Omg

[Jestin58761]

5 days. No cigarette. I keep coughing...having bad dizziness. These panic attacks are awful. I wish it would just stop. Please make this go away!!!! I'm so shaky and scared. I feel like fear has grabbed me so hard and landed n the middle of my chest.

[sahara2000]

Wow Jestin,

I'm exactly like you. I'm 5 days no smoking but using the patch and since day 2 I've been having severe panic attacks, its so horrible I feel like I'm losing my mind. I even called the ambulance to take me to the hospital. I felt like I was dying, or I had lung cancer since I can't breathe properly or so it feels like it. I'm trembling on the outside where you can visually see it and trembling on the inside as well. I feel pins and needles all over my face, arms, fingers. I pace as I don't know where I want to go, here, there, anywhere but nowhere. The attacks are pretty intense and have been assaulting me for 3 days, not able to sleep either, so I went to the doctors and I was literally shaking and crying and went on my knees begging them to help me as my body can't take it anymore.

They took some blood work (results in 7-10 days) and a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray shows that I have bronchitis infections (almost COPD), when she said the word COPD, I had an even bigger panic attack and screaming and crying, asking her if I had lung cancer, she said no, antibiotics should take care of it and I should quit smoking. I told her I already have and wondered if the panic attacks are part the withdrawal symptoms as I'm unable to function anymore. She said I was stressed out probably from my heavy chest, coughing and unable to breathe symptoms which triggered my panic.

She gave me 2 inhalers (which do help) antibiotics for bronchial infection (just starting to release the pressure in my chest but still coughing) anxiety pills for 10 days (REALLY HELPS) and sleeping pills which I haven't used yet.

This morning I woke up with an instant panic attack. This is a vicious cycle and I even called the suicide hotline. I don't want to hurt myself or anyone else, I was just feeling really desperate and out of control.

I am with you buddy, I hope it ends for the both of us, but feel free to get some help at the doctor's. I'm against "pills" but I gave in as my body was exhausted from the constant intense panic attacks all day long.

Keep me posted and hang in there.

Sahara

[hypercat54 in reply to sahara2000]

Hi please don't worry so much as you don't have copd. If you 'nearly' have it you would be so mild that it would have very little effect on you. I have mild copd caused by smoking.

Lung cancer is still relatively rare whereas copd is quite common especially in smokers or ex smokers. It is fantastic you have given up the ciggies as you have given yourself the best chance of avoiding lung disease.

Anxiety will make any symptoms worse so have a look at breathing exercises online as they will help you stay calmer. x

[Exsmo 7 MONTH WINNER in reply to sahara2000]

Sahara, please read my above post. You too are doing better than you think. The nicodemon wants to control you & you are not letting him. Great job❗️You both are almost at 1week really helps having a same time quit buddy. Read whyquit.com it is very helpful. Read read read. Was great for my panic- as well as meds.

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky]

Hi Jestin, sorry to hear you’re suffering and it seems withdrawal is hitting you hard. Cold turkey can be very difficult and your body is screaming out for what it is used to. You’re doing really well and now you have reached Day 5 the nicotine is out of your body. Please have a look at the pinned post called Anxiety/panic attacks/withdrawal symptoms as this will help you understand the reason for it. We also have an Anxiety Support group on Health Unlocked which is worth a look at. Maybe a chat to your Doctor as well. The breathing techniques can also help.

This addiction has a big hold on us and dealing with those withdrawals can be overwhelming at times. I wonder if using some NRT will help get you through this, just a thought.

Hang in there because although it doesn’t seem like it right now, there Is light at the end of the tunnel😊x

[Exsmo 7 MONTH WINNER]

Omg, this is actually pretty normal and will go away. The fact that you're coughing already and tingling is a very good sign your body has already begun healing. I had severe anxiety & panic attacs for 25 of the 35 years i smoked and so many less after I quit. Am amazed by that and now wonder if the panic isnt our bodies letting us know our addiction is acreaming every time nicotine levels are lower than it likes. O think the only time we were not on withdrawl was while smoking. You Are actually doing very well and getting past the worst of the physical craves. Keep up the good work!