Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Quitting smoking

VolatileVacuum
VolatileVacuum
I've been a smoker for a while, about 8 years, and I've finally come to the point where I want to quit. The thing is...I've been reading up on what to expect emotionally during nicotine withdrawal and pretty much everywhere I look says quitting will increase anxiety, depression, and might cause panic attacks. I literally just got my anxiety back under control a week ago and I'm scared to death it's all going to come back once I quit.

This is so difficult because the fact that I smoke causes a lot of the anxiety, because I worry about what it's doing to me physically, but I'm also scared to give it up now!

If any of you have quit smoking, could you please tell me what the experience was like for you? Did it increase your anxiety or cause panic attacks? If it did was the anxiety tolerable or overwhelming?
xbluewavechicx
xbluewavechicx
I know what you mean. When I decided to quit I went from tobacco to electronic cigarettes. Before switching I went cold turkey and I was very emotional, Ill cry easily and easily agitated. Bought a pack of cigarettes 2 days later. Everyone is different though.

I have been smoking electronic cigarettes for a couple years now and I smoke the lightest amount of nicotine (.06%) I have noticed a large difference in myself since quitting cigarettes. Maybe try the patch and a 0% nicotine ecig? Or try to ease yourself off. its tough but best wishes to you!
Burpee
Burpee
Hi Volatile, glad to see your back. I quit smoking back in October of last year. I have some very good news for you. Quitting was actually easier than I thought! I wasn't as "out of breath" The first day was the toughest., and I quit cold turkey. I just kept telling myself that I was going to be O.K. and I was. I've had few panic attacks since but that was because of my thinking .Keep in mind that these attacks weren't nearly as bad as when I was smoking. I want to congratulate you for making the decision to quit because most people don't get that far. As soon as I quit, things started to get better for me. I could move much quicker on the job and my energy level went up to boot. I had more money. I was so sick of having a habit that was kicking by butt..and I didn't want to kill my cats on the count of second hand smoke. Listen to me Volatile... you are doing the right thing and you have to believe in yourself. Give yourself a chance..Just know you have a chance to get better..and having that chance can be the greatest thing in the world.. In the long run.YOU WILL GET BETTER!!! Once again, thank you for your input!!!
Burpee
Burpee
Dear Volatile, sorry for being here again but I wanted to tell you that if you do have a panic attack. You can work your way through it by bringing your breathing up. I know it sounds crazy but when I was first diagnosed , my panic was at its worst. I was so scared that I didn't want to wait for the medication to work. So I started running around the block. I found that bringing my breathing up actually helped calm it down. I know its hard but if I can do it, and I know this is clichd, then you can do it.Go for it!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Today is my quit day #1. I have been on edge but OK. I have prepared by ensuring the next few days would as stress free as possible and I have a lot planned outside of my house. When I am out, I am not thinking about it. As Burpee posted - it's a matter of changing thoughts in the moment. I am working on this now. I am not going to tell you it's easy- it's been an uncomfortable day.... but "I'm OK"..... The moment passes and I find more things to do. Minute by minute....... I suspect the first few days will be the most difficult.
I have anxiety as well but I have never had a panic attack. I feel more agitated than anxious. Going to bed early...Best of luck to you!
VolatileVacuum
VolatileVacuum
Right on. Thanks, you guys! I'm in the process of cutting down right now (I went from a full pack to 10 cigarettes this week) and I'm planning to buy some patches on the 1st. I know quitting will help my anxiety in the long run because cigarettes always set me off.
Burpee
Burpee
Congratulations on cutting down!! That must have been hard. Come to think of it, that's what I did. It gets easier. Just keep telling yourself that having a cigarette is only going to make matters worse, because it will!! Peace out.
serenity1977
serenity1977
I dealt with extreme anxiety for many many years, but just around the time I quit smoking my anxiety improved dramatically and still doesn't effect me like it used to. I found this free e-book very helpful to quit. http://web-profile.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/allen-carrs-easy-way-to-stop-smoking.pdf

Goodluck with quitting. Each time you get a craving go and distract yourself and before you know it the cravings will be less. It is a huge accomplishment and you will never look back.
tmartin1023
tmartin1023
I don't have any comment to help you, sorry. I do also have the desire to quit smoking like you. I have quit 3 times before and have smoked off and on for 24 years. I know what triggers me back to smoking ... it is aggravation. I just need to get to where I can get past that. I'm hoping to quit by my birthday this year in October. I have cut back how much I smoke each day or week. I have tried the nicotine patch and it did work for me. If you're interested in that, it may work for you.
Razor91
Razor91
I stopped a while ago, but I didn't come off nicotine products, more replacements, like the e cig which I find highly effective. I've quit several times before and then loss confidence and went back on them. Good luck :)