Then hang in there for them. The only way to beat anxiety is to confront it. When I was at my peak with anxiety I would go to work everyday and fight through it and it helped. I did not let it stop me from going out with my kids or to their school games. I am 80% better now. It has been 12 months but when I feel it coming on now I can handle it and it does not hang around long.
I have really enjoyed reading this thread since I got sick 7 days ago with influenza. I have been smoking a little over 20 years stopping and starting numerous times and always feeling guilty about starting again. This post has given me hope that it is not too late to quit again and there is hope it can be my last (well every quit is my last) but I really am determined to make this my last last. I have decided to make a life style change and some things have to go. 1. Smoking, which I haven't done now for 7 days thanks to influenza (not a way I'd recommend though), 2. My highly stressful job which I hate. I quit that 5 weeks ago and have 3 weeks notice left to work, 3. My highly disorganised and messy house and gardens. It's an old house which I'm renovating and have been for the last few years and it is driving me insane. It's hard to do alone when I work full time. So I'm going to finish it this year as a distraction to not smoke and then next year go back to study something I want that will lead to a job in a completely different field from what I work in now.
Thanks everyone for all your support given through your honest stories of your struggles to quit. I'm only new to this so will keep posting updates in case anyone is interested. Keep up the good work everyone.
Good for you. I quit cold turkey 1 year ago and I'm not going to lie, it was the hardest thing ever to do. You have to really be ready mentally. Good luck and keep us posted. We are here to support you. Keith.
I am 5 weeks into my quit and still on the patch, but my anxiety this time around started much earlier. Good news is that I had about as bad of a day you could possibly have and didn't break down and smoke. I am determined to beat it this time around. Exercise really is the key to feeling better. It is amazing what a run and a good nights sleep can do for you. Good luck to everyone out there and lets continue to help eachother out. Don't smoke em' if you got em'!
Your a insensitive as****e !
Everyone is different. I am 13 months quit and still have anxiety. Not bad like in the beginning but still there. I never had this before as a smoker but maybe smoking was hiding an anxiety issue? I am learning how to deal with stress differently now since I don't have a cig to fall back on. Hold in there it will get better. Most of us have been through this and we are still here plugging along. Keep busy go for a walk when anxiety hits. Through on some headphones and listing to some meditation music. Deep breath. All of these help to calm you down when feeling anxious. I remember things started to improve after 3 months. Once I learned to just continue on my day when anxiety was high it slowly went away. Hang in there buddy.
It took me almost 8 months (currently) to start to feel "Normal" I had chest pains, Palps, Severe Anxiety to the point that I couldn't sit and relax. I had intense feelings and even weeping fits as well for no reason. I had depression and functioning was very hard but I just made myself go to work and suffered through it. I found that riding my bike until I was literally exhausted helped with the anxiety as well as the depression. I was wondering if I would ever feel like I did. My brain was a mess as well as my thoughts and I just felt like I was in a fog all the time and just weird. I had tightness in my chest and SOB so i did deep breathing exercises and they helped. I really thought I would never feel better but then I did for a couple weeks then I kinda felt bad again and finally after 8 months I am pretty much back to how I was smoking but without the habit. SO hang in there it will be rough and make sure you go to the doctor to rule anything else out. I was a basket case and not my usual self. i feared dying and obsessed over stupid sh*t as well. But it will pass we all have different time lines so no one can say for sure but it will!! I hope this helps.
Hi and congrats. I also quit 15 months ago and I also have a cough with phlegm. I know the lungs are trying to work out all that c**p and it will take years and our lungs still wont be like they were prior to smoking. At least we can look at it as a new lease on being healthy.
hey everyone...i quit 4 1/2months ago as of today....let me tell ya, this sucks....in ever felt so shitty....headaches all the time, my head feels really funny, like pressure behind my eyes, with a foggy feeling/ lightheaded or something....anxiety up the butt, bowel issues every once in a while, im so sick of feeling this way....i spent this whole day trying to think of reasons to not smoke again.....feel so irritated, and disgusted.....i thought for sure id feel great if i quit...
i smoked for 28 years, the last 10-12 yrs i did about 2 packs a day....i quit about 8 years ago using the patch and never felt like this.....starting to think quiting cold turkey wasnt the best idea!!!! good luck to everyone els
Sounds like me 28 years of smoking and I quit cold turkey 15 months ago. cold turkey really sends your body into shock. I feel very good now but took about a year. The worst is the anxiety, still get that from time to time.
I agree, never had so much anxiety, I worry about every little thing...any little pain, or sensation, is a tumor.....lmfao......
im a thin guy, now I have a big ass belly from all the c**p I eat....I even thought I had a tumor in my belly, freakin ridiculous
Smoke a cig