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Quitting Smoking with anxiety...possible?

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Posted 5/17/2007 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, havent posted for a while...
It's summer time, time for change. I've been smoking for a while, quit a number of times, started more times than I've quit...I'd like to go at it again, hopefully for good. These days my anxiety is pretty much under control, even without meds, but I know that if I quit smoking, I'm in for the worst panic attacks and high anxiety, as I've tried for a few days, and couldn't function or think right. I've always quit cold turkey, because I find that you quit faster that way...usually after 2 weeks hell is gone, after a month I feel great, after two month smoking is not a need anymore. I'm afraid now that if I do it again cold turkey I might trigger higher levels of anxiety, and lose my ability to control and deal with it. Also, cigarette has been my best friend when in high panic attacks.

Anyone with anxiety been through quitting smoking and lived to tell about it? How did you do it?
Posted 5/17/2007 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know, but I will be following this thread with incredible scrutiny because I need to quit, too. I'm afraid to lose a crutch right now, though.

Interestingly, during panic attacks the LAST thing I want to do is smoke. Then again my panic hits my stomach so I guess that's logical. And I know if I smoke more than normal, I'll end up with more anxiety as a result.
Posted 5/17/2007 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
Totally agree D
I am a chain smoker and I have reason to quit BUT I dont ....

I wish you all the best in this and I will watch this one for now
Posted 6/15/2007 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well it's been 4 weeks now since i quit without help, and i feel great! Like a new guy! It wasnt like that in the first 2 weeks though...Had a lot of trouble concentrating, socializing, felt depressed. And i was surprised to see that the anxiety was barely there. I could feel it trying to climb, but since i had good reasons for being anxious, the fact that i could see a source for it, the cigarette, that made me feel normal, and so it wasnt so bad. Also since i quit i've put my new super lungs to good use, working out almost every day, feeling stronger and more fit gives a feeling of power over my life which might help fight anxiety, where we often feel so powerless... I also feel more mentally aware, more concentrated, more in control of my thoughts and emotions.
I've been prepared a long time before I quit, and did when I was feeling good about my life, I guess that helped a lot. So good luck to anyone who wants to do it. 2 things to remember: learn to hate the cigarette, and know that the worst can only get better each day.
Posted 6/15/2007 11:19 PM (GMT 0)

Good for you FloatingThoughts

It's been 2 months today, I realise as I type, since I stopped again.  I am a terrible smoker, it doesn't take me long to work up to a pack a day or more.  Anyway, I did it cold turkey, I think you just have to have come to a real decision in your own mind, no - I could, I should, I will when stuff - you just do it.

And I'm really pleased to say I've been through two huge emotional tests, when normally I would have smoked twice as much during those periods, and I have survived them without giving in, tempting as it was a couple of times.

Find something else to distract you, like "F" did with exercise, or you could read, do crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, phone someone, chat online, and the list goes on.

Good luck to all of you who want to do it, I know how hard it is taking that final action to end it devil

But you can yeah

Best wishes.

Deb

Posted 6/16/2007 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
for those trying to quit i did it cold turkey. and just chewed alot of gum or sucked on hard candy. the first few days. and i still keep a few "security" cigarettes with me at all times just in case. but they're so old that i'd have to be really desperate to smoke them. but i feel better just having them. anyway thats how i did it.
Posted 6/17/2007 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! Thanks for the cheers and support!

Best wishes to all those who want to quit! It's hard at first, but all worth it in the end!
Posted 6/17/2007 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I am not a smoker but a pulmonary specialist told me that he prescribes Wellbutrin to help his patients quit smoking. It does wonders. In just a few weeks they are able to break their connection to smoking totally!
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