Curious

[Bella1929]

Hi everyone, I’m an ex-smoker (not heavy and not even every day). When I smoked is was normally to help with stress and anxiety. I’ve stopped for quite a while now but I find myself looking for something still now. I wanted to know if anyone had experience in 0% nicotine vapes and what your thoughts were on this. I do not miss the smell on me or the taste simply the motion and action of having that occasional cigarette. Wonders if when I am at my most anxious and that feeling kicks in, whether having something like that would help me??

Many thanks

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Bella,

This is an interesting question. There is a whole range of evidence about the addictive behaviours around smoking. The fact you have managed to stop is brilliant. Sometimes the act of holding something like a cigarette is hard to replicate, but maybe this is where vaping may fill the gap. But the evidence about how effective vaping is in reducing nicotine addiction is still new and unclear. Maybe it would be helpful to ask your GP about having CBT which can help address the unhelpful patterns of thoughts and behaviours that drive that desire. Smoking is the quick fix to reduce anxiety, but it doesn't deal with the underlying issues driving that anxiety, so maybe it's time to get to the root of this to help you find healthier ways to reduce your anxiety and change your behaviour patterns. Just some thoughts.

Best wishes,

MAS Nurse and Moderator

[AmyKart]

It's possible that could work, but I would try and find a healthier coping strategy for anxiety, because even without nicotine, the vapes arent the best for us

[Hidden]

I smoked in the seventies, sixty a day.

I understand once of and packed in you are best to leave cigs alone

This vaips whatever can still be a habit former. You have stopped well done. I used to suck Fisherman Friends, original they have a strong taste and do help in stopping smoking.

Some of my friends used to suck a sweet made something similar to above, they were called IMPS.

BOB

[Missy_D]

When I worked in London in the late 80's I smoked anything between 40 & 60 a day (and I wasn't even in my twenties!!!!). They then brought in the smoking ban in the workplace so I gave up, overnight. Yes honestly I went 60 to 0 😀. However stress, anxiety, paranoia and BPD in general has meant that I took solace in cigarettes to escape for a while, although I wouldn't say I have started smoking again with any regularity. After a spell in hospital, where the only cigarettes you are allowed are vapes / disposable ones, I found an alternative to use if I found that my behaviours were changing. The ones I use are supposedly the equivalent to about 40 cigarettes and I can make a signal disposable cigarette last between 6 & 9 months. I think what I am trying to say is yes low nicotine / no nicotine e cigarettes or vapes for some people will work but it will also depend on your self control and will power if you do not want to end up with a 20 a day habit