To vape?

[BossGirlHere]

I’ve never smoked but have recently started vaping over the past few weeks. I’m a single mum to a 2 year old. My vape seems to help with my stress levels, makes me feel less stressed, it’s also making me feel more relaxed amongst other things. I originally started vaping because a couple of my friends do but now I actually think it’s helping me? I am definitely addicted to it though because it’s my hand all day and I just puff away on it all day, I don’t think I want to stop though. AIBU to vape?

Its not a good example to set your child.

Absolutely foolish thing to do. Vapes very obviously going to cause cancer they just haven't got the data on it yet.
They definitely stick to your clothes and make it smell of sweet puke. Your baby will be breathing in particles off your clothes and if you vape around then they will breathe it in off the air.
It doesn't reduce stress. What nicotine does make you crave it this makes you slightly on edge. Therefore when you have a drag on a vape it reduces the craving and the feeling of edginess and makes you think that you aren't stressed. It's actually just taking you back to where you would be normally if you didn't use nicotine.

Also they are expensive and look ridiculous.

It's not good for you, but that can be said for most coping mechanisms!

Never understood why people who never smoked take up vaping 🤷 I'm a smoker and even I think it's probably not a good thing to do, especially around your little one. I never smoke around my 2 year old

I vape as I was a heavy smokers and needed to stop.

Vaping, as far as we know, is lesser of two evils - I certainly breathe and smell better.

But I wouldn't have picked it up if it weren't for the smoking.

It's a money sink, still bad for you, and only seems like it calms you down because the withdrawels cause stress and taking nicotine again relieves it.

If it seemed to have relaxed you from the word go, it may have just been thr new sensations or the distraction.

Obviously don't judge being a vaper myself, but would never recommend vaping to someone who wasn't using it to replace smoking.

As well as issues with nicotine withdrawal and relief of getting nicotine making it appear as though it is reducing stress, there is also a sensory component of dragging air with resistance which is calming to the nervous system. One of the calming strategies we use with children with emotional dysregulation is to get them to drink through a straw.
I fell for the same trap, unfortunately. I use non-nicotine vapes so there is not physical addiction to nicotine but the sensory component is what got me (I have ASD so really should have been more mindful of that to begin with). I would urge you to come up with alternative ways to self-soothe before you are too deep in.

There are healthy ways and unhealthy ways of relieving stress. You know you have picked the wrong one. Get out of it as quickly as you can. Get nicotine patches if you have to. Find something else to do with your hands. Look into what alternatives would suit you - deep breathing , knitting, walking, meditation? This is not doing you or your children (or your finances) any good.

Find a healthy alternative. There is alarming research coming out about life changing impacts the vapes are having.

They also look ridiculous, grown adults walking around sucking on their soothers is what it looks like.

I know it’s probably not good for me but it does feel like it’s helping to relax me and destress.

That'll be the nicotine. Honestly I'd find something else because it's a shitty habit and will drain money fast

So will yoga, mindfulness, comedy podcast. They won't take time off your life.

I don’t even know if I could stop if I wanted now, I already feel so addicted to it to be honest.

You won't feel very relaxed when it's destroyed your lungs.

I posted the same on a thread that ended up deleted a few weeks ago. Starting vaping (similar scenario to you- single parent, stressed, tried my friends when out etc) was one of the most stupid decisions I've ever made and I regret it every day. My DC, now old enough to express an opinion on it, absolutely hate it and I hate it but I'm embarrassed to say I'm fully addicted. I'm going to try the Paul McKenna (?) book and try to stop in the new year.

There's a saying here that comes to mind - would you die for your child? If the answer is yes try living for your child. You are actively taking years off your life by choosing to vape - they are terrible for your lungs. If you've been doing it a few weeks stop now.

It’s so hard to stop isn’t it, I already feel addicted to it and it’s only been a few weeks.

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