EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Quit Smoking
Coping with Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of withdrawal 4 months after quit so confused

Advanced Search Form

Symptoms of withdrawal 4 months after quit so confused

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1

Thank you, Gilligan, for going public with this issue. I thought I was going crazy a couple weeks ago when I had a breakdown at a women's conference. I've never had a problem with crowds, but my mom the nurse told me I was having a panic attack and took me out the back door. I hyperventilated and was crying hysterically for no reason. It's been suggested that I may have had anxiety problems all along but used cigarette cravings as an excuse to get away from activities until I could calm down, and eventually I just believed I was having cravings every time. That day I went to my car and flipped through my herbal quick reference. I now put lemon essential oil on my shirts (a spot on the collar of work uniforms, a drop on the shoulder for shirts without collars) and smell it any time I'm feeling stressed or anxious. This helps me keep from clenching my jaw (I have 4 broken teeth from doing that) or getting overly emotional. The smell of lemons is supposed to trigger happiness and has been shown to reduce corticosterone levels in the brain. I'm not sure if that's the effect helping me or if taking a moment to stop everything, close my eyes, and slowly inhale a pleasant smell is what really takes the edge off. Either way, it's helping. I'm told lavender also works and many essential oils companies have anti-stress concoctions that smell nice.

Not everyone buys in to herbal stuff so just try any scent you enjoy. Put it on you collar, on a cloth in your pocket, anywhere you can take it out throughout the day and smell it. Scent is a strong biochemical trigger, so something that reminds you of a loved one or happy memory is ideal. The goal is to take a moment to just breath and push all the stress aside, just for a little while. After all, that's what a smoke break did for us before. I hope it helps you the way it has helped me.

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Hi Gilligan,

Anxiety will get worse when you are quitting smoking but it should improve once you get through the withdrawal. It sounds like a big part of quitting for you would be learning new stratagies to cope with anxious feelings. When you smoked you likely took regular "breaks" to step outside and take long deep breaths. Now that you do not have these breaks you will need a replacement. What do you think would work for you? If you feel you need to focus on your anxiety I encourage you to check out our sister site at www.paniccenter.net. This website is a cognitive behaviour therapy program that will help you to address anxiety. What do you think?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 801

Hi Gilligan,

Sorry for not getting back to you quicker. No No No, don't even consider starting smoking again. That won't solve anything. Stay strong and just say no to the urge. You have made it this far, and your 5 month mark is right around the corner. FIVE months without a cigarette, did you ever think you would be able to go this long?

Is the slow deep breathing helping you any?

As for the sister site for anxiety, it's under the help tab at the top of the page then under other programs. Sorry I was not clear on that too.

Quitting smoking is sort of like riding a bull. Jump on and hold on tight for the ride of your life! At least the bull ride is over in 8 seconds. Quitting is forever but it can be done.

N.O.P.E.

Quit Meter

$24,514.60

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 789 Hours: 11

Minutes: 11 Seconds: 48

Life Gained
Quit Meter

4052

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

89,144

Cigarettes Not Smoked

Stay safe & Strong.

Not One Puff Ever (NOPE)

Tim

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Hi Tim, Thanks for responding. Is my nervousness really that evident? You are correct. I have been having so much trouble with this. At this point I consider going back to smoking, except in reality I know that will do nothing for this voice disorder I am having. I think the truth is that I am naturally anxious and the smoking cessation has really allowed my anxiety to breakthrough. I wasn't able to find the anxiety/panic header you mentioned, I will try again. But once again thank you for responding, it always helps to have someone who understands where you are coming from. Thanks, Gil

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 801

Hi Gilligan,

Wow! You're just a big ball of nerves aren't you?

Slow down and take 5 deep breaths. In through the nose out through the mouth slowly in both directions. Feel better now?

Physical withdrawal only lasts for 3-4 days at the start of your quit. You're dealing with the mental withdrawal now, and it sounds like you were not prepared for it. It can last for weeks months and maybe years depending how prepared you are. If you haven't did so yet, go through the "my program" at the top of the page. It has hints and tips that will help you on your journey. Read through the forums on here too. There have been other people struggling with the same issues you are dealing with, and maybe you can find an answer that you are looking for. Also under the help tab at the top of the page, there is a sister program for anxiety called Panic center. You might find some help there too.

You are right about feeling better after quitting smoking too. You do feel better, but it takes time. You've poisoned your body with nicotine for years and it's going to take time for your body to heal. You also have to relearn how to cope and deal with stress without a cigarette. That's another reason you need to be prepared. That Nico-Demon will do his darnedest to make you cave in and start smoking again. Whatever you do, don't give in. You are going on 5 months now, 5 rough months, but you are a non smoker now.

It will get easier with time, just hang in there and stay strong.

N.O.P.E.

Quit Meter

$24,514.60

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 789 Hours: 11

Minutes: 11 Seconds: 48

Life Gained
Quit Meter

4052

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

89,144

Cigarettes Not Smoked

Stay safe & Strong.

Not One Puff Ever (NOPE)

Tim

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Hi Everyone, Long story short I quit smoking 11/9/14 because it was starting to taste awful, I thought it was do to the stomach issues I had been having for the two months leading up to my quit. In any case shortly after I had stomach tests done including an ultrasound and it came back that I had a fatty liver and an oblong mark on my liver, so I was sent for a cat scan. Mind you it had been at this point two weeks since I quit and I am prone to anxiety so I lost it. I was sure I was dying, I hardly ate lost 15-20 pounds in no time. Results came back clear, but my stomach was still bothering and I was sure there was something wrong so my anxiety took over and without having cigarettes to help calm me. I went into panic. I started experience symptoms of silent reflux for which I medicated on two prilosec a day for a month in a half, until I had to stop because the side effects of that had me in constant panic. Come the end of January I was at psychiatrist because I felt I had to go on something for anxiety, well that made it worse for three weeks. At the time I was also experiencing difficulty talking, up until now i can talk for short periods otherwise my voice gets fatigued and feels like i will choke. Went to ent nothing wrong with vocal cords but said i have muscle tension dysphonia and am going to speech therapy. When i eat the muscle under my jaw behind my chin gets achy and tired, I get neck muscle tension upper back tension and so on. But I've had all tests and just know I am healthy. I know that with my anxiety i created the muscle tension because I did not have the nicotine to ease the tension. My question is does it sound like my anxiety has been exacerbated by not smoking and can the neck and muscle tension also be from that. My hands go numb a lot. Which I have experienced before but now more so. I don't want anymore tests I am done with tests just want to have an idea if nicotine withdrawal can last so long. Or just a pep talk would be good. I just feel like you quit smoking to feel better and be healthier and then this is what you get. It's so frustrating. Thanks for listening. I know if may all be jumbled up, but i think you will get the point. Thanks again.

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Symptoms of withdrawal 4 months after quit so confused