Mental Health
Addiction is one of the leading causes of anxiety and depression, and anxiety and depression leads to addiction. Varying levels of the dopamine threshold contribute to this. Addiction = high dopamine threshold. Cravings = decreasing dopamine levels. To fulfil the dopamine need you need to take another 'hit', always driving that threshold even higher. I am 13 days nicotine free. Yesterday was a very low day and I was lucky enough to spend it at home (some people don't have this luxury) to sit with this pain, shame and guilt. Every other day it feels my brain is going at one hundred miles an hour. This may be just how I am wired, but I am hoping that it is a byproduct of my 13+ years of using nicotine.
My light at the end of the addiction tunnel: to have a restored sense of self worth, lowered levels of anxiety and minimal bouts of depression. Overtime my dopamine threshold will return to normal, and I hope to see more balance in my mental health.
Well , I’m a little late congratulating you on 13 days quit , I believe you have now been able to celebrate another day quit . Who hoo , keep going , you are doing this !
Hi goldie787,apologies for late reply. It's jessfreeof, you left a question on my last post asking if I can still get cravings here and there after three years smoke free and if I do what do I do about it. Now and again I can feel a sense of emptiness that lasts for a split second, I acknowledge it and turn to something that can feel that whole eg I give thanks for being a non smoker, go for a walk, read a book etc etc. Mosly I hardly ever think of cigarettes. How are you going with it all?
Hi goldie787,apologies for late reply. It's jessfreeof, you left a question on my last post asking if I can still get cravings here and there after three years smoke free and if I do what do I do about it. Now and again I can feel a sense of emptiness that lasts for a split second, I acknowledge it and turn to something that can feel that whole eg I give thanks for being a non smoker, go for a walk, read a book etc etc. Mosly I hardly ever think of cigarettes. How are you going with it all?
Hi goldie787,apologies for late reply. It's jessfreeof, you left a question on my last post asking if I can still get cravings here and there after three years smoke free and if I do what do I do about it. Now and again I can feel a sense of emptiness that lasts for a split second, I acknowledge it and turn to something that can feel that whole eg I give thanks for being a non smoker, go for a walk, read a book etc etc. Mosly I hardly ever think of cigarettes. How are you going with it all?
Enjoy other thing to replace those dopamine hits Chocolate, lavender, hugs and learning are but a few ways, Treat yourself and reward yourself, You are worth it,