Panic attacks/anxiety

[kimberly434]

When you first quit smoking...did you all have anxiety attacks...and if so how did you deal with them. I am not sure why I am having them. I do my yoga, walk the dogs, and try to relax. All of the sudden I get a panic attack. It's awful.

[sandra_dee 11 Month Winner]

Controlled breathing and 0.25mg xanax taken as needed (prescribed prior to giving up the fags).  Maybe try Rescue remedy, nicotine gum or similar. I know the feeling , it's like a horrible 'jolt' to your entire system......sort of a mega-craving, it passes but is not pleasant.

[LilyMay73 LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi Kimberly, anxiety and panic attacks are probably one of the most common side effects of giving up smoking. Very unpleasant but does subside given time. I used breathing techniques to get through them and reminding myself that it will pass. Believing that symptoms won't last is a massive key to getting through the whole quit process. You're doing great so keep strong and keep it up 😊

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER]

This is very common and as Lily said - the knowledge that it is quite normal and that it does pass should ease the associated stress😀😀

Have a read of the info under the pinned posts as there is a lot of info on what to expect as your body recovers from cigarettes 

You are doing brilliantly - stay strong 👍😀😀🍀🍀🍀🚭🚭🚭🚭

[sandra_dee 11 Month Winner]

I do understand, no matter how much excercise you do it just hits you. I go for a lie down....but then i'm retired, my excuse anyway. Lol. It's just your innerself coming to terms with a new way of life. Take care and keep posting,  this site is so helpful.

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER]

I have always suffered with anxiety that I have been able to manage myself - this certainly heightened when I started my quit journey. It took a couple of months to pass - but now days I have a calmness that I never had as a smoker 😀😀 

FOr me it just came out of nowhere - disappeared the same way 👍👍

[Nbrev in reply to glolin]

Can u tell me how u managed with the attacks happened

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi Kim, as the other lovely ladies have said it's very normal for this to happen. It's great you do yoga as the breathing will help you. Congratulations on your quit👍 it throws up an assortment of withdrawals which usually pass. Be proud of yourself coz you're doing fantastic👏😊

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner]

Hi Kimberly, its lovely to meet you  

I'm ever so sorry, but I didnt suffer with panic attacks or anxiety when I quit, but saying that, quite a few of our members have done. I'm loving their reply's to you, Sandra_Dee, LillyMay, Glolin and Briarwood I think finding a breathing technique to help you when you get into problems, will help tremendously   

Kimberly, if you could please let me know your quit date, then I can update your Winners badge for you. 

Your going great guns Kimberly, just you remember NOPE, Not One Puff Ever.

Pete xx

[kimberly434 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to monky]

March 11th 2016

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to kimberly434]

THANK YOU sooooo much Kimberly, I now have you welll and truly logged in and as you see, are now the PROUD owner of a 2 weeks Winners badge  

Thanking you again  

[kimberly434 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to monky]

Thank you so much. It is a real struggle everyday but I take one day at a time. I don't even think about tomm.

[MMoo]

Hi Kimberly,

Well done for giving up smoking!

I suffered really bad from anxiety and panic attacks. I've always suffered anxiety, but it was largely under control until I quit.

I think it's due to a chemical imbalance in your brain. When you start smoking you produce less serotonin (a happy mood chemical) in your brain. The brain then accepts nicotine as a suitable replacement. This is why a lot of smokers suffer from depression!

When you quit, the brain needs time to adjust to not having nicotine and that's when you get anxious, weird dreams, panic attacks etc.....

I would pop a long to your doctors and mention that you're suffering from anxiety. The NHS has a well-being service that looks after mental health. 

There are treatments which range from CBT and counselling to medication.

I done self CBT, plus counseling. 

Good luck and well done for quitting smoking.

Remember, no matter how bad the withdrawal symptoms are, they will never be as bad as what smoking is doing to you!

Ian.

X 

[kimberly434 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to MMoo]

That was some great advice. I also suffered from PTSD/panic attack but it was under control for years until I decided to quit smoking cold turkey. Your post was great information on why they are coming back. I appreciate it. Thanks so much.

[MMoo in reply to kimberly434]

No worries. Glad it was helpful. If there is anything else I can help with please let me know.

[Hidden in reply to MMoo]

Great post MMoo👍🏻

[Arizona- 26 Months Winner in reply to MMoo]

Good reply 👍

Thankyou

[Hidden]

Yes it is awful. I use Xanax sparingly for these anxious spells. It did get worse when I quit smoking over 3 months ago but I find them getting fewer now. I can tell because I do not need to take the Xanax as often anymore.

Your brain will tell your body to do all kinds of weird things just to try to get you to light up! Be strong. It might take months for all bad things to go away but it is worth the fight.

I feel for you Hun because it is an awful feeling. Talk to your doctor about it.

