In this new generation, mental health, specifically anxiety, has increased, so people are looking for alternative ways to reduce their stress and anxiety. One of those alternatives is vaping or e-cigarettes.

But how effective is vaping when it comes to reducing anxiety?

Firstly - What Is Anxiety?

Before we understand the benefits of vaping on anxiety, we must first understand what anxiety is.

Your body’s normal reaction to stress is anxiety. It’s a sensation of dread and unease brought on by worry or tension. Everybody experiences anxiety at some time in their lives, whether those feelings are moderate or severe, and every person handles their anxiety differently.

People with anxiety disorders frequently worry and dread excessively and continuously in normal circumstances. These disorders are characterised by recurrent episodes of anxiousness that quickly escalate in intensity and lead to panic attacks.

Anxiety disorders can be chronic, are challenging to manage, and are disproportional to the real threat. It may start around childhood or teenage years and continue into adulthood, and some individuals find that they may need to avoid specific locations or circumstances to prevent these attacks.

Separation anxiety, particular phobias, social phobia, and generalised anxiety are among the various types of anxiety. Having more than one anxiety disorder is possible, and sometimes, additional medical problems must be treated to regale the anxiety it causes.

How Does Vaping Work?

Now we have learnt precisely what anxiety is and how it affects the body, let’s break down how vaping works and how the two can impact each other.

Most vaping devices comprise a heating element, a battery, and an e-liquid-filled cylinder or vape tank. The e-liquid contains numerous components, including propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and nicotine, but not all e-liquids contain nicotine.

The battery powers the heating device, which vaporises the e-liquid when the user inhales. The vapour comes out as a visible vapour after the person inhales it.

Vaping has become popular among people who are attempting to give up smoking because the sensation of inhaling and exhaling the vapour is similar to that of smoking.

Let’s examine how vaping and e-cigarettes can reduce anxiety and benefit you in the short or long term.

The Aroma And Flavours

In comparison to cigarette smoke, the flavours found in vapes are superior. You only inhale toxins and chemicals when you choose to smoke cigarettes over vaping. Vaping liquids have no stimulants, so they won’t make you anxious. According to research, vaping creates significantly fewer toxins than smoking cigarettes. Therefore, when you vape instead of smoke, you are ridding your body of toxins and lowering your anxiety and tension.


Calming And Relaxation

Many claim that vapes help in releasing psychological tension. When you inhale, your body will produce chemicals that cause your brain to slow down and pause. If you struggle with a mental illness like anxiety or depression, this technique is essential. So, if you’re experiencing anxiety or stress, all the information in your brain will flow slower while you vape, and you’ll feel calmer.

Easy To Use

One of the most straightforward but compelling reasons to use vaping to reduce anxiety is its ease of use. Anyone can operate a vaping device and can do it quickly and discreetly, so whenever or wherever you are in the world, if you are feeling anxious, you can reduce those feelings with a simple vape.

The short answer is yes, nicotine can cause anxiety; however, the relationship between nicotine and anxiety can be quite complex. Understanding how nicotine affects mental health, particularly anxiety, is important, especially in a society where smoking and vaping are prevalent.

Nicotine is a stimulant found predominantly in tobacco products. When nicotine enters the bloodstream, it triggers the release of various chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, which is often referred to as the "feel-good" hormone. This release can initially induce feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Due to these effects, many people use nicotine as a way to manage stress or anxiety. However, the calming effects are typically short-lived and can be followed by exacerbated anxiety levels.

The Nicotine Cycle

One of the reasons nicotine can cause anxiety is because of its withdrawal effects. When a person who regularly uses nicotine stops or reduces their consumption, their brain starts to crave the next dose to maintain that sense of well-being. This nicotine dependency can result in withdrawal symptoms that include heightened anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. These withdrawal symptoms can occur relatively quickly, sometimes within a few hours of the last consumed dose, and can create a vicious cycle where individuals use nicotine to alleviate the very anxiety that it contributes to causing.

