as well as a better response to medications and an "easing" if you will of "the voices", less agitation, etc.
you're a grown up, vape if you want to kiddo! tell mom you want to, that's reason enough right there, and give her some literature or direct her to some websites like this one and others.
good luck!!
I know right Adria? I was hired to reform a bit and it needed it, the patients only had one ciggie break a day (it's a state facility and no smoking but oh well) and it was in the morning, I instituted a one when they wake up with coffee, one after each meal and one before bedtime and soon the other units adopted it (except for one, our substance abuse unit, you have to quit it all coffee, cigs and whatever brought them there, I hated working that unit *lol*) but it was better all the way around, less prn meds, less seclusions in the padded bubble rooms and "I love me jackets" *lol*
Speaking from experience keep doing it if you enjoy it.
If your on medication pay more attention to that.
Yikes; that is inhuman, and inhumane! I'd even call it cruel and unusual punishment, because probably the LAST time to try and deprive someone of smoking is when they're trying to get free of substance abuse! I bet their long-term recovery rates are abysmal.
Thank god, I went thru rehab in '86, long before the nannies got control of *everything* -- thank god, because it was a great rehab, you might have heard of it, they have such good long-term recovery stats -- Chelsea, in Michigan. Any rehab that wouldn't have let me smoke, I'd have quit THE FIRST DAY! As it was, I did end up "going back out," with drinking, but when I finally got sober in '92, it was mostly thanks to what I learned at Chelsea -- I knew dang well that hangovers that lasted 3 days meant my liver was about to become a die-er.
But thanks to Chelsea, I understood what was happening, and that I had a choice -- I could let it happen, and leave my 4 yr old motherless, or I could do something about it. Chelsea was expensive, but AA is free -- well, a dollar a meeting, if you've got it -- can't beat it!Andria
Thankfully, the only thing I ever got hooked on was cigs, and vaping took care of that
I can't imagine the difficulty of trying to kick a "hardcore addiction" (alcohol or drugs) while being denied smoking or vaping. That's making things difficult for the sake of difficulty!
I can't imagine the difficulty of trying to kick a "hardcore addiction" (alcohol or drugs) while being denied smoking or vaping. That's making things difficult for the sake of difficulty!
Cigs are a hardcore addiction! I had a brother who quit white nose powder and alcoholism easier than quitting cigs
Talking about society's viewpoint, Myst
In our society, alcoholism and drug addiction are the "nasties". Cigarettes, not so much
In our society, alcoholism and drug addiction are the "nasties". Cigarettes, not so much
Same here! The alcoholism was hard; it took many years of "white knuckles" and crying hissy fits before I finally grew comfortable with sobriety -- but even that was easier than all previous methods of trying to quit smoking. E-cigs are pure serendipity -- an unlooked-for blessing when I had given up any idea of quitting.
Andria
I had this concern when I spoke to my doc about switching to vapes. I have not completely quit the analogs yet, but my doc was thrilled. She asked for more information, but had no complaints at all! If anything, your doc will be able to help coordinate the vaping with any other treatment
ok Schizophrenia is an entirely different mental illness than anxiety disorders.
Dally, vape away. I've worked with probably thousands of folks with schizophrenia in the five years I worked at our county's psychiatric facility.
what I did notice was after the more frequent smoke breaks that I instituted on our unit (hell you only give me one cigarette a day you'd have had to medicate and lock me up too) that prn med use went down, as well as a better response to medications and an "easing" if you will of "the voices", less agitation, etc.
you're a grown up, vape if you want to kiddo! tell mom you want to, that's reason enough right there, and give her some literature or direct her to some websites like this one and others.
good luck!!
When our state hospital went tobacco free, we saw a large increase in PRNs, as well as incidents of seclusion and restraint. It's too bad that our current administration is completely unwilling to acknowledge the benefits...
Hello, i suffer from p.t.s.d., anxiety,depression,and bipolar disorder and i rarely speak about it because i feel its still a stigmata to certain people. As far as vaping and the " chemicals " in it they have had no effect on the medication im currently on, imo ive felt better since i quit smoking analogs i have more self esteam and monrovation and the feeling that i can do anything i put my mind to and its very impowering ( i.e. building coils, answerimg others questions, etc atleast to me) i still feel a bit overwhelmed at times trying to find the right setup and ejuice, but it sure as hell beats all tje what ifs of anixety. It has made me more social because of finding others that share the same interests as me and keeps my brain busy in wanting to learn more about it, the other vapers ive socialized with on this site also makes me realize that i dont have to be so introverted in fear of what people think of me they all are more than patient and understanding dealing with a newbie. Here is a personal example. A few weeks ago my ex destroyed all my vape gear, i was freaking out and extremely angry i posted a yhread on it just to vent for my own nenefitcand within minutes i had people i didn't know keep my hopes up and a few actually gifyed me some gear and juice at no cost. Imo this site and vaping are a great thing especially wgen you have to deal with others question or knock something you enjoy. Do what makes you HAPPY my friend as long as it does not harm anyone. Im sure anyone on here will back me up in saying we are here to help one another not expecting anything in return, i hope this has helped you some. If youd like send me a friend request and ill accept. Best wishes brother.semper fi
I have GAD and horrible social anxiety. I can't ride in someone else's car (besides the girlfriend and maybe a few close family members,) I can't drive myself long distances (any kind of road trip or day trip,) I can't be in a crowded store or at a friends house for very long, I try to avoid any kind of confrontation from anyone outside my home. It really sucks xD
Anyway on the topic of vaping....
Was depressed years ago until the doc got me taking prescriptions, but sometimes I have a hard time vaping around anybody because I know they're looking at me and thinking "what is that guy doing?" I don't need, nor do I want that kind of attention xD. I think with cigarettes, it's kind of the norm so nobody bats an eye.
Anyway on the topic of vaping....
Was depressed years ago until the doc got me taking prescriptions, but sometimes I have a hard time vaping around anybody because I know they're looking at me and thinking "what is that guy doing?" I don't need, nor do I want that kind of attention xD. I think with cigarettes, it's kind of the norm so nobody bats an eye.
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