Depression advise or help: I have been... - No Smoking Day

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Depression advise or help

Dannyboy55 profile image
12 Replies

I have been posting and working my way through my quit attempt since 18 dec 09, and many of you will know me. After month 3/4 things have been getting easier and easier and I am now almost at month 8 and have no urge to smoke.

However everything that I have read , accepts that depression is a thing that most quiters will experience in months 1-3, but my depression started in month 4 and I still have it, and I would love to hear if any other member has experience this so late in the quit attemt.

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Dannyboy55 profile image
Dannyboy55
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12 Replies
nsd_user663_10279 profile image
nsd_user663_10279

Hate to say this but I agree with you....

Have to say that I have suffered with depression on and off for a number of years - but it seems to have reared its horrible head again since I have been quit...well, more so in the last few weeks. I am almost at 5 months...so yes, I'm right here with you on this one...xxx:(:(

nsd_user663_8876 profile image
nsd_user663_8876

Hi Dannyboy

Depression is a state of mind which can always be altered, we need to re-programme our mind, steer clear from negative thinking, one single negative thought can create such awful patterns you know. I love research on gthe mind. See the way i look at life is in a positive way, that is because i choose to, it's a much better place to be. Have i do i get depressed? yes but i deal with it straight away and don't let it linger, so when it comes to smoking and depression around that i just mentally plug myself in, it's brilliant. I love life. :D

Good luck Danny, focus on the good stuff thats where you'll feel better.

nsd_user663_1658 profile image
nsd_user663_1658

I have been posting and working my way through my quit attempt since 18 dec 09, and many of you will know me. After month 3/4 things have been getting easier and easier and I am now almost at month 8 and have no urge to smoke.

However everything that I have read , accepts that depression is a thing that most quiters will experience in months 1-3, but my depression started in month 4 and I still have it, and I would love to hear if any other member has experience this so late in the quit attemt.

Hi danny....depressing thoughts, hell yes weve given up a major drug .....we are only human..you need to feel sad to feel happy...you need to cry to laugh....,I feel on a downer sometimes for a day or 2 then i cud feel fine for a whole week ..a bit up & down tbh....I am on month 6 ..so cant give any advise on month 8 onwards.

If your depression is constant with no up moods , maybe see your doctor or look into alternative medicine maybe?

well done on almost 8 months btw :)

nsd_user663_4847 profile image
nsd_user663_4847

Morning Danny

I too have had some real ups and downs since quitting, in some ways I think smoking masked other problems I was having. Remember feeling quite upbeat until 75 days after which some days were a real battle.

I've read the NHS website depression info and as Fallen has mentioned positive mental attitude helps. Atomic guy also references the mental realignment since his quit so you are experiencing the same emotions as others have. The difficulty is when you are down, picking yourself up. Try to set done goals and remind yourself just how determined you are, you've quit smoking.

If you'd be more comfortable pm'ing happy to chat further.

M

nsd_user663_10279 profile image
nsd_user663_10279

Depends if it is true depression or just a feeling of being down. I suffer from true depression, and it's not easy to "pull yourself together" as people like to tell you...

I have been on tablets for a long period of time, so I'm not sure if mine is now associated with giving up the fags...or whether it is that little monster rearing it's head again...in any case, it's not easy just to try and be positive,,,

nsd_user663_10532 profile image
nsd_user663_10532

I wouldn't say I get depressed. I get a wee bit down but when I feel low, I get right on my bike or go swimming or do something. I am not a fitness fanatic by any means but I swear it gives me a lift. I need to be happy, I can't cope with feeling down that's why I came off the Champix very early. Try cycling Danny, I am not saying if everyone cycled there would be no depression, but it's worth a go..........

nsd_user663_7469 profile image
nsd_user663_7469

Hi Danny, sorry to read that you are feeling a mite low, depression is actually a hormone imbalance and can be treated by the doc depending on the severity, if it is just a minor problem then it could even be controlled as others have said with diet and exercise, it is a medical fact that exercise can produce the endorphins to boost our spirits but when you are of a certain age as we both are and probably not used to exercise then we have to look at other ways of overcoming the blues which I think to a certain extent we all get when we quit smoking, walking is very good for it so a brisk half hour walk every day could help, also make sure as I keep saying that you are getting enough fluids.

Perhaps the chemicals that smoking produces gave us more of a lift than we realised.

