Hi name is Shain, 32 years old, chewed 14 years and quit January 3 or 4 1/2 weeks ago. First week was typical. Body numb, in shock, cravings. Second week everything getting little better, started feeling emotions again. Third and fourth week fell into depression and anxiety worse then ever. I mean straight up panic attacks, hyperventilation one of which lasted 24 hours and had me puking all night in so much mental agony I wanted to end life. It didnÂ’t help I had 3 weeks insomnia. Seen psychiatrist and now on mirtazapine 5th day now. Helping slowly but surely other then still not sleeping well. Guess the biggest surprise is how hard it is to deal w life without nicotine. Married w 4 kids, busy life and now I need to find something to else to cope. Got a y membership but until insomnia passes IÂ’m just overworking body with exercise. Is time the only answer? When will sleep return to normal? What things are good for stress relief to replace nicotine? Hope everyone quit stories are successful.
Hey shain I get the anxiety thing far to well. I had anxiety and panic attacks before I quit, I had learned to some what control them. I quit thinking it would help the anxiety it what a counselor told me couple years ago. I can say this the first few months was hardest on me but even now i I struggle but like I said I had issues before I quit. I can't say it enough ive heard it many times and its so true the brain has to rewire its self anxiety will be part of the process. I would work on meditating and get an anxiety work book your seeing some one so you should get all the help you need from psychiatrist. I can say this some of us seemed to rely on this tobacco as a self medication over time. We have to learn new coping skills and it takes time. I've read all over this fourm cause I felt like no one had anxiety like I was having. That's partially true not everyone will have the same struggle with anxiety but just wonna let you know over time with help and work you can do this. Pm me if you wonna talk just know you got this when anxiety gets strong and you feel crazy just know that it will pass don't over react to it. Look at anxietycenter.com lot of info there. I also wonna say I think quitting is tough but when you start recovering you'll have a true recovery that's not masked by tobacco 'oh yeah'
I quit with you Jmckay 297
I feel you, my anxiety led me back to nic the last time I quit, felt like a bitch, hated my life, had panic attacks for no fucking reason. Thought I was going fucking crazy, was terrified that I was gonna hurt my wife/my dog/myself... Crazy fucking mental games. Almost like a constant reminder for months that I knew how to fix it. So after a really bad panic attack a few months in I caved with a cigarette, couldn't handle it anymore, didn't have anyone to call cause I was doing it on my own. Thought I was fucking insane so who cares if I die sooner, wanted to die anyway on most days. Plus it was just one, didn't count. Until it made me feel sooo much better, because there was no guilt, nobody cared if I smoked, my wife just didn't like the spitters so who cares about a little cigarette. Or two... a month... or a week...or one tin never hurt anybody. Or as long as I only do it on my lunch my wife wont find out.
Join your group. Odd's are your friend's aren't going to know how to talk to you if you are about to cave. or your wife or your whatever. Nobody knows unless they've been through it. Shrinks didn't help me as much as just violent actions. When I'm feeling my anxiety or depression or just straight rage coming on I do the most uncomfortable shit, take an ice bath, go outside if its cold in my skivvies with a kettlebell and turn the sprinklers on. attack the yardwork. Do man shit, rip out a fuckin tree, dig a trench with a cheap shovel, demolish a wall, Make yourself uncomfortable. You get to the point you wanna hurt yourself tear some fucking muscles with some deadlifts. Feel like your killing yourself at the gym but really be building yourself up. But thats just me, mine was more rage and anxiety that led to depression. Could be yours will end when the insomnia ends. Hopefully it does brother. Either way join your group. PM me if you need help. Stay accountable, your only value is in your word, so as long as you promise us you wont take in nicotine today, you can't.
