Post-Smoking Panic

[SandSleeper]

I quit smoking cigarettes around two months ago. I dealt well with the physical symptoms of withdrawal, along with the emotional symptoms, as far as I could tell. I felt I could safely say that I had "quit" smoking. But recently, around two weeks ago, I began having strong irrational fears, mostly concerning my health. I was extremely afraid of dying. Even under normal circumstances, it's not a comfortable subject for me, but recently its become almost an obsession. I'm not depressed, and although I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder I've been able to live pretty normally. But with this desperate fear, I haven't been able to sleep, or to really think about anything else. I've had to return to smoking, despite not really wanting to. I feel almost normal again. Is there any known tie between quitting smoking and severe anxiety and panic attacks? I really would love to quit smoking, but find myself unable to. If anyone has any information, it would be very appreciated. Thank you.

[strdsbrg]

This is an interesting thread because I quit smoking almost 2 years ago and have developed anxiety since.  I quit because I attributed alot of the physical problems I was having to smoking.  I was having palpitations and felt like I was having trouble breathing.  Now I don't have those feelings anymore, but I feel anxious.  I think it's just manifesting itself in a different way now.  I think I liked the palpitations, etc, better than the anxious feelings.  A lot of exercising and eating better has helped to combat the anxiety though, so I hope to remain smoke-free and keep a handle on the anxiety.

[M4Y0U]

If you quit smoking you can't hope for a miracle and that it will do on its own.

When you quit smoking you have to help it by doing regular physical activities which makes you body make all sort of hormones that will reduce stress and anxiety. Most importantly you have to mix the exercise with a healthy diet. Healthy food will be way better for you general health and mental heath just as cigarette was bad for you general health and good for your mental health.

I'm not the type of guy who likes to suggest meds but you can try Wellbutrin to help you stop or the well known nicotine patch but those still gives your body nicotine which i think is still bad since we want a complete withdrawal and we wanna compensate with healthy living and other activities.

I stoped smoking about 1 month ago and i started to go to the gym every day and have a healthy diet and i can tell you it's the best thing you can do while quiting smoking.

Best regards,
M4

[sbarlett]

Hello Sansleeper,

There could be several reasons for the anxiety... caused by quitting smoking... Number one, do you have low blood suger?  I with with hypnosis to assist others in making improvements in their lives and I learned several months ago that Cig's contain large amounts of glucose.  Each drag you take brings in pretty good amounts of suger into your system.  If you quit smoking and have any issues with suger levels you need to be sure that you replace smoking with eating several small meals a day (containing protein)  I suggest chicken... or string cheese to snack on.  Also, if you have any other emotional feeings/trama that you are dealing with it may not be a good time to quit smoking. Feel free to share more with me and ask me any questions.  I wish you the best and wish you God's blessings.  Steve

[be still my beating heart 13]

I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to say that I too am a smoker and would love to quit as well.  With my anxiety disorder I get more anxious on the days that I have cut back to say 4 cigs or so.  I know that I will experience heightened symptoms on the first few days of my quit, but having health anxiety I know that quitting smoking will remove a vast majority of my fears.  If I'm not smoking, I'm eating right, and exercising, then there is nothing more that I can do to help my body to live as long as it can.  Good luck with your quit!  I hope this helps and that you felt well today!

Cori