Depression Symptoms?

[TakingAction]

Hello all.  I am a member of the Addiction/Substance Abuse forum who is two months clean from the Percoset I had to take after a serious arm surgery.  The road back to mental health after the withdrawl has been long and hard.  I am finally getting comforatable in my head again.  I am now ready to take the next step and get off the cigarettes.  I have been smoking a little less than a pack a day for almost 10 years.  

The anxiety and depression was wicked and downright scary at times when I got off the medication.  Any advice about what to expect with smoking cessation would be great.  What was the overall effect on mental health?  

Thanks!

Matt

[kathyjo]

Won't it be wonderful not to have to go outside every 15 to 30 minutes to have a smoke....depending on where you live, to freeze, overheat, get wet. To have you clothes and hair smell and hear everyone complain about how much you stink. To HAVE to leave the dinner table and miss some good conversation, just to feed the habit.

I don't miss any of that stuff and this Thanksgiving I will be very grateful that I get to spend a better quality life with my friends and family.

Hope your day 2 went as well as day 1 : )

[TakingAction]

Thanks for the support!  I actually bought a huge bag of dumb-dumbs today!  So delicious.  

I am trying not to munch too much, but am not concerned about that during the first week.  Anything to get me some distance into complete sobriety.  I am drinking tons of cranberry juice and water and have swapped coffee for hot tea.  I do plan on taking a benadryl at bedtime in order to get some rest.  Other than that, its all good for now.

I would imagine that I will be just fine by Thanksgiving.  It is going to be nice to be free of that demon this year!

Matt

[kathyjo]

You got through day 1 and into day 2, congrats Matt.

Don't stress about what you aren't feeling and what you expected, everyone is different and perhaps, because you know what you are getting yourself into, you have the resolve : ) There's a lot to be said about determination. Also, you realized that a crave only lasts a few minutes, good for you! Most people lose sight of that : )
Keep carrots and celery sticks on hand to help you through those craves....I used dum dum lollipops (I also gained 15 lbs.)

If you should have a shaky moment(s) then remember whyquit.com is a great source for help.
Keep it up!

[TakingAction]

Today is day two for me and I am feeling really strong and positive about this choice to leave cigarettes behind.  In truth, this is not nearly as miserable as I had projected.  Sure, there are times of pretty severe restlessness and craving, but it does fade in less than five minutes.  I have come to the conclusion that those five minutes are what kept me addicted to this poison for so long.  Instead of falling apart and reaching for a cigarette, I am learning that it will pass and I will be better for not being so impulsive and weak.  

I slept like a baby and have absolutely no headache.  It makes me nervous, as if the other shoe is about to drop!  We will see.

Later all.

[kathyjo]

Congrats on taking back your life!

[TakingAction]

Well, as promised, I have taken the leap and am now a non-smoker.  It's only day one, but I do not intend on caving in.  So far, so good.