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Anxiety affects a lot of people, and there are many ways to cope with it, or ease the symptoms.
While there is no specific vape to ease your anxiety, you do need to be sure that you pick the right one for you and your specific needs, so if you’re a recent ex-smoker, you would theoretically need a mouth to lung vape.
If you have been nicotine free for a while but miss the action and routine, or just want a hobby to keep you busy, you can go for whichever vape you like, whether it’s a mouth to lung or a direct lung to make some impressive clouds. Just remember you can buy nicotine free vape liquids, so you don’t need to risk becoming addicted to nicotine again.
Either way, many people have said that vaping does help alleviate some of the stress anxiety brings.
This could be something as simple as having something to occupy your hands, in the same way the fidget spinners or fidget cubes keep your hands busy, or even a mobile phone - you know that eerie feeling you get when a stranger is about to cross your path so you get your phone out so you don’t have to look up?...
Another reason why could be the nicotine. Nicotine withdrawals are very similar to anxiety, so getting that fix of nicotine every now and then will immediately give you a sense of relaxation, therefore you then believe that it is helping your anxiety.
It’s quite common for a smoker or a vaper say “it relaxes me” or “it calms me down”, and they are not wrong. It’s because they are addicted to something, and of course their body will rely on that when it’s left for so long without it. So when you finally give into the cravings, it fills you with a sense of serenity and relaxation.
This works the same way as a hug from a loved one, when we are feeling low or just not ourselves, something as simple as a hug can make us feel better almost immediately. This is because our minds and bodies have associated hugs with feelings of love, affection and safety. It’s exactly the same as vaping, our minds and bodies have associated vaping with feelings of relaxation and calmness.
Many people suffering with anxiety just need a product or tool that they know will 100% help them calm their symptoms, mental health has a strong connection to the placebo effect. If you honestly believe that there is a method to help your anxiety, then this will help you overcome your mental health easier.
So if vaping is keeping you calm and helping you deal with your anxiety, then by all means, keep doing what you’re doing!
Will a higher level of nicotine help my anxiety?
It’s a common misconception that nicotine reduces anxiety, however as stated before, nicotine withdrawal is very similar to anxiety. So all you are doing is relieving your nicotine cravings and not actually reducing your anxiety.
The correlation between smoking and anxiety is a thought many would like to avoid, because the thought of giving up smoking is a much worse one than that.
The reason why nicotine causes anxiety is not yet fully understood, but the majority of current theories have to do with carbon monoxide intake, and of course the other chemicals in cigarettes cause respiratory problems which can trigger panic attacks. Nicotine acts as a stimulant, while tobacco actually causes sleep problems. Sleep deprivation paired with respiratory problems will more than likely lead to stress, anxiety and panic.
In turn, vaping is a much more efficient way of getting your nicotine fix, due to it not having the many bad qualities that smoking cigarettes carry, and the fact you can control your nicotine intake.
Understanding your nicotine level is probably one of the most important components in vaping, too little or too much will cause more stress for you.
If your nicotine level is too high, it’s going to majorly irritate your throat and cause a lot of coughing, not to mention you’ll get a nicotine rush, making the whole experience a bad one.
If your nicotine level is too low, you aren’t going to get the relief to curb your cravings, causing you to vape a lot more, and in turn will cost you more money as you’ll have to buy a lot more vape liquid and coils more often.
So in short, no, a higher level of nicotine will not help you curb your anxiety. Stick to your advised amount and you will benefit a lot more.
What is CBD and how can that help my anxiety?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is derived from cannabis plants and can be used in many forms, food supplements, creams, capsules, gummy sweets and now can also be vaporised.
CBD oil is rich in chemicals called cannabinoids that bind to specialised receptors in the brain.
CBD oil derived from hemp will not produce a “high”. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant grown for industrial use, such as making paper and clothing. Unlike other cannabis plants, hemp has not been bred to produce high levels of THC.
When it comes to anxiety, CBD definitely holds beneficial qualities. CBD is thought to alter the serotonin levels in the brain, serotonin is one of your body’s chemicals and plays a role in your mental health. Low serotonin can cause anxiety and is common in depression.
Vaping is one of the most effective ways to consume CBD and to calm your anxiety as it gets into your bloodstream directly through your lungs, and quickly disperses through your body. This gives you an immediate feeling of relaxation and has a calming affect on the brain and body.
A small study in 2010 found that cannabidiol could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder. Brain scans of participants revealed changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety.