Why do vape cravings feel stronger during anxiety?
Last updated: 7 January 2026
Anxiety and habit activation
Anxiety heightens urgency and emotional memory. The brain reaches for known comfort behaviours.
When anxiety appears, the brain searches for ways to reduce discomfort quickly. If vaping served that role in the past, the brain suggests it again—even if quitting has already begun.
This does not mean anxiety requires vaping. It means the brain is following an old script. Understanding this can reduce the power of anxiety-driven cravings. For more on the psychological aspects of quitting, see why quitting vaping is so hard.
Why this fades
As anxiety is handled without vaping, the link weakens. Cravings become less intense.
Each time anxiety passes without vaping, the brain updates its expectations. Over time, the association between anxiety and vaping fades. For a complete overview of the quitting process, see the how to quit vaping guide.
FAQ
Why does anxiety make vape cravings worse?
Anxiety heightens urgency and emotional memory. The brain reaches for known comfort behaviours, and if vaping was previously used to manage stress, cravings appear more intensely during anxious moments.
Will anxiety cravings fade?
Yes. As anxiety is handled without vaping, the link weakens. Over time, the brain stops associating anxiety with the need to vape, and cravings become less intense.