Vaping to cure my anxiety

[jerry_e]

Howdy,
New to this forum and the "hobby" and I figured I'd pick your brains with my first post.

I am not an addicted smoker, but I deal with anxiety issues. Used to resort to alcohol to take the edge off but would like to migrate towards something else; albeit vaporizing is also a fixation.

Believe it or not, my doctor recommended I explore vapor. Said there were some compounds out there that weren't harmful (at least, it doesn't hold a candle to binge drinking).

One of my buddies had a neat kit and I tried it recently and surprisingly it settled my nerves (in a different way than the old tobacco 'headrush')

So asking for some seasoned vaping pro's to educate and guide me along the way.

Any thoughts, or anyone out there in a similar boat?


Kind Regards,
Jerry

 

[Susan~S]

Hello and welcome to the forum @jerry_e. Glad to have you here!

Below are many links for you to read through.

Basic parts:
1. Power Source -- Battery or Mod/APV. APV = Advanced Personal Vaporizer
2. Juice Delivery Devise -- often a clearomizer (a tank that uses premade coils).
3. Heating element -- often called a coil.
4. eliquid -- often called juice.

If you are interested in learning more about e-cigarettes (and all the parts and pieces) below are some blog posts by ECF member @Baditude that I highly recommend for someone new to vaping.

1. A Good Starter's Setup for a Beginning Vapor
2. Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods
3. Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Attachments
4. Something Safe for Cinnamon and Citrus Flavors

Here are a few more links from New Members Information <= Link covers many topics. Here are two of them:
1. The Three Main Types of Ecig
2. Vaping Slang and Acronyms

Any thoughts, or anyone out there in a similar boat?

I'll be back and post some threads on vaping/anxiety (assuming I can find them).

 

[skrymir]

Be careful with vaping and anxiety... I have similar anxiety issues and from my limited experience while a few deep lung hits will relax you, chain vaping can increase your heart rate and BP and bring on jittery anxiety like symptoms. Again this is only my experience but when I find my self anxious and vaping compulsively I can come out feeling bad and jittery and it doesn't help.

 

[jerry_e]

Thanks for your prompt response Susan!
This is definitely the kind of literature I needed to review.

Now that I've got a guru on my side rest assured I can rest assured

Would you have a recommendation on a suitable starter kit (not too worried about a budget) and perhaps some organic *but tasty* liquids?

Thanks in anticipation,

Jerry

 

[jerry_e]

Thanks skrymir,
Interesting that you say so. From your experience is this from the nicotine entry into the blood system or the decreased oxygen inhalation; perhaps a combination of both?

chain vaping can increase your heart rate and BP and bring on jittery anxiety like symptoms.

 

[MaenadMoogle]

Using Nicotine can increase anxiety issues. I'm working on my own, and while the slow breathing that comes with vaping is good, too much nicotine can make your anxiety worse. If you're not a smoker, I'd definitely stay away from the nicotine and just enjoy the flavors.

 

[skrymir]

It's more the nicotine... I was a heavy smoker but only use 3mg nic while vaping now because I was getting really jittery using even 6mg juice.

As for a starter kit I've heard great things about the kbox mini kit.

ETA as soon as I can go no nic I will.

 

[jerry_e]

Perhaps I will migrate towards the tastiness in place of the drug.
How does the nicotine mg count in a typical session compare to a cigarette?

I'm game to try whatever works, and enjoy myself along the way.

Using Nicotine can increase anxiety issues. I'm working on my own, and while the slow breathing that comes with vaping is good, too much nicotine can make your anxiety worse. If you're not a smoker, I'd definitely stay away from the nicotine and just enjoy the flavors.

Seems like Vaping is pretty prevalent and gaining popularity (just found out my Vietnam-war-veteran-of-an-uncle is a vaper).
So like any good band-wagoner- here I am.

 

[Hitcat44]

Welcome and Congrats on realizing the inevitable & unavoidable God-Awful Consequences of treating Anxiety/Depression/Human-Condition with Alcohol.
That decision and Action in itself is a HUGE personal Victory. Kudos & Salute to Ya!

My Wife Vapes from time to time (Zero Nic) to help "take the Edge off" and tame the savage Beasts that come in varying degrees and amplitudes for all of us afflicted with the Human Condition from dealing with Life on Life's Terms. Although she has never drank or roasted a Camel, It does work for her and sounds like it can/will for you also.

You are in a great place surrounded by great People who have ourselves defeated Demon(s) of some Sort or another. Here you will find answers to all your Vaping Questions and valuable Advice & Suggestions throughout your newly found Hobby & Coping Mechanism.

Glad you're here. Stay the Course and stick around.
Together we celebrate our daily Reprieves and share our Triumphs over our common Enemies whatever they may be or forms that they take.
The 1st Principle of War is Mass. There IS Strength in Numbers...

 

[JimSmith94]

I had quit smoking for five years and was doing okay until I got into a stressful job. It was either start smoking again or try vaping.

When I learned that the company charged an extra $60 a month for health insurance for tobacco users, and that they consider electronic cigarettes the same as other smoke cessation products, I gave it a shot.

Four years later and I'm still vaping and loving it!

 

[AXIOM_1]

Welcome.......... In regards to the nic, I must be a weirdo. Nicotine always "felt" like it relaxed me as I was a heavy smoker for many years. Vaping does the same thing for me......... HOWEVER, if I get too much nicotine, then it has the opposite effect and makes me jittery...... So, in my case, it "seems" like a relaxant when consumed in 10MG dosages but if I go past that then it has the opposite effect......... Nicotine is classified as a stimulant but for some reason it has always been a soothing stress reliever for me in mid to small dosages.

