Anyone else with an axiety disorder tried to quit smoking?

[Tash_Lea]

As a long time GAD & OCD struggler, smoking has always been something of a comfort to me. Anything to calm the nerves right? I just wish I had chosen a different coping mechinism all those years ago. Not only are cigarettes terribly unhealthy but the little buggers are sending me broke.

I've seen my GP and have some patches and whatnot. Just seeing if anyone out there who struggles with aniexty has successfully given up the smokes. Any tips/advice? Any advice(no matter how strange) that helped in giving up cigarettes for good without exasperating your aniexty completely would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[Juliet_84]

Hi Tash Lea,

I suffer quite badly from anxiety and depression at times and smoked for years. I quit due to health reasons, was sick of waking up with a sore throat, and didn’t want to get a cancer diagnosis one day when I had meant to quit but never got around to it. I found it particularly difficult as I have a medical condition that actually responds favorably to nicotine. I always thought I needed cigarettes to calm my anxiety, and relied on them heavily for this, but realized afterwards that they never actually stopped my anxiety or made it any easier to deal with, I just thought they did. I actually generally seem to be less anxious now than I was then so I think it was a false sense that I needed them for my anxiety. It will be tough, but now 5 years later, I feel so absolutely relieved that it’s one less thing I “should do” or have to do, it’s no longer hanging over my head and it’s nice to not smell like stale cigarettes anymore or spend all that money

[Croix]

Dear Tash Lea~

Smoking is the pits, and as you say is expensive and life-shortening.

I started very young indeed as a response to seeing ads for being cool and smoking. As I grew older so did the habit. Eventually I ended up wiht PTSD, depression and anxiety (another story) and used smokes continuously. I was a nice little earner for the tobacco companies and genuinely thought I had to smoke, it was so useful for everything, it was part of me.

I had in the past tried to stop, which simply did not work. Although I accepted all the reasons why I should my welfare and pocket simply was not enough motivation.

Then I married someone whose previous partner had died of lung cancer. She said nothing about my habit, but the look of fright on her face when I coughed was one that remains with me even now, 15 or so years later.

So I stopped cold. No patches, no nothing. I did not want to put her through widowhood again. Often tempted to start with, but anger at the grasping cynical cigarette companies helped, not wanting to appear weak in front of my partner, concern for her, all sorts of things - even stubbornness - combined and I succeeded.

Now I'm not sure how much all this is going to help you, except you at least know it is possible.

So good luck, I really hope you make it.

Croix ( who got a chance to boast 🙂

[Tash_Lea]

Good to know others have done it. My god, it is hard though. phew

[Ggrand]

Hello Tash Lea,

I stopped smoking, cold turkey 13 weeks ago...I had to choose between bills, food or smokes... bills came first, then food..smokes nah..no money left...I live a long way from the nearest smoke shop. Around a 25 minute drive...I ran out of smokes late afternoon, I couldn't go out because I'm in the country and the kangaroos are out of a night so I just don't drive...the next morning I just couldn't be bothered, I stayed in bed and I think slept the withdrawals away...I'm okay now..however occasionally after I eat or while I'm drinking a cuppa, I want one, but that's easing of now and I can handle it...

I think it's mind power, you have to want to and I drunk heaps of water to flush it out of my system quickly..

Good luck, Tash. lea, stay in touch here if you want to and let us know how you go...

Kind thoughts,

Grandy...

[PamelaR]

Hiya Tash Lea

Welcome to Beyond Blue forums. Pleased to have you here.

I went cold turkey 28 years ago. And have not had a cigarette since. At the time I stopped, I'd just started university while working full time and suffered significantly from PTSD, anxiety and depression. Prior to giving up I smoked 25 cigarettes a day and if I went out you could treble that number.

Having said that - for the previous 12 months I looked at why I wanted to give up - my dad had emphysema (I didn't want to end up like he did), it cost too much money. During that 12 months I put together - a health and fitness program, i.e. my fitness and good food eating; what to do when I craved for a smoke (I drank water); what to do when I go crabby/irritable (told people I was giving up).

I had talked myself into stopping on the 1st January 1990, but of course this didn't happen. However, I stopped on the 2nd January.Would you believe I continue to have dreams that I smoke, LOL. I have to ask my hubby if I've smoked - never have. Feel so much better and pleased because my of hereditary family history with heart disease too.

so dear Ash, it is doable. There are so many resources available out there for you these days, e.g. Quit program The hardest thing is to have a - 'reason' for not smoking, and continually reinforce it.

Hope some of this helps Tash.

Kind regards

PamelaR.