Depression from quitting smoking?
Here is my question. As many of you know, I have been struggling with quitting for months. I haven't smoked since January. The last few weeks I've been stressed, having insomnia because of anxiety and in general feeling cr@ppy mentally. So Saturday I figured since I feel so lousy, I might as well smoke. Smokers will understand that logic. Amazingly, I do feel better mentally and have been able to sleep the last 2 nights. Can a person get depressed from not smoking? Not "I'm crabby cuz I quit" but depressed because there is something in cigarettes that makes me happy? (And of course I will eventually consult my doctor about this.) |
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| Paula, When I quit about 5 years ago for 2 years, I did it cold turkey, no stop smoking aids. About 6 months into it, I went to my doctor with the exact same symptons.. She said that depression, not sleeping or interrupted sleep is common up to a year afterwards.
She offered to give me 'something' to help, but I refused~~~ I didn't want to replace one crutch with another, but I think when I quit smoking again, I will accept that extra crutch.... Good Luck and keep strong...I know how hard it is and what you are going through!!!!!  |
| No, it definitely happens. I also got sick a lot more as all the goo started breaking up and out of the cilia in my lungs. It also made me want to start smoking again since it seemed silly to feel lousier for doing something that was supposed to make you feel better. |
| I watched my husband go thru the same thing several times until he was finally able to really quit back in 1990....almost 19 years ago! We kept this mental picture in our heads of dying from lung cancer & that helped him alot. Another friend told me what they did inorder not to get so depressed was trade the bad habit (smoking) for a good habit (walking). They started a daily routine of walking & it helped their outlook immensely. |
| Absolutely. For me it was a very depressing thought of "I can never have another cigarette again for as long as I live." Just consciously changing that to "I never HAVE TO have another cigarette for as long as I live" made a world of difference.
Think about what is making you anxious and perhaps you can find a way to turn it around. However, I didn't find the answer for myself -- when I related my anxiety to another person about my unsuccessful quit attempt, he was the one who suggested the alternative viewpoint that made me successful the next time I tried. Perhaps you could benefit the same way as I did by talking about what's going on with someone qualified to help. I wish I did the first time. |
| Poor Paula. When Tony quit, he went through a terrible depression. After about 6 months I lost patience with him, and told him to snap out of it. And...if he couldn't, at least he could pretend he was happier. It worked. |
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