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does quitting smoking make anxiety better?

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Posted 9/23/2008 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Quick question -
I read in one of my work books that eliminating nicotine from one's life will have a positive effect on anxiety levels. Is this true? Don't get me wrong...I know smoking is terrible for a person and I am in the process of cutting back with hopes to quit before christmas. I thought it may be encouraging to hear from someone who has quit and seen it improve their anxiety...
Posted 9/23/2008 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there,

It depends on how long you have been smoking........if you have smoked for a long time you may get very anxious coming off the smoking.  I would see your Doctor to get adivice and yes you will cut down on your anxiety.

Take care and we are here for you.
Kitt


Posted 9/23/2008 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
It did for me. I smoked since I was 13 (am 42 now) and just quit 5 1/2 months ago. My anxiety went down by 50% because my heart was racing less and I just didn't have that sick YUCK feeling.
Once the toxins like ammonia (which is a HUGE factor in chemical imbalance and anxiety), carbon monoxide, mercury etc are out of the body, the liver can work it's magic. Not to mentioned the oxygen you suck out of your blod system returns. Oxygen is a HUGE factor in lessening panic attacks.
The body is just stronger and can maintain brain chemcials that ease anxiety once you lessen the posions.

I did have some withdrawal, but boy was it worth it.
Posted 9/23/2008 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
That's great to know...thank you. I do have that yucky feeling a lot of the time and sometimes having a cigarette just makes it worse!
Posted 9/24/2008 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I smoked from 8 yrs old til a few mths ago and yes for me my anxiety has come down

I have had a few angst moments thrown at me and some really big ones like the surgery but all in all I have to say yes
My heart doesnt race as much and your lungs can reguvenate up to 50% in 5 plus yrs after quitting is what the oncologist told me ............


Just my opinion

LYN
Posted 9/24/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)

What I see now  with all the No Smoking establishments peoples anxiety goes up as they are wanting a cig so bad they start to think only about how they are going to grab a smoke. So IMHO even if you smoke you are anxious. 

My hubby is a smoker but has cut way down, does not smoke in house now for 17 years and does not smoke in either of our cars.  But he still smokes.

Kitt

Posted 10/14/2008 8:38 AM (GMT 0)
i smoked for seven years, quit cold turkey, i was pregnant and bf was abusive told me to stop smoking, i guess he was good for one thing haha. i havent smoked in 3 years, feels great, anxiety heightend when comming off but i just rolled with the uncomfortable feelings, worth it in the long run definatly takes time though, id say at least 6 months no smoking to feel better without withdrawal symptoms, i actually thought after i had my son that i was gonna start again but my therapisit said it would only increase my anxiety, after she told me that i never smoked, well i did have a few whenever i had a few nights out on the drink but i never went back to actually smoking. it is worth it.

Posted 10/14/2008 1:45 PM (GMT 0)

Nicole,

Great post, my sister smoked for 40 some years and quit January 1st this year.  Now she has found out she has COPD which of course is one more thing against her fight against the cancer.

I do hate it when the Doctors keep telling her she has the COPD because of smoking as it makes her feel bad and guilty for causing her cancer.  She has ovarian cancer. Why keep reminding her now, her cancer is to wide spread to make her feel bad about the smoking.  She had quit but the lung damage was alredy done.

Your input was right on.

Kitt

Posted 10/14/2008 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I TOTALLY agree
I had a bit of a rough go but I MADE it and
I smoked at least a pack to 2 a day

I have also COPD

Remember other things besides SOKINING can cause cancer......

Proud of you justbreath

Great posts all
Posted 10/14/2008 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I fear quitting, but I know that if I did it I'd feel much better in so many ways. I know the biology behind it -- it's an absolute certainty that your anxiety problems will be alleviated to some degree if we were to quit. The problem is the quitting itself!

My goal was to quit by the end of the year and I haven't even started to try yet. To those of you who've done it, I'm in awe of you!
Posted 10/26/2008 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys interesting thread, I was wondering wether to try and give up again as last year i quit for 8 months and felt so much better in myself! So why did I start again i wonder? Well it was xmas and was having a few drinks and one led to another and now am a fully fledged smoker again!!

After a couple of weeks of starting again i felt really down and it lasted a few months, I reckon it could have been starting smoking again along with feeling i had let myself down. I felt so good when i was a non smoker it kind of does not make sense that i started again!!

As i am feeling so bad at the mo im not sure it will be a great time to quit just now, and also when i am in middle of panic attack or it is wavering all i want is a ciggie and boy does that make the PA worse!!!!

Good luck with giving up

X
Posted 10/26/2008 6:10 PM (GMT 0)

Jazzy, You will know when it is time to quit again.  Do remember there is always a party, occasion or social event that will give you a reason to not try to stop now.  Somewhere along the line you just have to say no more. I have great faith in you.

Kitt

Posted 10/27/2008 6:39 AM (GMT 0)

As an ex-oncology nurse, ive seen people with cancer who never touched a cigarette, and at the same time, patients who were long term smokers. i, too, was a smoker (yes i see how dumb that is) and quit in a pysch hospital, cold turkey. i was studying to be a high school teacher and thought it was poor form to smoke and teach teenagers.(as if it wasnt poor form to nurse and smoke..)

 anyway, i know its not 'P.C', but i miss my ciggies every day. i know i did the right thing in quitting, but whenever im tense or stressed, im desperate for a cigarette. i quit a few years ago, and wonder if the cravings ever go away?

nearly all my 'psych hospital buddies' have smoked. (i go to hospital to change my meds, as its easier to do it surrounded by doctors and nurses than it is at home- withdrawals and side effects etc)- it seems that smoking can often go hand in hand with depression, panic, anxiety and mood disorders. i know its naughty, but i miss it. i dont think my anxiety decreased with quitting.

