Vaping myths exposed
- Liz Macnamara
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Vaping Isn’t the Safer Exit You Were Promised
Many people turn to vaping with good intentions.They want to quit smoking.They want to protect their health.They want an exit.
And for a while, vaping can feel like progress.
But for a growing number of people, vaping hasn’t become a bridge away from nicotine—it’s become a deeper, harder-to-shift trap.
This isn’t an alarmist post.It’s a calm look at what’s actually happening for many vapers, and why so many tell me they feel more stuck than they ever did smoking.
Myth 1: “At least it’s safer”
Vaping is often framed as harmless compared to cigarettes.But “less harmful” doesn’t mean safe—and it certainly doesn’t mean easy to quit.
What many people don’t realise is that vaping often delivers more nicotine, more often, than cigarettes ever did.
No natural stopping point.No cigarette finished.No reason to pause.
Client talk about their constant vaping - even in bed.
That changes how dependency works.
Myth 2: “I’ll taper off eventually”
This is one of the most common things clients are expecting when they make the switch.
But vaping removes the natural friction that used to limit smoking:
You don’t have to go outside
You don’t have to light anything
You don’t have to finish anything
Instead, nicotine becomes something you sip all day, often without noticing.
Many vapers don’t feel like they’re “smoking”—but their nervous system is being fed nicotine continuously.
That makes tapering harder, not easier.
Why Vaping Can Feel Harder to Quit Than Smoking
Cigarettes are ritualised:
specific times
specific places
a clear start and end
Vaping is ambient.
It sneaks into:
boredom
scrolling
driving
work
lying in bed
Because it’s subtle, people don’t get clear feedback about how dependent they’ve become—until they try to stop.
That’s when the grip becomes obvious.
Myth 3: “It’s just habit now”
Nicotine isn’t just a habit chemical.It’s a nervous system regulator.
People vape to:
manage stress
soften anxiety
fill empty moments
feel grounded
When you remove vaping, it’s not just the device you’re losing—it’s the regulation strategy underneath it.
That’s why white-knuckling doesn’t work.
Why Willpower Alone Usually Fails
If quitting were about logic, most people would already be done.
The problem isn’t information.The problem is automatic behaviour stored below conscious decision-making.
That’s where vaping lives now.
Not in the part of the mind that argues.In the part that reaches.
A Different Way Out
When people finally quit—whether smoking or vaping—it’s rarely because they fought harder.
It’s because:
the urge softened instead of being battled
the automatic reach lost its emotional charge
the nervous system learned a new way to settle
This is where approaches like hypnosis can help—not by controlling you, but by working with the part of the mind that actually runs the habit.
If You’re Vaping and Feel Stuck
And there is a way out that doesn’t rely on punishment, shame, or endless self-control.
Sometimes quitting isn’t about switching products—it’s about changing the relationship underneath the behaviour.
If you’re ready to explore that, I’m here.
Liz Macnamara
Stop Smoking Online and
Central Coast
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