[madametobacco49]

Hi Kim--Many people have them at some stage of their quit--and some not at all--I never got them till my 3rd month--Just when I thought I had been thru every weird withdrawal symptom there was--here they came--Mine was all breathing associated--I started focusing on my breath--especially mouth breathing--I felt like I was suffocating like I couldn't get enough air--and really was getting more than I had in years--but my poor body didn't know what to think--then Id get anxious-- It could go that way--or Id get anxious--hungry ,sad or angry and my breathing would change-and Id over focus on it..-It is much better now--I have anti anxiety meds--and I find just having them with me makes me feel less panicked..If Im home it is less--Going to walmart or stores around people makes me anxious--panicky and breathe weird.and maybe if I hadn't smoked I would have discovered I was this way normally..I will never know--53 yrs is a long time . Thankfully like all my withdrawal symptoms it is getting better--and as much as I hate to see any of the lovely people on here suffer--it is such a blessing to find other people know what you are talking about and are experiencing it too--you are never alone here--I seriously thought I was dying when it first happened--I also agree with mmoo--about the serotonin thing--we have to readjust and our poor brains have to learn to  function without nicotine--All I can say is there is so little info out there on what withdrawal from this powerful drug can be like--No wonder people don't make it--you really have to have support and know you are understood--This site has been that place for me--Im never alone with anything I go thru on this journey--My victory is everyones    Blessings,MmeT

[kimberly434 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to madametobacco49]

Thanks so much for your post. I know that this site has helped me so much. I use to be like that at Walmart. I would literally freak out. This was before I quit smoking. However, my doctor put me on prozac and I got better. Honestly thought I was cured, but now the monster is back and I am trying to fight it again. I just hate feeling like I have no control over what is going on with my body and mind. Smoking is a horrible, horrible habit...and I know understand the word addict. There are so many people on this site that honestly understand and care! I love them all!

[madametobacco49 in reply to kimberly434]

Hang in there with us Kim--There are some bumps in the road and rough spots but together we can see it through--I never had a panic attack till I quit--and then only a couple-- I could feel myself starting to hyperventilate--and I lived in terror because it only takes one to know what "feel like im going to die " means... I stayed in for a couple weeks out of that time--and then I started going out just short periods of time--and working on just doing my business instead of focusing on my breath--Mine revolved around breathing--but don't know which came first the anxiety over it or worrying and then it happening--Anyway--It gets better--All the changes are always to slow for us--we want things yesterday and rewards just for quitting--but life is teaching us as we go--and I think this tough stuff insures we will not want to pass this way again.And, yes! you are correct about the power--What a drug!! As bad as heroin--so that is the beast we fight--People just don't realize--and the info isn't out there--Imagine before internet--Drs are bewildered but there are some sites on here now that know something..Sometimes my anger fuels my quit because Im so mad that no one told me--and maybe they didn't know--but tobacco companies knew full well--and here we are today--peeling off the layers of crap and hoping we can still see what its like to breathe and live clean--That's gets ya goin huh?? I knew I was addicted but not like a REAL drug--you know?? well anyway--that's my rant --Let anger propel you-fear motivate you and the thought of a new life free of this monster give you a glimpse of the future of a new drug free world.....--peace,MmeT

[gertrude9809 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to madametobacco49]

Hi my name is Larry

I've been smoking for about 45 yrs. It got to the point I had back surgery on Halloween 2016 and as I was in the hospital recovering when I got a blood clot in my lung scared the crap out of me! I quit Friday the 13th Jan 2017 and I swear I've been so scared I went to the ER because my breathing scared the hell out of me. And the Dr. says you should be breathing better if you quit talk about another scare what the heck. I have been searching for info on withdrawals and breathing so far I've found a few things on here where people have had issues breathing I would really like to hear from a few people on how scared and difficult breathing was hopefully life will find a few days where I can really look forward to days with a good feeling of breathing!

[madametobacco49 in reply to gertrude9809]

Larrry I put up with that breath thing for months believing part of withdrawal-that's what they said on here--many did anyway-Guess they got lucky-if only!! Im on O2 24/7--I have congestive heart failure and afib and they are still workin on me--If your heart gets damged from smoking it gets either hard and tough or big and floppy and cant pump oxygen thruout your body sufficiently --that will make you short of breath--Do not mess around--If you can see pulmonary and cardio--I waited 8 months--Now Im draggin 30 ft of tubing around the house and carry oxygen tanks if I leave the house--Its such a bummer--Mine started with panic attacks--2 or 3 months after I quit--your dr is full of shit--It can get worse--not better--I also gained 40 lbs which is so hard on me cuz Im scared to exercise to much--Im hungry all the time--Its a slippery slope with this versatile and most toxic drug in universe--MMet

[gertrude9809 5 MONTH WINNER in reply to madametobacco49]

Thank you for your response it was the ER Dr. that led me wrong and l do seriously appreciate ur response it is mine and my wifes 6 th wedding anniversary today l will talk more Monday if thats cool with you again Thank you l don't want my wife worrying anymore than necessary thanx

[madametobacco49 in reply to gertrude9809]

perfectly fine--I look forward to it--enjoy your weeknd together--Mmet

[madametobacco49 in reply to gertrude9809]

Larry--Just re-reading some old posts--How did you make out? MmeT

[Amrinlama 25 Months Winner]

It’s all your mind and nicotine is still in your and ours brain because we smoke a lot so understanding mind is the best solution

Our health is in very good condition than when we use to smoke