Confused.

[busylizie]

I stopped smoking last July in November I started being depressed. Iv`e suffered from this on and off for the last 20 yrs but medication has always helped up until now. I use a vapour cigg now ,would like some feedback please, Lizie x

[Hidden]

Hello

I used to smoke up to sixty a day in the 60/70s and I stopped and just never started again. One thing I can say about this. It can take upwards of seven years to get the soot out of your lungs. I used to cough soot.

One thing that made me sit up, is that when I have been having my well man they only stopped asking me that if I smoked before was this year, it has taken all that time for the GP to acknowledge I no longer smoke and I suppose the damage I caused to lungs etc has stopped .

I do not know what I can suggest, I used to suck Fishermans Friend lozenges, the original was the best, they had a strong taste possibly that is how they worked. I stopped sucking them after about four years. Personally there are no quick fixes By the way the smokers nicotine tablets etc did not work with me..I am now sixty three years old.

Good luck

BOB

[Luckyring56]

Perhaps you're looking for a reason to resume smoking and you would've got depressed this winter anyway...it has been long, wet and very cruel to a lot of us. Do you take a/ds continuously or just when you get low? Was there any health reason for quitting smoking? So many questions and your answers could affect the way you feel.

(((Hugs)))

Lorraine

xxx

[busylizie in reply to Luckyring56]

Hi Lorraine, yes I agree about the winter its been awful, no I don`t want to start smoking again to be honest can`t say that I am missing it. I do take a/d all the time (ventlafaxine) my doctors doubled the dose 150mg iv`e been on 75mg for quite a few years. No no health reason.xx

[Gambit62]

Have you talked to your GP about this?

Could it be some sort of withdrawl rather than depression ... and I'm not saying you can use that as an excuse for taking up smoking again It's really bad for you - especially these days in the winter month when you have to keep going outside all the time and risk catching pneumonia

Really glad that you have managed to stop and kept it up for such a long time.

[Hidden]

My guess is that smoking was performing the function of supressing the depression. Depression is often associated with anger turned inwards towards the self, and by smoking you were behaving aggressively towards yourself by doing yourself harm. Now you are no longer harming yourself (you are protecting your physical health) you are experiencing the underlying depression. I think this would be a good time for you to begin to talk, or write here, about what is making you depressed. Perhaps you can think back to when you first became depressed and begin there. Suex

[Hidden]

That is very interesting Sue. Didn't realise there is a possible link between stopping smoking and depression. I have to stop for health problems is it possible my depression will get worse do you think?

Well done you for stopping lizie anyway. It's still the best think you could do for yourself. I haven't stopped yet and wish I had years ago because I was diagnosed with COPD (lung disease) 4/5 years ago which is irreversible. So if it is unexpressed anger causing your depression, thank yourself instead for looking after yourself and your lungs. x

[Luckyring56 in reply to Hidden]

Yes stopping can make your depression worse. I too have COPD diagnosed about same time, tried to quit unsuccessfully and not ready now!

[busylizie in reply to Luckyring56]

Lucky what does COPD mean xx

[Luckyring56 in reply to busylizie]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (lung) Disease

xxx