Does Vaping Help With Anxiety? What the Evidence Says

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK, but did you know, many vapers say that vaping helps them manage stress and anxiety... but what does the evidence actually say?

Find out here as we give you an unbiased look at the impact of vapes on anxiety symptoms.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is really an umbrella term for the symptoms people experience in different situations. For some, it manifests as chronic overthinking and avoidant behaviours, while others may experience physical symptoms like feeling dizzy and a racing heart.

In severe cases, anxiety can turn into a panic disorder, which often requires medication and ongoing support from mental health services.

Research shows that 1 in 10 people have a diagnosed anxiety disorder in the UK, while over 37% of women and 29% of men report experiencing anxiety symptoms regularly (Mental Health Foundation).

The main types of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder: GAD is when someone experiences persistent worries about things like work, family, money, and health.

• Social Anxiety: A severe fear of being embarrassed or rejected in social settings, which often leads to isolation and avoidant behaviours.

• Mental Health Issues: In some cases, anxiety symptoms can be a part of PTSD, OCD, and phobias.

Why Are E-Cigarettes Associated With Relieving Anxiety Symptoms?

Many vapers say they feel calmer after taking a few puffs on their vape pen or pod kit, which isn't surprising. Nicotine is known to interact with chemicals in the brain that have an impact on emotions and mood.

When it enters your bloodstream, nicotine stimulates the brain's neurotransmitters, including dopamine, a feel-good chemical.

So, when your brain gets a hit of dopamine, it can make you feel happier, relaxed, and able to focus.

What the Research Says

Vaping for anxiety is particularly prevalent among teenagers and young adults. One study found that younger vapers and smokers experience higher levels of anxiety and depression, which suggests that they turn to nicotine to relieve their mental health symptoms (The Independent).

The Truth Initiative also revealed that 4 in 5 young people who took up vaping did so to relieve their anxiety and depression.

Hand to Mouth Action

When the brain starts to spiral out of control, simple things can stabilise thinking and make people feel more ready to deal with stress.

It's why many people eat more, chew things, or vape when they're experiencing anxiety, as it ensures sensory grounding and can regulate the nervous system.

The Breathing

In some cases, it's not even the act of consuming nicotine. The calming effects can come from puffing on a vape while taking controlled, slow breaths.

If you experience anxiety in a public setting or workplace, stepping outside to vape can relax your mind as you're away from a stressful environment.

In some ways, it's like practising mindfulness because the breathing action can focus the brain.

The Negative Effects of Nicotine

Research shows that people who vape are more likely to experience stress, but this doesn't necessarily mean that it causes stress (ERS). The fact is that anxious individuals use vaping to cope with their symptoms, so, naturally, the figures are high.

However, we do need to cover the negative impact nicotine has on the nervous system.

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

While nicotine can increase dopamine levels. Just like food and other substances can make you feel happy and relaxed at first, the dopamine levels drop once the nicotine leaves your system.

For some people, this can worsen anxiety, which means they need more nicotine to satisfy their vape cravings and calm their minds.

Increased Stimulation

Nicotine is also known to stimulate the nervous system, including increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. These effects can increase your baseline anxiety levels and can mimic a panic attack.

However, this is most common when you increase your nicotine levels, as the body needs time to get used to them.

Hormonal Symptoms

Nicotine can also trigger a release of cortisol, which can make you feel stressed (NIH). Cortisol can also induce fight or flight responses, which make you feel anxious and can impact your mental well-being.

In some people, this can cause sleep problems, including struggling to fall asleep or waking up in the night due to nicotine cravings.

Should You Quit Vaping Nicotine?

It's a question you're probably asking yourself, and there's no right or wrong answer here. Nicotine addiction is similar to other addictions. When you stop abruptly, it can trigger vape cravings, which increases anxiety.

Vaping is proven to be 95% safer than smoking, as the devices don't contain tar and carbon monoxide. So, instead of quitting nicotine cold turkey, it's best to reduce your intake gradually. Electronic cigarettes are perfect for this, as you can choose to reduce your e-liquid strength gradually.

For example, heavy smokers often start on 18-20mg of e-liquid, but reducing to 16mg, then 11mg, and so on is a gentler way to prevent cravings while still getting temporary relief from nicotine.

Once you successfully quit, you can enjoy a variety of nicotine-free vape juices, which have all of the flavour but no addictive elements.

How to Manage Stress When Reducing Your Nicotine Dependence:

• Increase Physical Activity: Exercise can be great for dealing with withdrawal symptoms, as it boosts endorphin levels - also known as happy hormones.

• Keep Busy: Finding things to do can help you take your mind off nicotine. This can be gardening, going for a walk, crafts, or anything that keeps your mind busy.

• Get Professional Support: Counselling and hypnosis can be beneficial for managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

• Breathing: Practising mindfulness and performing conscious breathing exercises can be great coping mechanisms for reducing stress.

The Bottom Line

Vaping is significantly safer than traditional cigarettes, but it shouldn't be used as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, and depression. However, if you're quitting smoking, using vape devices is an excellent way to satisfy your nicotine cravings.

Once you're ready to kick the habit, you can gradually cut down your levels and enjoy 0mg nicotine. 88Vape customers don't just get low prices and high-quality products; we have an expert vaping community ready to help you on your journey.

Please get in touch with us today for advice.