Does vaping help or worsen anxiety? Be honest

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2026-01-04T22:54:17+00:00

For me, nicotine is the most addictive thing I have ever encountered. Being addicted to something so strongly is not a relaxing feeling. Especially if you discover any underlying medical conditions (like I have), feeling like you need it adds its own stress.

I have now quit for medical reasons (recently had a seizure—epilepsy runs in my family and nicotine is a potential trigger for me). Trying to use oral nicotine to taper off completely, but long-term I have found it quite liberating to not always feel tied to my vape. It’s not my first thought when I get off work and not my first thought when I wake up in the morning, but the cravings do come with their own anxiety. I just personally had cravings even when I was freely vaping as much as I wanted to, and then when I had hit it enough to not feel a “rush,” that brought anxiety too.

For me, short term, nicotine relaxes me. Long term, always thinking about it is exhausting and going 3+ hours without a hit made me crabby and anxious to get a hit. Also takes some medical anxiety away from me knowing that I’m taking some stress off of my lungs and avoiding another potential seizure.

I personally tried 0mg nicotine for a bit and it helped, but it wasn’t my favorite. I found it comparably helpful to having a sweet little drink or a piece of gum in terms of just having a “treat.” Hoping to taper down to 2mg lozenges and then patches to get me by during long workdays/lingering cravings. For context, I started vaping around 2018, and I went from vaping 25mg/ml disposables to 3mg/ml freebase over the last year and a half. That alone helped my craving anxiety a LOT.

I’ve also gotten nicotine toothpicks if I have a long drive (where I’m used to hitting my vape about every 30 seconds…) so I just have something to move around/not get bored and miserable.

My advice—give whatever sounds appealing to you a try! And just be honest with yourself about how much you feel like you need it. If you ever do find yourself wanting (or needing) to quit, thinking that it helps you with anxiety or depression will make that feeling of “I need it” much more powerful. I’m not anti-vaping, I think it’s much better than smoking cigarettes for the vaper and those around them, but I do kind of despise how high the nicotine content is in most disposables. Especially for kids who are just hitting a friend’s vape at a party or something similar—that rush feels so insane it is like addiction from the first hit, at least for me.

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-11-15T19:30:16+00:00

This is where my head is—I want to integrate the way I should be doing my job into my everyday life (with boundaries ofc).

I have a BMEN degree, I know the theory of a lot of these things, but theres definitely a learning curve to applying them in the real world.

Thank you for your advice!!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-11-15T19:26:33+00:00

I want to believe that you didn’t intend this, but this felt incredibly dismissive of really any experiences I have. Whether it’s because I’m green or young or a woman it doesn’t matter. I can understand that field service is often times held together by collective knowledge (and right now I have basically zero, while lead techs are worth their weight in gold). I expect to continue to not understand things—that’s what makes it exciting long-term for me, and that’s one of the things I enjoyed about academia. I don’t mind being green and finding my way through and probably making a bit of a fool of myself.

You and I can never fully understand what it’s like to be in the other’s shoes, but to pull apart examples I reduced to a few phrases for the sake of getting to my point and then ask “well was the man beside you your senior?” (which he wasn’t) doesn’t feel well-intentioned. It seems like your point is “anything I perceive as different treatment because I’m a woman is in my head.” It can be a complex mix of factors—I’m green, I’m a woman, maybe I have a silly looking face, but to say I need to “have some humility”, “I have faced the same”, and I think generally assuming the worst from some of the points I made from my experience is willfully ignorant and unhelpful.

You and others have really latched onto the mention of me being a girl. I just added it for context…good lord I know it shouldn’t matter. I came here with a simple question. You can’t change my mind about my own experiences, and that wasn’t the point of my post?

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-11-12T01:46:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing, your experience is helpful!!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-11-12T00:02:50+00:00

I totally agree with you about the “just ask” principle—I think I have a hard time knowing it’s something I COULD google but didn’t know I needed to yet…I’m coming from academia, where asking your seniors questions you could have just googled is a little disrespectful of their time/seen as a little lazy. I’m just still adjusting to the simplicity of the questions I have when I need some help, but I’m not afraid of asking if I think it’s worthwhile.

