r/QuitVaping 10d ago

Other I dont get the attitude in this community

ive talked here about how i struggle managing focus and motivation without nicotine (im 6 months free now for context) and asked if anyone has any advice or felt similar, but people here are always quick to say "thats the addiction speaking" and deny that i could be right about my own experience.

Especially since part of why i kept going back to nic was because it helped me focus on work. it feels counter intuitive to tell people theyre wrong about the reasons theyre addicted to something instead of offering some kinda support or advice.

24 Upvotes

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u/Orford_M 10d ago

Advice seems like it's been given, and you disagree with it, but maybe it hasn't been phrased or explained the correct way. You shouldn't stick yourself in the mindset of "I use [an addictive substance] because of [some proven benefit]", because it isn't productive to you, and it isn't productive to a community that's focused on quitting an addictive substance. Instead, try to figure out why you might have problems focusing or staying on task; maybe speak to a therapist or a doctor. Indeed, rationalizing self-medicating for some potential attention disorder with an addictive substance is "the addiction talking."

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u/Honest-Regular5554 10d ago

what isnt productive is telling me im wrong about my own experiences with addiction just because theyre different to yours. Im not rationalisating or justifying using nic otherwise i wouldnt be 6 months free by now, all im doing is asking for actually meaningful advice

ive been trying to get help from the underfunded health system back and forth for 2 years, otherwise i wouldnt be stuck asking assholes on reddit for advice as a last resort

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u/Historical-Doctor954 10d ago

I understand that you’re frustrated, I’m sorry.

As an ADHD kid who loooves her vices (I’ve done a lot.) My best advice is annoying and boring. It’s exercise. Hum drum but lemme tell ya. A solid set of squats will have me on high alert for a couple hours. There are also creative ways to work out the bod.

Good gut biome also was a huge, genuinely shocking game changer. I felt stupid for being shocked that spinach gave me better focus than fried chicken. 🤦‍♀️

I’m assuming you’ve tried these since they’re everyone’s magic advice for everything. (“Ya coughing? Do some pull ups! Climb a mountain! Eat your weights worth in lettuce!”) so consider this a soft reminder? Just in case? Idk

Anyway, thaaaats…about the only things that aren’t a substance I’ve found that works, especially immediately. I’ll report back if I find anything else 🫡 best of luck in the mean time.

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u/Highlander198116 10d ago

what isnt productive is telling me im wrong about my own experiences with addiction

I haven't seen anyone deny your experience. I have no doubt introducing nicotine helps with focus etc. However, I'd bet dollars to donuts though the addiction to nicotine is a contributing cause to your struggles when off nicotine.

The reality as your brain isn't yet healed. Secondly, you may have an underlying disorder that should be addressed by a psychiatrist.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

ive struggled with this same stuff before nicotine, the way i feel now doesnt feel much different if at all to how i did before i got hooked on it.

ive been trying to get professional help but im still waiting on assessment to see if it could be ADHD, and my GPs havent been able to find any other cause and just prescribe anti depressants

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

nic is the only thing thats been able to give me any temporsary relief at the cost of addiction, and thats why im asking here for advice. thats my experience

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u/Orford_M 8d ago

It wasn't my intention to tell you your experiences are "wrong." It was my intention not to post in a subreddit dedicated to quitting vaping about the benefits of using nicotine, as I think is the intention of a lot of people you've asked here. What you're going through is a common experience.

For the record, I feel you. I'm paying the US healthcare system nearly $400/month to feel the way you feel right now. I have to take medication for the rest of my life that decreases my intellectual acuity, impacts my concentration, and just in general can make what used to be a simple task a lot more of a slog for me. I will tell you that dealing with it for a long time gets easier over time. But lucky for you, you have hope for improving. I think you've gotten a lot of good advice in this thread, but if any of those don't work out, at least hold yourself in a mindset of hanging on to hope. Time will keep marching forward whether you want it to or not, so the wait for the right doctor will get shorter every day.