The stimulant properties of nicotine can also directly increase anxiety. Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline, which triggers the body's "fight or flight" response. This physiological response includes a rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and a surge of energy—all of which can mimic or contribute to feelings of anxiety. For some, the sense of heightened alertness can be overwhelming and lead to anxiety-related symptoms.

Symptoms of nicotine-induced anxiety can vary from person to person but often include the following:

●    Restlessness: A constant feeling of being on edge or unable to relax.

●    Increased Heart Rate: Palpitations or a racing heartbeat, which can itself create feelings of panic.

●    Sweating: Excessive sweating, particularly if it is accompanied by feelings of nervousness or tension.

●    Tremors or Shaking: Noticeable shaking in the hands or other parts of the body.

●    Difficulty Concentrating: Trouble focusing or maintaining attention, often due to intrusive anxious thoughts.

●    Irritability: A short temper or becoming easily annoyed, which can be both a symptom of anxiety and nicotine withdrawal.

●    Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restless sleep.

Individuals might also find themselves avoiding social situations or other activities they once enjoyed due to anxiety, further perpetuating a cycle of isolation and increased anxiety levels. It is important to recognise that while nicotine may offer some temporary relief from anxiety, it often compounds the problem over time. For those looking to quit nicotine and manage anxiety, several strategies can be beneficial, including switching from smoking to vaping.

Vaping allows a controlled, gradual reduction of nicotine intake rather than abrupt cessation and can help mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Seeking support from healthcare professionals, such as a doctor or therapist, can provide coping strategies and possible therapies or medications to help manage both nicotine withdrawal and anxiety.

Recognising the signs and seeking appropriate support can help individuals break the cycle of nicotine dependence and anxiety, paving the way to better mental and physical health.

It’s crucial to vape safely or responsibly to enjoy all the advantages of doing so for anxiety. Because if you don’t, you might harm yourself in the future. The following are some recommendations for vaping safely.

Never Customise Your Liquids

When purchasing liquids from a reliable supplier or manufacturer such as Go Smoke Free, you can be sure that their formulations have been thoroughly checked to ensure complete safety. In light of this, altering your liquids by introducing additional components or substances is not advised.

Remember that modifying can lead to unintended chemical reactions with harmful side effects if you are not entirely positive about your actions.

Avoid Setting The Mod's Temperature Too High

The temperature can be changed on some more advanced vaping devices, including box mods. We strongly advise against setting it too high as you’ll experience a dry inhale, and the flavour becomes unpleasant.

Additionally, using the maximum temperature might result in various chemical reactions. These reactions will then cause excessive pollutants that are harmful to your health rather than beneficial.

Stress and pain are common problems that affect millions of people worldwide. It can lead to various health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. One effective way to alleviate stress and pain is by using e-liquids or disposable vapes with calming and pain-relieving flavours.

Giving up smoking for anyone can be incredibly difficult, both physically and mentally. For those struggling with other issues, particularly mental health issues, this extra pressure can make it impossible for many. Weighing up the difference between the dangers of health and the concerns associated with the angst that comes with giving up smoking.

When giving up smoking, smokers face a number of challenges. Not only do they often struggle with nicotine withdrawal, but their bodies also withdraw from the other chemicals in smoking that they are used to. Physical habits such as the hand-to-mouth action, the inhale and exhale routine, and simply having something in hand are hard physical habits to break. On top of this is the loss of the relaxing aspect of smoking as well. Given how difficult it is to quit smoking, whether you have mental health difficulties or not, it is not surprising that so many health professionals prefer patients to vape if the alternative is to smoke.

The damage to health that smoking can do is well documented, with the World Health Organisation making it very clear that there are serious consequences attached to smoking tobacco, not least premature death. As vaping offers a valid alternative to help smokers quit and/or switch to rather than smoking, e cigarettes get a lot of support. The most notable move here in the UK is the support from Public Health England. Their review back in 2018 of e-cigarettes reported that they found them to be at least 95% healthier than tobacco cigarettes. Many organisations support this and push for vaping to be more widely accepted to combat smoking trends.