SCENARIO STRATEGY

Dodging Midterm Stress, Ditching the Vape

The Cognitive Distortion

But let's pause here and reflect on Your thought process. You may believe that vaping improves your concentration. This belief is what we call a 'cognitive distortion' - an inaccurate or exaggerated thought pattern. It's a powerful belief, one that often convinces people that vaping is a beneficial act.

The Habitual Response

The more you give in to this belief, the more you reinforce the habit. It seems like vaping has become your go-to response whenever you’re under academic stress. It's a loop that continues to feed itself, strengthening with each cycle. But it's important to recognize the consequences of this habit.

Weighing the Costs

While vaping may offer temporary relief from stress, it poses serious long-term health risks, such as lung disease, heart problems, and other chronic conditions. Furthermore, for Oscar, an athlete, vaping can greatly undermine his physical performance.

The Fleeting Nature of Relief

Let's engage in a guided exercise. Consider the feeling immediately after vaping. Yes, there's a brief sensation of stress relief. But how long does that last? Compare this fleeting comfort to the long-term costs – the potential health issues, the impact on physical performance, and the reinforcement of an unhealthy coping mechanism.