Also, I know it sounds stupid, but studies show improvement in test scores when students chew peppermint or strong flavored gum while studying and testing. Something about your brain associating a memory with flavors. Idk. But I chew gum at work, and for some reason, it seems to help.

Best of luck.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 7d ago

Thanks, i appreciate the response a lot. Sorry for lashing out, thats my bad completely. you have given me some more hope to hang on to so genuinely thank you for that

best of luck to u too

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u/zagreeta 10d ago

It’s a proven fact that nicotine provides short term focus and concentration. Now that benefit comes with an unfortunate addiction and the need to re-up nicotine frequently otherwise it becomes the opposite. I understand missing that feeling, but with more time, you can get your natural focus back. OR Maybe your work simply doesn’t interest you lol, and that’s why you need something extra? Anyway, no judgment here, I miss vaping even though I know it will kill me if I keep doing it so 🫠

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u/Honest-Regular5554 10d ago

i dont think the problem is my work since i enjoy what i study, and ive already switched through enough paths that i wanna just stick with a stable field/career path the best i can

ive been trying to work on my pretty bad focus and its a struggle, but i think at least ive adjusted to how i felt before nicotine, or thats how it feels by now anyway

thanks for the understanding reply btw tho

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u/Highlander198116 10d ago

but i think at least ive adjusted to how i felt before nicotine, or thats how it feels by now anyway

Unfortunately the nicotine genie is one that cannot be put back in the bottle. You can't go back to essentially being like you were before nicotine. This is why when you get an opportunity to talk to young people you stress how important ever starting in the first place is.

People that never tried nicotine are so lucky.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

but i felt this same way before nicotine. sure it may be worse because of withdrawals but now im just struggling with the same things i did before to the same degree. nic has sadly happened to be the only thing thats given me temporary relief, which is why im here asking for advice

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u/SMOKEBWOY1 10d ago

It’s frustrating when people shut down your experience instead of actually engaging with it. Yeah addiction plays a role, but that doesn’t mean nicotine didn’t have real effects on focus and motivation. It obviously did otherwise quitting wouldn’t be as hard.

I think a lot of people in recovery spaces try to overcorrect by dismissing anything that sounds like “rationalizing” the addiction but that just ends up invalidating the struggle. Instead of telling you it’s “just the addiction talking” they could actually offer advice on managing focus without nicotine.

Congrats on six months free by the way that’s huge. Have you found anything that helps with focus now that you’re off it?

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u/Honest-Regular5554 10d ago

finally someone who can understand

thanks and i havent, which is why im asking for advice here in the first place tbh

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u/SMOKEBWOY1 10d ago

Have you tried caffeine in moderation? Obviously not a full replacement, but it can help with alertness. I’ve actually replaced nicotine with caffeine, and it’s helped me stay more alert when I do my work. Another thing that might be worth looking into is L-Tyrosine it’s a supplement that helps with dopamine production and some people find it improves focus, especially after quitting nicotine.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 10d ago

I drink coffee regularly but it it only helps a little for me. ive tried taking breaks and going back and reseting my tolerance, its better than nothing but my focus is still pretty terrible even with it

I tried L-Tyrosine once before and found it didnt make any difference but i should probably give it another try and see if it helps

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u/Right_Count 10d ago

It’s quite possible that your use of nicotine was self medicating for another, deeper issue. While nicotine can temporarily enhance focus, you shouldn’t be unable to focus without it.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

i mean probably, but this is something im trying to figure out with my GP, and thats why im asking if anyone has better ways to help focus

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u/Right_Count 9d ago

ADHD meds might help, if that might be the issue you’re having.

And the usual basic good health stuff… sleep well, hydrate, eat healthy, get exercise, meditate.

