It’s Time To Have An Honest Conversation About Nicotine.
I mean…she does look cool.
We hear about teens vaping nicotine constantly, but the number of moms I see out in the world vaping is rising. I’ll start out by saying, there is no judgement over here, I quit vaping nicotine for good in September of 2022, I know how hard it is to quit, I’ve quit at least fifteen times. IT SUCKS EVERY F*CKING TIME. This is especially true if you have a young kid. Nothing makes withdrawal harder than someone screaming at you to bring them snacks.
So while I have quit ‘the nic’ before, my September stop was due to acute bronchitis.
True story: Coating my already mucus suffocated lungs in oil seemed like a no bueno idea. A month long lung illness was a wakeup call for me. I dropped my vape in the trashcan and said goodbye forever.
It came out like this, “Bye you watermelon flavored betch. I hope you get smoked in hell. I HATE YOU BUT WILL MISS YOU EVERY DAY.”
Before last year, I never had bronchitis, and I got it bad. It was a clear sign, that I had done some damage to my lungs. However, I am grateful to be young enough (thirty eight years young ya’ll) that an active choice to live a healthier lifestyle will offset some of the permanent damage from smoking anything plant based put in front of me for the last sixteen years.
My College Boyfriend Owes Me an Apology TBH
Class Act.
My smoking journey started when I was twenty two years old, which was actually my last year of college. I have no idea how I managed to not smoke for twenty two years, only to pick up the habit on my way to college graduation, but that is what happened. Honestly, my boyfriend at the time casually smoked and talked a lot about ‘culture.’ I thought he was cool, and I thought casually smoking would be cool for me too. At twenty two, I was very silly in the brain.
My college Roommate’s Wedding Circa 2007. The limo driver fixed my broken bra. Amazing Memory :p
I’ve met people who can casually smoke, but I am not that person. I immediately became addicted to nicotine. I’ve had times in my life where I have smoked a pack a day, and times where I did not smoke for six months, casually smoked one cigarette while out with friends, and got right back into the addiction cycle. I’ve smoked just to kill time, to break up the work day, to handle stress, to socialize.
I used it like meditation. Step outside inhale the tobacco deeply, exhale, repeat until I felt dizzy.
The Smokers Secret
There is a secret among smokers. No one actually likes the feeling you get after after smoking a cigarette. Nicotine makes you sick. Every time I smoked, I regretted it. It hurt my chest, made it hard to breeze, left my head foggy, and kept me awake at night.
So Why Did I Keep Smoking Nicotine?
Nicotine is just as addictive as cocaine and heroin. Check out this 1988 report on addiction released by the Surgeon General. It’s infamous, but an interesting read.
I would finish a cigarette, and one hour later, I craved another. That smoke break an hour prior which made me sick to my stomach – distant memory. I needed another immediately.
Would You Like To Smoke A Whole Pack In One Day, Without The Physical Work Of Smoking That Much? Introducing Juul!
In June 2015, the Juul electronic cigarette is introduced by Pax Labs. Thus begins distribution of e-cigarettes’ to the consumer world. All of the nicotine and none of the smoke smell? I can puff to my hearts content in the bathroom at my in-laws house, because it’s a stressful situation and nicotine ‘relaxes’ me. Amazing right?!
WRONG
Hitting my Vape on the Way to Pilates.
Most of us know now that if vapes are better than cigarettes, it’s not by a whole lot. I’m not here to get into the chemical breakdown of a cigarette vs vape juice from an e-cig. You can find that information at lung.org. I want to use this blog to talk about nicotine specifically.
The Juul allows you to take in nicotine constantly, anywhere, anytime. One Juul pod contains the same amount of nicotine as one to two packs of cigarettes, and I was going through one pod every two days.
Nic Sick
With electronic cigarettes’ I was constantly giving myself nicotine poisoning. They call it ‘nic sick.‘
Cute…
Symptoms like nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and headaches were a common occurrence during my vape years.
So…What is Nicotine and Why Does it Make Us Sick?
Nicotiana tabacum L. It’s a pretty plant, for being such an asshole.
Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid from the nightshade family of plants. It is classified as a poison.
Nicotine can cause an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, flow of blood to the heart and a narrowing of the arteries (vessels that carry blood). It may also contribute to the hardening of the arterial walls, which in turn, may lead to a heart attack.
Nicity Nic can also lead to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, neurobehavioral defects, infertility, and even respiratory failure.
Long term use of nicotine damages your heart an messes up your mood. Period.
Parents Who Vape
Parents who “vape” should be aware that a very small amount of the liquid nicotine, like those used to refill e-cigarettes – can kill a child. It’s also poisonous within minutes if spilled on their skin.
Additionally, the vapor from e-cigarettes has chemicals in it that can be harmful to kids. Even if your child is not in the home, the vapor coats surfaces that your children are touching. If you vape in your car, you’ll notice the film on the windows, your kid is breathing that ish in.
Well Now I Guess I Should Quit BUT IT IS REALLY HARD.
It is really hard, and you may not be able to quit the first time, but you can quit.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms set in between four and twenty four hours after a person last vaped. The symptoms peak around day three nicotine free, and then gradually subside over the following three to four weeks.
You will be angry and sad and sweaty, but it will go away and you will feel better.
If you like the act of smoking, a fun alternative is vaping your vitamins! LUVV Air products do not contain any nicotine, tobacco, diacetyl (thought to contribute to “popcorn lung”), acetyl propionyl, THC, or cannabinoids. They do not use cutting agents (like vitamin E acetate) emulsifiers, or any synthetic agents. The vapor is water soluble, so safer to inhale if you really want the sensation of smoking. Inhaling anything comes with risks so do your research.
Ingredients! Vitamin B12 (12 mcg) Vitamin B6 (3 mg) L-Theanine (157 mcg) L-Lysine (157 mcg) Vegan-Friendly Taurine (1.57 mg)
Remember that you can do hard things!
For five tips on handling nicotine withdrawal visit the Truth Initiative
Author: Jenna Levine Liu is the Founder & President of Sixx Cool Moms. You can find a Cool Moms chapter by you by visiting our directory.
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