Smoking Cigarettes and Anxiety?

Can smoking make my anxiety worse? Like after I have a cig I feel really dizzy and lightheaded bad. I know smoking naturally causes you to feel lightheaded, but I hae been smoking for 8 yrs and never had this happen. Please let me know if anyone has had this happen. Or why?

[jojo1919]

yes smoking tends to make my anxiety worse, but i feel like i have to smoke to calm me down...doesnt make much sence huh!!

[SkipNBeat]

Smoking calmed me down for a while after I smoked, but it also sped up my heart rate unitll one day I had a panic attack after smoking.  I had a cig, then went to physical therapy and worked out.  Dumb move, I know, but it was only my second or third smoke of the day.  My heart rate continued to increase with the excercise until it reached approx. 120 and then I paniced.  My body changed over the years. I used to smoke 1.5 packs of Camel non filters a day - that was 30 years ago.  Now I've finally quit, and it was the panic attack that enabled me to do so.  After that I lost my desire and even my cravings for a smoke!  Granted, I was down to 2 - 4 a day, but I was smoking everyday and I would get serious nicotine withdrawal cravings if I didnt smoke for even 1 day.  Unitl January when I stopped. Of course your body reacts differently over time and if will affect you more and more over the years.  Good luck.  Please do yourself a favor and try to stop by whatever means works for you.

[MMomma]

I suffer from anxiety/ panic attacks, and my doctor said that smoking and caffiene can cause anxiety to come on. she told me to stop both, i cut out the caffiene but can't seem to stop smoking, I can't smoke during an attack but after it passes it seems to calm, though it does speed up ur heart rate. Its just one of those things that doesn't seem to make sence. I always tell my self that i'm gonig to stop smoking during an attack but always seem to light up after to calm my nerves.

[MMomma]

I suffer from anxiety/ panic attacks, and my doctor said that smoking and caffiene can cause anxiety to come on. she told me to stop both, i cut out the caffiene but can't seem to stop smoking, I can't smoke during an attack but after it passes it seems to calm, though it does speed up ur heart rate. Its just one of those things that doesn't seem to make sence. I always tell my self that i'm gonig to stop smoking during an attack but always seem to light up after to calm my nerves.

[fastasian79]

I stopped drinking caffiene & smoking b/c it makes my anxiety symptoms worse.    I'm feeling much better after 7 months.....but i'm not dare to have any coffee or cig.  Even a soda can cause shortness of breath.   My doctor said when you have anxiety your body does not like any "stimulants".  

[Bubbles1984]

I too suffer from anxiety/panic disorder. My disorders started after I gave birth to my first son. I was 16 when I got pregnant & 16 when I gave birth. My first attack was extremely terrifying & it felt as if I was having a heart attack & I was going to just faint & never wake up ): . After a year of dealing with my panic attcks & anxiety I have learned to deal with them & just sit them out.. I also realize that when I do smoke a cigarett I feel very light- headed, dizzy, & very faint. When I did lower the amount of my cigarette intake a day I did feel better & I noticed I had alot more energy. I can relate to many of you. Smoking isn't always a nerve-calmer, it can make you very jittery & cause you to worry. I feel so much better when I quit. You should do the same.