Crushing Anxiety/Depression
Welp, I hit my 2 weeks today of being smoke/nicotine free and i relapsed...
The first week was cake for me, then the anxiety and depression hit in. I felt like i was losing my mind. Questioning my mental stability. Non stop racing thoughts (bad ones) Anxiety so severe I couldn't focus on any task. I literally stayed in bed for 3 days. I would cry out of nowhere and wonder what was wrong with me??? I got so bad on my drive home from work today that i decided to buy a pack and "try" one... instantly i felt back to myself- cleared mind and ready to conquer my tasks i had let slip by.
Did anyone experience this?? Any tips to get me past these feelings? I really don't want to be a smoker and cant stand that i literlaly am dependant on it:/
I also found that the 2 weeks mark was the hardest, you must know that after 4 days all the nicotine is out your body and it's all psychological thereafter, i am at my 4th month now and i am not stronger than anyone else, i ate a lot of chocolate and lollies (yes i know) every time i was feeling the way you felt, don't worry eat the all packet of TimTam if you have too, i know i did and i don't feel bad one bit, now it's all gone i don't need NRT or cookies , stay strong i feel like a broken record but if i can do it anyone can
Hi Heatherr. I am glad that you tried and learned. That is huge! Kicking the nicotine devil is a natural for you. Those cravings only last about 3 days, and then nicotine is out of your system for all intense purposes.
I have always said to read and learn , not only about nicotine , but about yourself. You haven't broken your love affair with the cigarette. You mourn it. Please read Robns piece about Depression and Anxiety.
You may want to read my piece entitled "If you've Given Up, Given Up" and get some ideas on how to make changes needed.
All the best to you. You can do this. You have learned some things about yourself, you now need to act on them.
I would be remiss If i just assume you went cold-turkey. Your anxiety without some knowledge of "Mindset" would be understandable. However, if you are on Champix, be aware that it affects some people very negatively and induces negative behaviour, even suicide. If this is the case, see your doctor for a different smoking cessation aid.
I personally, think a non nicotine aid is superior to some, if taken safely. Always remember to do your part in learning and changing behaviour and psychological thoughts towards cigarettes. No aid is successful on its own.
I don't know what the laws are where you live but I live in Oregon. Marijuana laws are pretty relaxed. I kept a CBD vape pen (doesn't get you a high)handy for the cravings. It helped a lot. And just telling myself that I absolutely cannot smoke again.
I'm just hitting my two weeks now (one full week off nicotine, 15 days off cigarettes), and I can tell you it is HARD, HARD, HARD. But anytime I think of smoking, I don't try to push it away. I just remind myself how glad I am not to have had that last one and that I have saved almost $500 this last fortnight. That's enough for me right now. I have a ton of other reasons not to smoke, which I'll write about one day soon, but I'm reserving those for the really bad days.
Also, I know people say that the nicotine leaves your body after four days, but the conicotine does not, so don't forget that your withdrawal symptoms are real and that you CAN and WILL surpass them the next time around. Best of luck, and don't give yourself grief over this. Just let it be and try again when you are feeling another strong day x
I am still learning again, 9 days smoke free currently. Gave up for 5 years. During the 5 year process I worked out to rush to the shops and buy anything that I could pop into my mouth immediately, such as taking a grape from the food stalls, and much to the disgust of the checkout person broke into a packet of biscuits (needed the opening action too). The best thing for me in respect to getting depressed was every evening or every night I gave thanks for anything that was good in that day. It worked. I was depressed again this time too on my 3rd day, so started this up again, not so depressed now.