Anxiety and panic after stopping smoking

[Shelton]

I've never suffered with anxiety or panic attacks before but after finally stopping smoking four months ago, I've been struggling with insecurity. All the books say the anxiety from nicotine withdrawal should have stopped by now so what am I left with?

Im seeing a psychologist and working closely with my GP but just wondered if anyone else struggled with this.

[Just Sara]

Welcome to BB forum Miss Twichy and Shelton;

I gave up smoking for 14 yrs and took it up again 6 yrs ago when life hit the skids. (Putting out a butt as I speak)

There are so many reasons to quit; that's a given. But the only person who's capable of knowing 'when' is you. I was advised by my psychiatrist not to bother quitting until my anxiety/panic/depression subsided and my ability to make decisions and cope was better.

I can honestly say I couldn't have come this far without smoking. Yes, it's self medicating, destructive and addictive behaviour, but I understand now that oral fixations are a form of 'stuffing down' emotions and feelings to avoid expressing the truth; the pain.

The last time I quit, I used sewing as a replacement for 'time spent' and it probably cost more over time. But I still put on weight, had night terrors and was angry for quite a while. When I hit 3 months things began to wain, and by 6 months the cravings stopped. I guess the thing for me was facing my past and speaking up instead of putting something in my mouth.

The physical aspect of quitting is important too. The body's metabolism will drop dramatically and cause weight gain unless other forms of physical activity and diet are engaged. An important factor is the 'gut' and positive flora. Smoking aggravates this area, so using something like Inner Health Plus or an IBS Support (lactobacillius) and reducing simple carbs like sugar and flour products may help. It's not widely known there's a direct link to our brains from the gut, so good gut flora may assist in coping with anxiety too.

I hope things improve for you both. Sometimes it's slow going, but self determination and courage go a long way. I think it's time for me too...my time has come.

Good luck to us all...Dizzy

[MissTwichy]

Hey Geoff,

Yeah your right I don't think I was ready and I quit because I couldn't afford it anymore! I was a heavy smoker and it was costing me about $100 a week. What shits me is that I was being taxed so heavily for the cigarettes, but now that I don't have them for coping I don't see any extra help with my mental health, I have even been so anxious that I took myself to the local hospital, they pretty much said there's nothing they can do for me.

If I thought the whole of my newstart allowance would cover it, I would put myself into a facility where I could get the help I desperately need.

But enough about that, thank you for replying to my post!

[blondguy]

Hey Miss Twichy

The federal government are happy to take the tobacco tax and place the it into 'consolidated revenue' .In other words they dont place the tobacco tax directly back into the health system.

How are you going anyway? I hope you are doing reasonably okay :-). I cant stand cigarettes even though I am addicted them.

Here for you

Paul

[gnomadicmind]

Hello All

This is a really interesting thread.

It's been nearly 6 months now since I stopped smoking.

I am now off the patches and the inhalator.

I needed both. I became addicted to the patches. A couple of times my patch fell off and I'd notice my emotions and state of mind changing. I would be irritable and teary. I also experimented with leaving the patch off on purpose and just using the inhalator and the same thing would happen. They don't tell you about becoming addicted to NRT products! I am now (because of other things going on in my life) using anti anxiety meds. I wonder whether when I stop these the desire to smoke will come back? Emotionally I'm not in the best of places and I wonder whether giving up was a good idea. I do miss smoking only in the sense that it helped me cope when I was feeling teary and over emotional. I don't crave them but I do think about them occasionally (memory cravings I'm told). Now I have prescription meds. The prescription meds aren't the best for ones health either but which is worse, smoking or meds?

Blondguy and Miss Twichy it really angers me that there aren't more resources for people like us and that the taxes taken from cigarettes aren't directly put back into health and education. There really is little incentive for those with mental health issues to give up smoking and that angers me.

I wonder where we'll all be in another years time? Best wishes Everyone!

[Brisfry88]

This would be the 5th time ive quit and successful on all occasions. Just get sucked back in unfortunately.

I can tell u that i felt depressed and full of anxiety for first 4 months after quitting cold turkey. And had insomnia for first 2 months.

Only time ive ever had bad anxiety,insomnia,and depression has been when I've tried quitting smoking. Another symptom was swollen lymph nodes around neck which only came and hung around when quitting smoking.

Some people say its not likely quitting smoking that causes my lymph nodes to swell but they have on all occasions.

I promised myself that ill never have smoke after this time.

Its too hard to quit but its achievable!

[Anna_N]

My husband had the same problem when he decided to give up smoking cold turkey, but then he started using e-cigs and it actually helped him to pass anxiety. Also, he feels much better after giving up tobacco. So you may want to try e-cigs, I've heard that actually a lot of people give up tobacco when they start to smoke e-cigs. You can find online, it's way better than causing trouble other people with smoke. Wish you luck.

[geoff]

Hi Anna, welcome and thanks for your comment with great advice and so pleased it's helped your husband.

Geoff.

[NannaLea64]

How are you going now? I have suffered from Severe Depression and Anxiety for many years and am on high dose medication to help me cope. With the costs of tobacco products nowadays with the govt taxes, I simply could not afford to smoke anymore. That was about 5 months ago and I was not a heavy smoker but have smoked for decades. I have put on about 15 kilo in about 4 months and I cannot express how debilitating my Depression has gotten as a result. I am NOT coping anymore and I feel so much worse with the weight gain than I ever did with the smoking. I cannot afford to see Psychiatrist and never got anywhere with a psychologist... where do I go from here? I am seriously thinking about taking up smoking again as the cons have outweighed the pros significantly

[Hoover1979]

I'm in the same boat. I have PTSD as well as panic disorder and I had to stop smoking because I have a lung infection. I was reliving the murder that gave me PTSD causing the exact feeling of dread as I felt back then. I got a big pack of nicotine lozenges and the panic subsides. I use medication to treat my pain and anxiety/depression/insomnia but can't vape at the moment as I get into such a coughing fit I get roaring tinnitus and see stars and get dizzy.