I know that if I’m honest I feel sometimes more anxious than I did when I smoked I don’t know if this is a common symptom of quitting but all things have gone a little hay wire and I hope that I will get back on track and hope you do as well, time will tell, in the meantime keep posting and talking there is no better cure for feeling down than talking to friends, we are here for you always.

nsd_user663_2040 profile image
nsd_user663_2040

I have been posting and working my way through my quit attempt since 18 dec 09, and many of you will know me. After month 3/4 things have been getting easier and easier and I am now almost at month 8 and have no urge to smoke.

However everything that I have read , accepts that depression is a thing that most quiters will experience in months 1-3, but my depression started in month 4 and I still have it, and I would love to hear if any other member has experience this so late in the quit attemt.

Hi Danny....

My OH was exactly the same and 8 months in was still so down, coupled with the weight gain etc he caved and started smoking again thinking that would improve his mood.....it didn't!!!!

I had the normal quit depression at month 3-4 and what I found really really helped my state of mind and made my quit so much easier was to change my life and my outlook...I realised that I was still living my old smoker life but as a non smoker, so constantly felt something was missing and I was not complete happy.

For me I took up exercise and running which gave me a new focus of determination and then the little successes gave me such a confidence boost. I have now stretched that to other parts of my life and I am going out with friends more, working less and generally leading a non smoking full and fullfilling

life.

IT worked for me and OH who would not change his life at all is back to being a smoker and beats himself up every day....

Takes time....this worked for me but I do agree that if it is not getting better then it is worth speaking to the doc.

Good luck

nsd_user663_4026 profile image
nsd_user663_4026

Hi. I never suffered depression before, then at 5 months quit I was diagnosed with severe depression. I suffered thoughts of suicide along with a total lack of self worth and energy. I chose the route of a counsellor. along with some other issues I discovered i'd lost 'me' time with not smoking. Those 5 mins of escaping the children, avoiding a problem, walking away from an argument to get space. And as I associated that free time with smoking I stopped giving myself that time. And gradually began to implode. I was ordered to do one nice thing for myself each day and it works. I've now learnt to be a non smoker and enjoy life to the full without the tie of smoking. Good luck x

nsd_user663_9175 profile image
nsd_user663_9175

Depression is a state of mind which can always be altered, we need to re-programme our mind, steer clear from negative thinking, one single negative thought can create such awful patterns you know. I love research on gthe mind. See the way i look at life is in a positive way, that is because i choose to, it's a much better place to be. Have i do i get depressed? yes but i deal with it straight away and don't let it linger, so when it comes to smoking and depression around that i just mentally plug myself in, it's brilliant. I love life.

True depression is not a state of mind that can always be altered, it is a medical condition which, if left untreated, can become increasingly worse. It is an illness, and like any illness only a doctor can diagnose and advise you on the right course of treatment for you.

People with true depression don't feel better by taking a walk, or swimming or cycling, in fact they can't even summon up the energy or will to do even the simplest of tasks, like washing or eating. True, exercise will help in the long-term, but the short-term symptons need to be addressed first.

There is such a stigma about mental illness and depression, but the brain is a complex organ, and much like any other area of the body it sometimes needs to be treated.

If your symptoms have been ongoing for some time please go to your doctor and explain how you feel. There is a lot of help out there if you need it - professional help that is - and you don't need to carry on feeling this way.

I do hope you feel better soon, take care x

nsd_user663_10813 profile image
nsd_user663_10813

hello Danny:)

interesting thread that you have started. and one where lot of us will empathise with you. and lots of good debate

I have read that the neurotransmitter in the brain called Dopamine [which affects our mood] is increased by cigarette smoking.

therefore it follows that when we stop our brain feels the loss- and then we get low mood. think you will get more info if you google smoking and Dopamine.

food wise we can help by eating more fruit and nuts bananas etc -and increasing our vitamin b uptake. also Magnesium supplements help.

this is purely what I have read -so anecdotal :)

cognitive behaviour therapy -and neuro linguistic programming are excellent I believe for challenging learned behaviour and negative thoughts.

but only once the debilitating depresssion has been treated by a good doctor.

once back on the road to living -and a path then for life .

I am sure you know the checklist doctors use to diagnose -early morning wakening , loss of interest , eating disturbance ,suicidal thoughts.

hope you are feeling better Danny

nsd_user663_14924 profile image
nsd_user663_14924

Work is a positive thing. Everyone can do it and often contributes to depression. I do not want to stop working, however, never achieve its objectives if you overcome your anxiety and some of the problems of self-esteem.

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