depressed since quitting smoking

I forgot to add to the question I just posted that I did not have depression prior to stopping smoking and beginning the Commit Lozenges.

[Hensley258]

I've never heard of someone being struck with Major Depression because they quit smoking.

I take it you have been properly diagnosed by a Board certified Psychiatrist as suffering from Major Depression?

What exactly are your symptoms?

[carly60]

i have suffered depression when i have quit smoking. i started smoking again. i am now on meds for depression so i can quit smoking again. i do think smoking masks  emotions. there is a good site to get on about smoking cessation. it is on about .com. there is really good support there.

[whodunnit]

The myth about cigarettes easing stress is just that. A myth.

Stopping smoking does have effects, for about 2 weeks it can be quite bad for some. Bad temper, angry, headaches, nausea, irritibaility and similar are common. These are, of course, symptoms of depression too but the difference is that after quitting smoking these effects abate quickly after a couple of weeks.

Not so with depression and it does not come and go with one's decision to smoke or not to smoke. That is simply an infividual's reading of what is going on for them.

By the way, I smoked for 35 years and gave it up 2.5 years ago with no support. Just decided to stop. And the effect on my depression? It actually made me feel better and stronger as I had finally made the decision to stop smoking. For starters saving piles of money and beaing able to breathe again. Nothing boastful about this, I never thought I'd do it and didn't until I decided I wanted to stop. Seriously wanted to stop. Until then? You're an addict as I was.

If you want to believe this stuff then go for it. Personally I think you should be looking for a deeper reason.

[Hensley258]

I smoke myself and have never noticed any impact on my condition related to times when I stopped or when I was smoking. When I try to stop I obviously get nasty withdrawls, but it's not the same as depression or the anxiety that my depression brings.

With my Severe depression and anxiety I can relaps slowly at any given season and for no logical reason. This has happened to me in the best of times and I have felt my best sometimes at the worst of times.

Seems to be no ryme or reason to it. I think it's more med related in my case. I just don't get but 6 to 8 months from any med combination and then I start to slide down. Like the meds just stop working in a progressivly downward fashion.

Problem is that I'm running out of med combo options after so long with this condition. LOL! I fear ECT may be in my future. I'm like a walking Lab monkey.

[cthompson30]

Hi Carly,

Part of my problem is I am addicted to Commit Lozenges (have used them for almost 2 yrs.)    I am going to acupuncture next week - the acupuncturist treats addictions.      I have a close friend who has quit smoking 3 x but goes back, even after being off for 13 mos.   She gets very depressed when she quit cigs. & one time even crashed her car when she was off the smokes.
I joined a site Quit Net.com when I quit the cigs and it is a great site.
Carol

[cthompson30]

Hi,
My depression worsened at summer's end.    I am thinking of trying full spectrum light therapy.    A phsy. dr. who specializes in substance addictions prescribed Wellbutrin for me 1-1/2 yrs. ago.   He felt my depression was from the quit smoking.   I only took the Wellbutrin 3 days as it may be so hyper and so short-tempered.    Good luck
Carol

[cthompson30]

You are absolutely correct smoking does not ease stress.   When the nicotine bell goes off that creates stress, and a cig. calms that down but only for awhile until the nicotine bell starts again.   I quit smoking the first time 25 yrs. ago with acupuncture, a smoke ending group and weaning off the cigs. slowly, using one less per day every 4 days or so.   It took weeks, but when I got off them fully I had absolutlely no depression or withdrawal symptoms.   A person could blow smoke on me and I didn't want it.   While I was quitting   back then, I stayed away for weeks from the smoking triggers, including the phone, friends who smoked.     When I quit back then, I felt too calm - sounds weird, right?    The acupuncturist then gave me treatments for yin & yang (they termed it earth fire).    It definitely worked.      I was off the smokes for 7 mos. or so, but due to a romantic breakup, said the heck with it, bought a pack, chain smoked it and smoked another 25 years, until I quit 2 yrs. back.

Carol

[debrazgalaxy]

Symptoms of the withdrawal off the nicotine  and the other chemicals will vary with each person~

Me??

35 yr  smoker born to smoking parents.....

I am almost 12 weeks quit~  6 of those are nicotine free.  

Insomnia AND allll the side effects OF it started as soon as I  was off nicotine.

Yes...  withdrawal DOES cause these symptoms~ even when your brain KNOWS better than to give in to it....  IT's THERE.

[opus88]

just for another view...I've been a smoker for 45 yrs...I have tried most methods even acupuncture and all work for a short while than some trigger sets me off again.
Its right that quitting is a mind set you have to be convinced you WANT to quit.

I already suffer from depression...clinical depression..and the depression does get much worse for me...I get very weepy and zero motovation.
But this is always just TEMPORARY, quitting will never CAUSE major depression in my view....but like any addiction the withdrawal phase can and will cause some mild short term depression.

