Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

11 years and counting

Timbo637

2024-10-31 6:49 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Feels like hell week all over!!

Timbo637

2024-10-30 9:38 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Roller Coaster Withdrawal

Timbo637

2024-10-14 12:28 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Smile....and don't shoot the messenger

Timbo637

2024-09-27 3:17 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Loved

Browse through 411.768 posts in 47.066 threads.

161,299 Members

Please welcome our newest members: Snootz, Poul Ilsøe, Trina J Kriya, SG1501, Clam123

Sometimes doctors can't help


17 years ago 0 95 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks to all who took the time to reply. Maybe things are different in the USA. The NHS in the UK is not as accomodating. We9my husband and myself)joined a smoking cessation group which was next to useless. It was the only way he could get his NRT on prescription. The group lasted 7 weeks, you stop on your third week. After the 7th week, you are on your own.There was no counselling during the group sessions. Don't get me wrong, I agree that for people with serious depression and anxiety problems, YES........they may need help. What I was saying....if you read the post again....is that anxiety is a common symptom of stopping smoking. If everyone who was stopping ran to the doctor, the surgeries would be overwhelmed. Speaking as one who has been on anti depressants, I would suggest that there can be similar problems with withdrawal. Peroxidine for example is well written up on the web. And by the way....yes they can kill you. This is not a post in defence of cigarettes......It was really just a comment on anxiety! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/31/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 63 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,899 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �472.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 7
17 years ago 0 932 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Changing, you explained yourself very well in your first post. I completely understood what you were saying and I'm diabetic, on insulin, have horrible anxiety attacks, and HAVE to take medication to keep from going into a full blown panic attack. Not a pretty sight there. There's anxiety and then there's anxiety. There's that stress that we all have to deal with from time to time but then there's the anxiety/panic attacks/depression that so many people suffer from and they do need treatment....either with medication and/or therapy. So, there's a lot of good that going to the doctor can do. I strongly recommend that a person who suffers from anxiety and that anxiety is effecting their day to day lives, that they see their doctor. You can only get help and peace of mind. I have to echo Changing's post REALLY LOUD. Hugs, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 45 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,025 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $161.55 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 7
17 years ago 0 2436 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi susie144 - My 2 cents... What can you do to take loving care of you, to de-stress, to let go of some of the anxiety... This may not be the entire answer but it is a beginning... [quote] What's the doctor going to do? prescribe anti depressants? What's worse....a cigarette or being on anti depressants? [/quote] May I suggest rethinking thise statement... If there is no difference, in your mind (and there is a huge difference in reality!) you may well go back to smoking... Always a choice, but make sure it's the choice that serves YOU... Blessings- Healer [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 394 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,818 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1832.1 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 51 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 2 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
17 years ago 0 2631 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Susie - I agree that SOME days of depression and SOME days of anxiety are normal during our quits. However, sometimes those feelings can become so overwhelming that they jeaprodize our quits. There is no comparison between antidepressants/antianxiety medication and cigarettes. The medications play a very important role in the lives of some people while cigarettes will only kill you. If you are doing well in your quit, your anxiety is mild and you are feeling well...just keep on doing what you're doing! All the best! Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 204 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,095 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1020 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8
17 years ago 0 1155 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I didn't explain myself very well. I was comparing Diabetes to Anxiety/Depression - saying that they are all illnesses; and I was comparing taking Insulin for Diabetes to taking medication for Clinical Anxiety & Depression. The point I was trying to get across is that I believe in clinically-indicated cases, medication for Anxiety & Depression can be life-changing & life-saving. I was upset that Susie said that anidepressants are the same as cigarettes ("What's worse...a cigarette or being on anit depressants? They both suppress feelings. They are both chemicals." I'm not saying that medication is for everyone, but I feel very strongly that medication is not an evil like nicotine! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 38 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,356 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $247 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 7
  • Quit Meter

    $1,140,450.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5565 Hours: 9

    Minutes: 38 Seconds: 22

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45618

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    912,360

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 519 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Quitting smoking is not at all like insulin dependent diabetes. No one ever died from not having a cigarette. Although I think I might at any moment I know that no one ever died from it.
17 years ago 0 1155 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Susie - I have a very strong reaction to your post. You said: [i]What's the doctor going to do? prescribe anti depressants? What's worse....a cigarette or being on anti depressants? They both suppress feelings. They are both chemicals.[/i] In my opinion, there are many HUGE differences. (1)Medication doesn't kill you - cigarettes do. (2) The right dosage of the right medication does not suppress feelings. It effects the serotonin levels in your brain - brings them to the levels that they should be (the levels that people without anxiety have). (3) You ask what a doctor can do. Yes, one thing is to prescribe medication if it's clinically indicated. They can also refer you to a therapist. They can also run tests to rule out physical problems that could be causing anxiety (e.g. heart murmurs, thyroid issues, etc.). (4) For MANY people, medication has literally saved their lives. Depression & Anxiety are medical illnesses. Would you want someone with Diabeties not to take Insulin? Anyway, just wanted/needed to express my thoughts on this one! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 38 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,356 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $247 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6
  • Quit Meter

    $1,140,450.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5565 Hours: 9

    Minutes: 38 Seconds: 22

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45618

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    912,360

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 95 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I have seen a lot of replies to posts advising people to seek medical advice when suffering from anxiety. I am not too sure about the benefit of that. Having read loads of the posts on the site, anxiety is a common symptom of quitting. Some people experience it for a few days and others for much longer. What's the doctor going to do? prescribe anti depressants? What's worse....a cigarette or being on anti depressants? They both suppress feelings. They are both chemicals. I have suffered from severe to mild anxiety during my whole quit. My doctor is pleased that I have stopped smoking but not wildly excited. She is aware of the anxiety and says that it will calm down after I accept that I have stopped! She is confident I am not.......but we shall see! :mad: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/31/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 62 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,881 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �465 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
17 years ago 0 932 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Oh Susie, I'm definitely not offended. Not to worry there and no need for an apology at all. We just have a difference of opinion. If God had wanted us all to be the same, He would of made everyone just like me. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! LMAO I'm not on any kind of NRT either. I had to go cold turkey. See, with me I couldn't take a lot of the NRT's because I am diabetic. Also, as far as my anxiety goes, I'm not sure what triggered it but it started when I was 27 years old and now I'm 46 years old. For a time, I couldn't even leave the house. So, I definitely was one of those that needed to see my doctor and needed help with medication. Now I drive all over the place. There's a whole lot to be said for a person's quality of life. This isn't to say that I'll be on medication from now on. In time, I'll wean off of it, under my doctor's care and see how things go. No one WANTS to be on medication but sometimes, we have no choice if we want to live happy, productive lives. Count yourself very blessed that you aren't having to take medication. BTW, I don't believe in a pill for this and a pill for that....sometimes, sh*t happens and you have to deal with it. But in this case, there are times when a person just can't function because their anxiety reaches that level where they're not enjoying life anymore....In fact, they're going into a deep depression and this must be headed off. As far as medical treatment in the UK, I'm clueless. I have no idea how things are handled there and won't pretend to. Your Stats Look Great. Congratulations!! Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 46 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,081 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $165.14 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5
17 years ago 0 95 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you Todash! And I am sorry Tutti if I have offended you in any way. Not meant. Anyway......I am still smoke free, NOT on NRT, NOT on any medication well other than my HBP stuff and I must say that things are getting better. The sunshine is splitting the heavens, God is in his garden and hopefully it's going to be a terrific day. Best wishes to all :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/31/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 64 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,928 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �480 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

Reading this thread: