Anxiety spikes

[moggie8]

Hi just wondering peoples view on smoking do you think it makes anxiety symptoms worse.Ive been doing the aceptance method for few mths but don't see any break not even 5 min from the constant anxiety. Hope someone can answer the smoking question if it would make it worse. Thankyou

[Hidden]

As a former smoker I can tell you it will make anxiety worse. Assuming you’re talking about cigarettes or vapes sold at convenience stores. The nicotine will increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure. And, the cravings for the nicotine will also increase anxiety. It’s a terrible habit with zero benefits, causing permanent health problems and there you go, more anxiety! Hope this helps a bit.

[moggie8 in reply to Hidden]

So if I stop smoking that will also make the 24/7 anxiety worse.

[Hidden in reply to moggie8]

Yes in the beginning it will. I avoided this by using a nicotine patch and nicotine gum to taper down the withdrawals. I know it’s not ideal but it’s better than cold turkey and the anxiety that brings. I also walked about with a toothpick or straw in my mouth to get over the psychological addiction of having something to do, hand to mouth kind of habit that smokers get.

[moggie8 in reply to Hidden]

Doesn't the patches have stronger nicotine in them

[Hidden in reply to moggie8]

They have different strengths. You start at the highest dose patch for a couple of week, then go down. I think there 3 different doses today. The patches do not have more nicotine than cigarettes. They are a time released to last 48 hours. (At least they used to be that way) A doctor can also write you a prescription for a specific dose patch and taper that is best for you, depending on how much you smoke. I found the patches to be a life saver and then switched to the gum. This took about 3 months until I no longer needed either.

[Hidden in reply to moggie8]

Also, you can’t (or shouldn’t) smoke while using the patch. That would be too much nicotine at once. You won’t have the physical need for the nicotine with the patch just the psychological withdrawals which ease with time.

[moggie8 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks you must live in Australia as I think this is the only place to get them on scripts. Do you still suffer anxiety I have 24/7

[Hidden in reply to moggie8]

I am in the US. Doctors here will write prescriptions for over the counter medications (with specific instructions) even though they don’t require a script. That’s how my patches were done. My anxiety is no longer a 24/7 battle. It took 30 years to learn how to control it. Lots of therapy, many meds, and life changes helped me. Let me know if you decide to go the patch route with the quitting smoking. Would love to hear how it goes. Quitting will be the best thing you could ever do for your overall health.

[moggie8 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou I will let you know

[Margaret_712]

Hi Moggie - I just recently quit smoking, and miss it very much! But, nicotine is a stimulant and can cause anxiety for sure. I think it can also cause anxiety because, no matter how much we enjoy it, you know it is not a healthy choice. Maybe you could try to have a moment of mindfulness of do some deep belly breathing when you want a cig? I hope you find some relief from your anxiety. Focusing on the bottoms of my feet helps me. It can be somewhat grounding.