Does vaping make you have anxiety? (+5 Simple solutions)
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In this detailed post, we will be discussing if vaping makes you have anxiety. We will also be checking out the many other effects that vaping has on the body and the mind. Lastly, we will be listing a few ways that you can use to combat anxiety caused by vaping.
Does vaping make you have anxiety?
Yes, vaping makes you have anxiety. According to research studies, vaping can worsen the symptoms of anxiety in a person. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, or are simply stressed, vaping can only do more damage to your mental health.
This is because vaping uses a lot of nicotine to provide the so-called pleasurable effects. However, the pleasurable effects of vaping are definitely short-term in nature. Nicotine slows down the brain function, and increases stress levels in the body and mind.
If you are vaping using THC, this can also lead to feelings of paranoia, which can further cause stress and anxiety in a person. Even if you are using a THC-free strain, high doses can still lead to a lot of anxiety.
Other mental health effects of vaping
Other than causing anxiety, vaping can lead to other detrimental mental health effects. The other mental health effects of vaping have been discussed in detail in the following section.
Addiction effects
A lot of people, especially youngsters, switch to vaping thinking that it is not addictive in nature. However, vaping is just as addictive like smoking, drugs and alcohol. Vaping may only provide some temporary relief from whatever anxiety you are going through.
The real problem comes when you are trying to quit vaping since you are sure to go through withdrawal symptoms. As a result, you might feel trembling in your limbs, increase in anxiety levels and other symptoms when you are trying to quit.
Breathlessness in times of stress
While breathlessness is more of a physical symptom rather than a mental one, it is often experienced when a person is experiencing anxiety. Vaping leads to an increase in anxiety levels and this can in turn lead to breathlessness.
This is particularly experienced when the person is going through a stressful period or has been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Due to the effects of vaping, the person may feel breathless even more easily and this can be experienced with more intensity.
Sudden changes in mood
Vaping also strongly affects a person’s mood. As a result, if you are addicted to vaping, you might find that your mood changes often or you might find yourself getting easily irritated and frustrated at the actions or behaviors of others.
Impulsivity and recklessness
Another mental health effect that vaping has on a person is an increase in their impulsive actions. As a result, you might find that you take part in more and more dangerous actions without giving much thought to the consequences.
Problems in learning
The nicotine present in the vaping liquid can also cause a lot of problems in learning. This can severely impact your performance at work and may also lead to cognitive impairments in the long run.
Depression and worsening of depression
Another mental health impact of vaping is that it can worsen any pre-existing mental condition that you might have. For instance, if you have been diagnosed with depression, vaping can only worsen the symptoms.
Development of psychosis
In many cases, vaping can also cause psychotic effects on a person. Some people have also experienced hallucinations and paranoia, especially if the vaping liquid contains a lot of THC. If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, vaping might not be a good idea to follow.
Other than these mental health effects, vaping can also lead to several physical effects, which can cause even more stress and anxiety. A few of these physical effects that vaping can cause are:
- Problems in breathing: Vaping can definitely lead to breathing difficulties since the smoke directly affects the lungs. It can further lead to coughing and even increase the risk of respiratory infections in the person.
- Leads to acid reflux: Vaping has been known to cause acid reflux in a person. Due to this acid reflux, the teeth of the person can also become damaged.
- Blood-pressure issues: Nicotine can lead to an increase in the blood pressure of the individual due to the increased pumping of adrenaline. This, along with the endothelial damage caused by vaping, may lead to cardiovascular issues in the blood.
- Possibility of cancer: Another effect of nicotine is that it may lead to cancer. Research studies have found that the urine of those who vape contains a large amount of certain carcinogenic compounds.
How to combat anxiety caused by vaping?
If you vape and have been experiencing anxiety as a result, the first and foremost thing that you need to do is to simply quit this dangerous habit. In this section of the post, we have mentioned a few ways through which you can quit vaping and reduce your anxiety.
Practice mindfulness
If you have been experiencing anxiety as a result of vaping, one thing that you can try is mindfulness. There are plenty of mindfulness exercises and all of these can help in reducing your anxiety and also reduce your need for vaping.
Join a support group
Vaping can lead to anxiety, not only because of the chemicals but also because of the addictive habit. When you are trying to break such a habit, it is wise to take the help of a support group to help you get through it. Both physical and online support groups can be useful.
Sip a glass of warm water
Another technique that is often recommended for those who are trying to quit a habit is sipping on a glass of warm water. Whenever you get the urge to vape, all you need to do is to heat up a glass of water and sip on the hot liquid until the glass is empty.
This exercise not only gives your mind and body the time to fight off the urge, but the act of sipping on warm water can also be calming and also provides hydration to the body. By the time the glass is empty, you will notice that your urge to vape is very less or negligent.
Start working out
You can also try working out as a way of reducing the anxiety caused by vaping. Physical exercise can also help in fighting your addiction to vaping if you are trying to quit. Physical exercise releases happy hormones which are essential for reducing anxiety.
Happy hormones include dopamine and serotonin which instantly improve mood. These also act as healthy addictions which can further push you to pursue a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your mental health.
Learn your trigger factors
The key to fighting any type of addiction which leads to mental health problems like anxiety is to become aware of the trigger factors. When you know your trigger factors, you become better equipped to avoid them or fight them.
For instance, if your trigger factor to vape is a test or a quiz, you can use a healthy relaxation exercise like deep breathing beforehand to fight your urges. If your trigger factor is a certain physical location, you can avoid it to put off vaping.
Conclusion
In this detailed post, we have discussed if vaping makes you have anxiety. We have also checked out the many other effects that vaping has on the body and the mind. Lastly, we have listed a few ways that you can use to combat anxiety caused by vaping.
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Citations
Take Control of Your Anxiety Today: Personalized Counseling with BetterHelp