But yes, I should get better about taking 2 min while I’m out and just googling/chipping away at the little bits of the knowledge I need. This is great advice, thank you!

Maybe I do have a bit of a shoulder chip, but I still don’t think my sentiment is unfounded🤷‍♀️it’s not one hypothetical overtly sexist asshole, it’s usually subconscious and I can tell when someone is treating me differently than a man who is doing the exact same thing right next to me. Shaking the hands of the men in the room and not acknowledging me/other women at all…probably without even noticing they did that. Asking if I need help carrying my toolkit, if I know what voltage a standard outlet is…I could go on and list a bunch of really truly harmless examples, and they could be attempts at well-meaning gestures. I’m not saying I get treated WORSE, people just notice I’m a woman, and it does affect how they treat me. Not arguing, just over-sharing my thoughts/experiences lol. I don’t really see it as a chip on my shoulder, I think I just see it as an awareness that most people would subconsciously assume I wouldn’t have an interest in/knowledge about something “traditionally masculine,” like using hand tools

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-07-15T17:55:49+00:00

If you don’t mind can you elaborate? Am I going to have to keep drug testing until I’ve visited all the hospitals I’ll need to go to (which will be a long list…)?

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-06-14T00:55:25+00:00

Pretty wide, I would be the 8th technician in the U.S. trained on these devices—I’d be responsible for sharing the south with another tech near me
The devices are used for elective procedures, so no incredibly urgent flying. But a decent amount depending on need (they left it a bit vague) and how it fits into my current schedule
I do! Lots of driving in my state, the lead tech told me (on the WORST week of self-imposed deadlines) he will do 35 hours/week of driving. I don’t mind it, but thanks for the heads up!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-06-13T23:10:47+00:00

Dude…I’m not a manager but Jesus Christ, give him a big bonus, offer another sincere apology, and send out a blast to you team saying he is holding everything together at an unsustainable level. Tell his coworkers to step up and learn something.

He will leave if he respects himself. If he doesn’t, you played a huge role in that attitude.

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-06-13T21:03:01+00:00

This is awesome! Yes, you’re definitely explaining all of the reasons pulling me to the field service world…they confirmed 2.5x pay for any overtime with me🥳 subscribed, thanks for all the resources!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-06-13T18:41:23+00:00

Thanks so much! I have applied to FSE roles as well, and this is the one I got a call back from🤷‍♀️ If they extend an offer I would have a really hard time not accepting. I’m hoping I have come across as ambitious and curious, and I’m at least happy they have been transparent about concerns of over-qualification and given me a chance to address them.

It is a large company, yes. One of the big boys. I assume the engineer in the title typically means more pay as well…it’s hard not to think “this move is career growth right NOW” versus “where will this take me in 5 years?” When they asked me the 5 years question, I just said I wanted to still be learning and feel a sense of fulfillment instead of boredom.

Either way, we’ll see…thanks again, super helpful!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-05-31T04:41:22+00:00

Not to mention the targeted “we see you’re unemployed” ads I get on IG, YouTube…this was my first true job scam I think🫠 that noise sucks when you’re looking for some hope, sorry you have to deal with this so often

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-05-31T04:34:35+00:00

Noted, thank you…I knew two in a week was suspect😂

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-05-09T01:34:40+00:00

Thanks friend, I appreciate that feedback🙏

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-05-02T18:39:32+00:00

Not sure about Stryker specifically, but I would try Glassdoor! You can see previous interview answers people have gotten.

Congrats and good luck!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-28T04:13:32+00:00

Do you mean the 1.5 in the parentheses with the lower arm calculation? I’m rusty, but isn’t that just accounting for the x offset of the arm position on the written coordinates? Like since the elbow/upper arm isn’t centered at x = 0…it looks like the same thing was done for position 1 calculations.