 

[Susan~S]

Any thoughts, or anyone out there in a similar boat?

Search results on threads with the word "Anxiety" in the title.

Would you have a recommendation on a suitable starter kit (not too worried about a budget)

Lots of great starter kits that can be put together (battery/mod & tank). Here are a few you can look at. Once you have read all the links I posted above consider starting a new thread asking members for suggestions.

Internal (non-replacable battery)
1. iStick 30 watt or Coolfire 4 (goes up to 40 watts) w/a Mini (or full size) Nautilus. Great for M2L (mouth-2-lung) hits. The Nautilus works best at under 20 watts. Higher than 17-18 watts the tank can't feed the juice fast enough to keep up with the power resulting in "burnt/dry" hits.
2. iStick 30 watt or Coolfire 4 w/a Mini Subtank. Great for M2L and/or D2L (direct-2-lung) hits.

Replacable Battery
1. Kanger Mini Subtank Kit (50 watts)

and perhaps some organic *but tasty* liquids?

I'm not up to speed on the companies offering 100% "organic" flavorings in their juice. When I'm not DIY'ing I purchase most of my juice from Ahlusion. Here's the owners take on natural vs artificial/organic/flavorings.

 

[AndriaD]

Welcome.......... In regards to the nic, I must be a weirdo. Nicotine always "felt" like it relaxed me as I was a heavy smoker for many years. Vaping does the same thing for me......... HOWEVER, if I get too much nicotine, then it has the opposite effect and makes me jittery...... So, in my case, it "seems" like a relaxant when consumed in 10MG dosages but if I go past that then it has the opposite effect......... Nicotine is classified as a stimulant but for some reason it has always been a soothing stress reliever for me in mid to small dosages.

Nicotine stimulates the brain's neurochemistry, and has an organizing effect on neurotransmitters, which results in a relaxed feeling; too much of it can bring on "jitters"... so the thing is to find the exactly-right dosage to give your brain the stimulation it needs in order to work most effectively, without using so much that you make yourself nervous.

Andria

 

[2buildawall]

Nicotine has always been in my self medicating rotation. Nicotine relaxes me also. I have 12mg juice I use most of the time and just puff away. If I am going on a "vape binge" I use 6 or even 3mg juice.

Docs are funny. Mine had a cow when I told him I vaped. He thought I was looney tunes. I was not surprised (been my doc for 20+ years) so I hit him with some knowledge. He just looked at me how he does.

A good starter set up for ya: Susan is always on top of it! Check her links out.

My recommendation would be.......

Eleaf 20w and Kanger pro tank 3 or a Nautilus with air flow control. Welcome aboard!

 

[Kevin MacDonald]

Howdy,
New to this forum and the "hobby" and I figured I'd pick your brains with my first post.

I am not an addicted smoker, but I deal with anxiety issues. Used to resort to alcohol to take the edge off but would like to migrate towards something else; albeit vaporizing is also a fixation.

Believe it or not, my doctor recommended I explore vapor. Said there were some compounds out there that weren't harmful (at least, it doesn't hold a candle to binge drinking).

One of my buddies had a neat kit and I tried it recently and surprisingly it settled my nerves (in a different way than the old tobacco 'headrush')

So asking for some seasoned vaping pro's to educate and guide me along the way.

Any thoughts, or anyone out there in a similar boat?


Kind Regards,
Jerry

Hi Jerry, I'm not a seasoned vaper but a lifelong anxiety sufferer, good luck to you.

 

[AXIOM_1]

Hi Jerry, I'm not a seasoned vaper but a lifelong anxiety sufferer, good luck to you.

Yeah, me too

 

[Jode]

Seems like you have already received quite a bit of good information so I will just chime in with a hearty WELCOME!!!! And if I may without overwhelming you request that you check out (and hopefully sign) the petition in my signature.

 

[Amraann]

Perhaps I will migrate towards the tastiness in place of the drug.
How does the nicotine mg count in a typical session compare to a cigarette?

I'm game to try whatever works, and enjoy myself along the way.


Seems like Vaping is pretty prevalent and gaining popularity (just found out my Vietnam-war-veteran-of-an-uncle is a vaper).
So like any good band-wagoner- here I am.

Since you tried your friends kit and his/her liquid and you did enjoy that and find it helped reduce your anxiety maybe you should mimic what he has since you already know how it works for you..
THen venture out further if you decide to.

 

[Isabelle49]

Thanks skrymir,
Interesting that you say so. From your experience is this from the nicotine entry into the blood system or the decreased oxygen inhalation; perhaps a combination of both?

If you were not a smoker and did not use nicotine in the past, I don't think it would be good to do so now, especially not for anxiety. The nicotine free juices might help you relax via the act of vaping. I find it to be a calming experience.

 

[suprtrkr]

Hi and welcome to the board. I strongly recommend those not addicted to nicotine stay away from it, it can be pretty miserable. But not all juice contains nicotine and, while long term effects studies are not completed, vaping being as new as it is, I would have to agree it has to be better for you than binge drinking. I think it has a calming effect on me, too. I tend to view the cigarette addiction as broader than merely nicotine. I personally find a psychological need for the hand-to-mouth pacifier effect as well. So I say vape on. If your friend has kit you like, ask him what it is and we'll get you pointed in the right direction.