smoking and anxiety

[CJTMommy]

I am actually having an attack now.

I first started having full blown panic attacks a couple of weeks ago and went to the doctor. Doctor said everything sounded fine and put me on a 81mg asprin and Lexapro.

Well the asprin thing has kinda worried me and I have been trying to quit smoking again. I went a couple of days without and when I get a craving that will not let go I will smoke a half of cig. Now my problem is when I smoke my heart starts to race and it brings on an attack. Has anyone else have this when trying to quit or anxiety just for smoking period?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. My husband thinks I am just going nuts.

[nursegirl6572]

Hey there.  First of all...if you've been a smoker for any given period of time and have quite CT, without any aids..you are most likely going thru w/d's...and then when you DO give in and light up...your body is reacting for sure.  I know for myself...when I haven't smoked (yes I share the ucky habit also) for a period of several hours, or like when hospitalized...the first one almost knocks me on my butt.

Also, when I AM anxious or broder-panic...smoking exacerbates that feeling BIGTIME for me.  I cannot smoke at all when really anxious.  

The decision to quit is an excellent one....and YES, I think it's fair to say that the newfound quitting could definitely be worsening your anxiety.  My suggestion to you would be to (if you haven't already)...ask your doc about using a patch, etc to help you to lessen the w/d's.  If you do not want to go that route...or your doc has an issue with that...I think maybe tapering would be better in the long run...cut down gradually so you don't have those spikes...the highs and lows with anxiety.

And...tell your hubby you are by no means crazy....just that everything you look at (including him) looks like a big old Lucky Strike.  ;0)

Good luck...and let us know how you're doing!

[CJTMommy]

Thanks for the reply.

The first time I stop smoking I took chantix and it helped alot. This last time I stopped because I was having panick attacks everytime I tried to smoke.  I guess is what really scared me was when the doc put me on the asprin when I first went in with the symptons of a panick attack. I was used to anxiety but the full fledge panick attacks are new! It scared the bejeezes out of me! I have read symptoms and I know that this is normal :)

Thanks for the advice and I do appreciate reading your journal and replies to all the questions on here.

[Alleykatt34]

Hi There!  Just thought I'd give you some positive insight.  I smoked for 20 years, between 5 cigs and 30 cigs on any given day.  Now I will tell you smoking is hard to quit, but it would be harder to get lung cancer.  That was told to me several times and I just swiped it off my shoulder.  I did try to quit with Chantix and did ok, even though they made me sick.  I lasted about 3 weeks and was back to smoking again.  So, then I thought I needed something in my mouth.  So I tried the lozenges.  OH MY GOODNESS!!  They made me sooo sick.  So on Feb. 4, 2008 I quit smoking.  Just did it.  I had higher than normal anxiety for about a week, then it just kinda fell into place.

Good luck on your journey to a healthier life.  If you need to chat let me know!  Just relax in your quit (easier said than done I'm sure), remember it is for your health...plus you'll smell better.  I took my first trip to bath and body works to stock my shelves with smelly goods.  :)  Especially now here in Maryland cigs are 53.00+ a carton!!  I can't afford to smoke anymore LOL..

Good luck again!

Alley