Anxiety & Sadnness
I have never tried quitting before now. I have always told myself i'm not going to quit until I know that I can actually do it. I'm a all in or all out type of person. I started this process monday, a reg day I would smoke 20-25 cigs and on monday decided to only smoke 5. (extremley hard). Then again on tues, which was even harder because I wasn't expecting withdraws from cutting down! After feeling like crap for a whole day I just decided to go cold turkey because I want to get this over with!!! Now, only on day 2, I feel very unmotivated. The women that would go home and cook dinner and clean house just wants to crawl in bed and die :( I'm not going to cave in but just looking to see how long these awful feelings of sadness and anxiety will last! (I already had anxiety prior, kind of was hoping it was because the cigs)
Hi there. It's so tough those first few days..i have hit 47 days now, and honestly it feels good! To not be so reliant on the ciggies. To not kind of use them as my motivater to get things done. I did enjoy it, it was kind of like my reward on lunch breaks, after dinner, and just something that I felt relaxed when i did it!
And those first few days/weeks were tough. I too felt a sadness, and a bit lost. So i also kust wanted to curl up in a ball...and felt tired and angry.
But it gets better, just try think about how you don't need them! Good luck 😊
Hi sfarl,
It's how well know that nicotine effects pleasure sensors in you brain as follows:
Dopamine – the brain’s ‘reward’ chemical, central to the development of many addictions. In essence, dopamine release makes smokers associate an action with something pleasurable, contributing to the reinforcement of the addiction.
Serotonin – a mood-altering neurotransmitter that is often associated with feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
GABA – a neuro-inhibitor that acts on neurons in a way that helps reduce stress and combat anxiety.
Noradrenalin – a transmitter that’s responsible for the fight-or-flight response and puts the organism in the state of heightened alert.
So it's no surprise that when you quit smoking your brain screams for pleasure it's not receiving therefore anxiety, sadness and sometimes depression can kick in along with physical aches and pains. The good part is that these symptoms don't last forever. Stay strong and freedom of not being addicted will be your reword. Good luck.
Hi there I know how you feel I felt the same way. I am 91 days free cold turkey. It gets better with time. Try to put your focus on something else. Take a walk get some fresh air. Remember we are here with you. You are not alone. You are strong and one of a kind. You got this. The nicotine is just a stepping stone. So walk and stomp it out.