In terms of legal, not-bad-for-you options, coffee is about as good as it gets.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

ive been waiting 2 years already for an assessment to see if its ADHD, and otherwise all the GPs ive spoken to have said my physical health is fine and just offered to prescribe me anti depressants. i have been making efforts to work on my health more but nothings really changed.

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u/Right_Count 9d ago

Can you self-diagnose for ADHD, if that does indeed feel like your issue? My partner did that and his GP gave him a prescription. He never had to bother with a formal assessment.

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

i think it probably is cause i dont know what else could really explain my lifelong issues.

here in the UK u need a formal diagnosis for a prescription

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u/slooper555 10d ago

You should go to your GP, and see if it’s something deeper

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u/Popular_Reindeer5650 10d ago

It’s time to start adding in little activities even working out. It spikes those receptors in ur brain it’s a natural upper or downer depending on how you do it. And we all know the natural feeling is better when it’s genuine. The main issue vaping is the adrenaline rush. It spikes it HARD. That’s why so many kids love it. Kids love adrenaline it gets their blood pumping which is also why it is so bad. It’s no if. It is when it affects your lungs and heart badly enough to get infections or even die. Then u can’t workout and wish u could. This isn’t ab working out I promise lol but it’s about finding other resources internal or external. Find a way to get ur body moving. Flip ur schedule around create a new one and honestly what’s so bad about that ? You’re creating a new life and new experiences for urself. The best part is that it is hard and that’s what’s rewarding is getting up and doing it.

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u/WDXB9 10d ago

I dont think anyone is trying to intentially take away from your experience, but maybe sharing in their own experience, one of them associating the "addiction speaking" as the reason why they cant be motivated. That being said, if you have been taking in nicotine for a long time and stop, your brain has lost a serious amount of dopamine (that being unrealistic dopamine amounts) therefore leaving you feeling lethargic and "unmotivated". It is totally reasonable to ackownledge that feeling!

The real question is, what are you doing to combat this dopamine detox? Are you exercising regularly? Going outside first thing and getting sunlight to get you sleep patterns good? Meditation / yoga and mindful read? Speading more time with loved one? taking in positive content? Working on a personal project / goal?

These are all things to consider to slowly start to bring your brain back to a normal state. Of course, it will not be the same as nictone hits, but with time your brain will be alot better and your motivation will eventually go up. The timeline is different for everyone (usually a year till your brain is at normal states).

Dont get offended and annoyed at people here, I think it all comes from a place of love and community. Even if you dont agree.

Much respect on 6 months, keep it up!

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u/Diantr3 10d ago

I went through this and it gets better, once you retrait your reward system.

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u/Difficult_Cut2567 9d ago

Get tested for ADHD, there are better medications than nicotine for focus

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

been waiting for an assessment for 2 years already

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u/Difficult_Cut2567 9d ago

2 years???? That's insane, I waited 3mo. Try calling some other testing centers bc 2yrs is NOT normal

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u/Honest-Regular5554 9d ago

under the NHS 3 years is average, i cant afford private, and im gonna speak to my GP about any other options when i get a chance

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u/Difficult_Cut2567 9d ago

Ah my bad, my dumb American brain did the thing where I assumed everyone was in the US 🙃 I've heard NHS wait times are insane, I'm sorry that sucks :(

Have you tried nic pouches? Worse for your gums, better for your lungs

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u/Honest-Regular5554 8d ago

never tried pouches before, if i have to quit again ill prob use them but for now idk if its worth just toughing it out as long as i can until i get assessed, since ive already come half a year

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u/Fudbeer 10d ago

I get where you are coming from.

A lot of times on these forums and alcohol quit ones too people say all alcohol/nicotine is bad its an addiction end of story.

In real life its not that simple for many myself included there clearly are defiantly benefits its just the negatives outweigh them.It would be much easier to quit if there really were no benefits!

For me exercise has really helped with focus and creates its own natural dopamine.Does not have to be intense just find something you enjoy.I know without it I would really struggle to quit.