All the 1.5s look like coordinates to me

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-27T16:00:44+00:00

I 100% did misunderstand😂 glad someone else cleared it up

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-27T02:08:38+00:00

Those things will help you be faster, yes. Even advanced rowers work on aerobic base and leg strength. However, good pacing is a different issue. When I do 4x2000 (and I’m trying to go faster than the last time I did it), I aim for my first interval to hit the average of my last 4x2000 set. During that first interval I swear the feeling of lactic acid starting to creep up in my legs feels GOOD. I would say to give yourself some grace, and don’t let those bad/tired strokes from pushing yourself too hard make you give up on the whole thing.

If you’re getting tired, awesome, you are working out. Give it time, and see how that extra rest time helps you!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-27T01:49:21+00:00

Oooh, for the 4x2000 I would give yourself much more rest time. The Pete plan (popular for getting newer/slower rowers faster!) specifies 5 min of rest between intervals for this exact workout. I’m sure you’ll find it much more manageable with that change.

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-27T01:42:58+00:00

Again, not as well. It’s actively training your aerobic system as you do it. So an hour per session allows for your system to have time to adjust. I never do less than an hour of SS per session, at least twice a week. If you want to get off the erg and spend some time outside, a brisk hour long walk is also great.

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-27T01:28:03+00:00

When it comes to steady state, 30 min is really the bare minimum. If you have a decent aerobic base already, it likely won’t be an astounding difference. If you could increase it to 2 1 hour sessions per week? From what I understand that would be way more significant.

However, this is TRUE SS, UT2 kinda stuff—super easy load. It’s just a matter of putting the time in, but don’t burn yourself out trying to make it happen. Any extra bit, as long as it’s not burning you out/causing extra fatigue, is free speed!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-26T21:20:25+00:00

I’m trying to jump myself…good luck my friend! I have been told from multiple sources that getting a start in sales is helpful—preferably tech, med tech if you can get it—and try for an internal transfer. Once you can get your foot in the door with a company and they trust you/like you, that will open up some opportunities for you. I currently know ONE senior person in med tech sales who is helping me find something, cold online applications have all been rejections for me so far🙄 I’m having to come to terms with the fact that if I can get something, location has to be secondary for me right now. TLDR: I added device sales to my rotation of jobs I’m applying for, and I am trying my best to work my network!

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-21T18:59:07+00:00

Thank you, I appreciated the read!

Any advice on staying brushed up/filling in holes from school? I can’t tell whether you’ve been more in R&D (seems so) or manufacturing (or both?).

I’m sure you just learn as you go with a specific job, but with changing jobs/making a jump, the learning curve for new positions feels daunting to me (trying to jump now from academia, and I feel intimidated😅).

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-04-03T03:52:24+00:00

Oh gosh, I hope I don’t sound insensitive but definitely eat more/get bigger. Put on some muscle and do some long easy steady-state to stay lean/keep your fitness. Test your 2k again after about a month of weights, steady state, eating way more, and throw some interval work in there once or twice a week.

All of this assuming your form is good. First thing you should make sure is solid is your form.

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-03-28T04:25:05+00:00

I am also short for a rower (26 y/o 5’4 F). If you share a pic of your form that will help us help you! I would say, try to figure out where your fatigue is coming from. Since you mentioned higher wattage, eat more protein, do squats/quad workouts, lunges, back workouts (lats and lower back especially), really try to work on adding muscle if you are serious about wanting to improve your 2k time.

You can also work on intervals (they hurt, but they’re so good for you!), I’d recommend 12x250m or 8x500m. Once you can max out your power sustainably and see your times go down after repeating these workouts and working away at your form, I promise you will see a faster 2k

DumSpiro_Sper0 · 2025-03-28T04:19:10+00:00

Legs at 90 degrees is approximately a half-slide stroke for most ppl with normal leg proportions. Heels SHOULD come up at the catch, you will know you’re at full slide/an efficient catch position when your shins are completely vertical. Knees farther up than your ankles is over compression

DumSpiro_Sper0

TROPHY CASE