[M4Y0U]

Wellbutrin is often prescribed to help people stop smoking due to his α3β4-nicotinic receptor antagonist. Wellbutrin belongs to the chemical class of aminoketones and is similar in structure to cathinone and diethylpropion, and to phenethylamines. Wellbutrin will also affect your norepinephrine and dopamine level.

I have no problem for someone to temporally use Wellbutrin to stop smoking since smoking is so terrible for you health.

If you want to stop without any pharmaceutical Rx you might want to consider Rhodhiola rosea bought from a food supplement store. It will affect your serotonin level and dopamine level as well as having a stimulant adaptogen similar to nicotine.

I really hope you stop smoking. I did it cold turkey and had no trouble but i know it can be hard for some people and this is why i am there are some Rx and natural herbs to do so. You might also consider E-Cigarettes... They contain nicotine, they deliver smoke that is non-toxic ( basically water vapor ) and look like just a real cigarette.

Best regards,
M4

[veryCozy]

Oh boy! I smoked for over 30 years, and my work offered a special program and I did all my prepatory work for 6 months. My husband had smoked 25 years anc Chantix worked for him. In addition to using the chantix, I also was on wellbutrin for depression anyway. Amazingly, I became nicotine free!! And...for the first time in my life I felt CALM....my body was calm and not up and down...not up and down. Oh, there were days I thought of one, but I was able to fight it. It smelled nice outside, and when I walked I appreciated the smells and not feeling the heart pounding in my chest.

But then...about 4 months into the quit, I became so calm, that I didnt want to do ANYTHING. And then that calmness turned to sadness, depression. And I know what depression is because I've had it many times. I upped my meds, as per my dr. I tried walking. It didnt help. I wanted to punch the wall. I was angry, sad, despondent.I tried chocolate. Nothing helped. I felt anger, hatred, angst!!!

Another two months went by and I was slipping...not caring about ANYTHING. I didnt want to get up...walk....anything. I kept thinking about a cigarette. But I would say NO NO NO!!!!!!!! Then...I started wondering....well, would I feel better with some nicotine? I wondered. Maybe. Someone told me David Sedaris the writer, had horrible OCD until he started smoking in college.

One afternoon after freaking out and crying, I reached for a cigarette. I was going INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to know....am I loosing my mind? Or does my body need or miss the nicotine? Or is it something else? No one could help me, as I am the only one in my body. I had the cigarette---an old, disgusting one---and shook with fear and loathing. But, five minutes later, there was a crisis in the house and I was able to handle it. I told my son to go out, not to worry, and the problem would be fixed and corrected in a few hours. I was able to work quickly, to get the work done.

Several days later, after having several cigarettes, as a medicinal experiment, SON OF A GUN!!!!...I felt more like me. I hated myself ofcourse....but, I had some enthusiasm again...a little hope. I dont know what it is....but that nicotine was doing something....and without it for 6-1/2 months I was just loosing it.

I dont  think this is the answer for everyone, nor do I feel it is a reason for me to smoke. I know it is not healthy...but there are times I wonder....would I rather be a bit unhealthy but happy....or healthy and depressed and not wanting to get up and do anything?? So...of course I will try it again. Maybe I need higher doses of something else to counterbalance all the changes. Maybe I need to run more, or something. But that is what happened to me. I am smoking several per day...and many days go 12 hrs without one......actually, my lungs dont want it much....but a few keeps me going, focused, and able to cope. And I feel a bit of hope again, as crazy as it seems.

[JG525]

Smoking can mask a lot of issues, just like alcohol or drugs.  I found a lot of this cropped up when I quit.  It passes, but takes awhile and some work.

[cthompson30]

I think I am like you and wonder if I smoked again if it would boost my mood.  I was not depressed before I quit the cigs.   But, I have mild emphysema and know I should never smoke again.  -  If not for that, I would smoke.   I quit because I wheezed, coughed, got bad bronchitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, was on 3 inhalers a day, and using Prednison when I had the bronchitis.   Was sick for 6-7 wks. and told myself now you will have to quit.  I had smoked over 50 years, and was up to 2 packs a day.   And, so I quit, no more wheezing, coughing, no more bronchitis.   I was so glad for around 2 weeks using the Commits but then got so depressed and have been for 2 years.  Occasionally I have 1 cig. in the morning but cannot stand the taste of it - it is not the brand I smoke before quitting. I traded the cig. addiction to addiction to Commit Lozenges.
Good luck!

[cdcope]

I went through the exact thing.. quit for 4 months and then all the crying and moping.. icouldn't handle anything.. so I tried just one smoke.. and I felt like me again.. its take a few weeks to completely restore my sanity.. I hate smoking.. but without it I do get sooooo depressed after a few months..I never missed smoking.. but my body must have... I wonder what causes this.. and will we ever be able to quit smoking for good.. please let me know how your coping with all this