Hope you can kick the habit-

Maz XX

Posted 10/27/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)

I quit smoking when our youngest son was born, 35 years ago.........oh dear how can that be I am only 50 years old myself.........LOL.

You do get to a point when you don't crave them at all. So hang on.  My husband had nasty withdrawal effects. High Anxiety, cold and clammy, restless and pacing.  His Physician put him on xanax for a couple of weeks and then he was fine.

Each person is different.  Take care
Kitt

Posted 2/5/2009 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I am 18 years old, been smoking since I was about 13. Im down to at least a pack a day and I am unhealthy!!!! I have bad panic attacks at least 2 or 3 times a week (which I take xanex for, but it doesn't help) and because of that I've also developed insomnia and random phobias. I cant keep a job and I have rent to pay. I'm really struggling. I don't even know who I am anymore and Im starting to think that quitting smoking might be the solution.

Please give me some feedback. Cigarettes really calm me down and I know if I'm ever panicking a cigarette keeps my head from spinning. I'm afraid if I have no cigarettes I have nothing to turn to for help.
Posted 2/5/2009 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JA KA and welcome to Healingwell. I smoked for 29 years and quit cold turkey nine years ago. I use to think much like you do that if I was stressed, I HAD to smoke. Thats just the smokes talking to you telling you that. I find I am even a little stronger now that I quit. I did have some initial anxiety when I first quit, but am doing pretty good now.

Good luck,
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 2/5/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JA KA and Welcome :)

I agree with Nanners on this, when I quit I felt a little anxious but better, and starting back again has made me feel icky ever since. I'm working on getting that "monkey" off of my back again, lol :) Good luck to you and I sure hope you can quit!
Posted 2/5/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome
I also believe you WILL know when it is time to quit and that has to be your decision and only yours IMHO

I had cancer and was operated on ............Your lungs can rejuvenate within 5 yrs of non smoking
Maybe not totally but at least off to a good start

I wish you all the best..............Stay with us
Posted 2/5/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I quit about 13 yrs ago. I had smoked for 12 yrs. I didn't have PA, at least not officially before I quit, so I can't say it lessoned my anxiety. It did make me feel much better physically though. I went through a rough part the first few months. I kept having these terrible coughing fits. I think my lungs were trying to clear themselves out. I did still crave cigarettes for a few years afterwards, but I don't anymore. It helps that in NY there's no smoking in restaurants or bars anymore. It's really not pc to smoke around here and I'm mostly hanging out with other sahms and kids so I'm not ever tempted. The thought of it makes me feel sick actually. The smell is so gross and gets into everything and why would anyone want to inhale smoke, really? I remember being super anxious when I was smoking if I ran out of cigarettes or if something stressful happened to me. I would just HAVE to have a cigarette. I feel so much better now that I don't feel dependent on something to make myself feel better. Just take it one day at a time. If you mess up and have a cigarette, start fresh the next day. You can do it!! I don't know if this applies to you, but a doctor recently told me that if you quit before you are 30, you're body will get back to how it was before you smoked.
Posted 2/5/2009 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
If you give up smoking, you have to be ready for it mentally... When I was unwell the shrinks told me to continue smoking as I guess I was already unstable and they didn't want to go making any changes to my life at that stage.  If you suffer mantal problems you are infact reccommended to discuss this issue with your Doctor.  Sometimes the change can bring on episododes or emotional changes to the body or mind that you may not be ready for.  I hope this has helped.  GOODLUCK either way babe.  gillxx
Posted 2/6/2009 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I wana give up smoking but cant, i find smoking keeps my mind occupied and gives an excuse to go out on my own and look weird. It doesn't look weird if the smoker leaves the party for a cigarette but try saying i jus popping outside, the room abit crowded alot of noise n i feel abit overwhlemed
Posted 9/6/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
hi,all i recommend,,to begin stop smoking,alot of people have good results
take a look!

Please, no sites for profitable gain posted.

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 9/6/2012 1:52:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2012 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
When my anxiety peaked I quit smoking and now quit alcoho
L, I surprisingly don't crave either one, I am really just concerned about getting well, staying on my medication and keeping myself relaxed

Been on the medication for about 12 months and my anger issues have really come down heaps, things that used to bring me to the point, I just shrug it off and I can tell I am handling things better, I just think to myself wow I didn't get upset
Posted 9/7/2012 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Great job guys! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!:)

Keep posting...it is helpful for everybody!

S.C.
Posted 1/8/2013 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I was addicted to caffine and I also smoke . I have been off caffine for 4 months and had the withdraw symptoms . I know Im finding out that smoking can cause the same thing and same symptoms . I have been smoking for about 10 years . I have cut back from a pack pack in a half to a pack a day. I hate the the way I feel but Im not any medication for the anxiety and refuse to take any . When Im working it helps me slow down to cause I stay busy . I work 9 hours a day. when Im at home I smoke more cause I know I can . please stay posted on whats helping to stop smoking
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