That night I learnt what happens when you keep telling yourself "it will never happen to me".
When a meaningless addiction is set out to destroy your own body.
That night was my wake up call.
My wife Vicky and I had the perfect life, 20 years of marriage. Two beautiful kids. Jobs we loved.
Then I accidentally got addicted.
A few years ago I started pulling on some of my mates vapes at the pub. Then I bought my own to take out. Then it's like I blinked and it became a permanent fixture in my hand - using it all day, every day.
It helped me get through stressful days, and fill some boredom. It's not that bad for you, right? At least I'm not smoking...
The warnings signs I chose to ignore...
After a few years, I noticed my breathing was heavier even when relaxing on the sofa. Just walking up stairs caused me to run out of breath. The dry throat, smelly breath, random chest pains...
And if I ever misplaced my vape I would go into a frenzy until I found it.
I tried going 'cold-turkey', but by lunch time the cravings were so strong I'd go and buy a disposable. "I need it to get through today, I'll try again later".
The Doctor's Warning Changed Everything
"You have high blood pressure, scarring on your lungs, and low oxygen levels" the specialist said. He explained simply that "It quietly stresses your body every single day - often without clear warning at first."
For me, it started small.
A tight feeling in my chest.
Shortness of breath I brushed off as anxiety.
A dry throat every morning that never seemed to go away.
Then things escalated.
I’d wake up feeling drained, even after a full night’s sleep.
My head felt heavy. My focus was gone. I was irritable, on edge, and snapping at people for no reason.
The scariest part?
My blood pressure was climbing, anxiety was worsening, and I constantly felt like my body was stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode.
The doctor told me this was common.
"Vaping doesn’t just irritate your lungs, it disrupts your nervous system, breathing patterns, and stress response over time."
It doesn’t just affect how you breathe — it affects how you feel.
Then he said something that stuck with me:
“Most people don’t realise how much of their discomfort is tied to the habit itself, not just the nicotine, but the constant stimulation.”
He explained that the repetitive inhaling, chemical exposure, and dependence on the ritual can keep your body in a state of low-grade stress all day long.
