Aibu to think giving up smoking shouldn't leave me a nervous wreck?

[gingerbreadslice]

Sorry for typos I've been up all night having panic attacks and horrible thoughts I believe due to trying to give up smoking.
I've been only without a cig since 10pm Monday night and I cannot sleep, I'm having panic attacks throughout the day.
I feel like I'm going insane. I keep getting horrible intrusive thoughts I feel like I should just have a cig again and try again another time I'm actually frightened atm my mind is never like this

How about using patches to bring you down slowly. It just shows what effect nicotine has on you.

You're in withdrawal from an addictive substance. It's horrible, but, as fuzzymoon says, it's an illustration of the effect of nicotine and you can use it as an object lesson to strengthen your resolve to stay quit.

If you have a cigarette now, you'll be deferring the problem to another time, when it will be even worse to go through (as you know you need to give up for the sake of your health).

Can you see your doctor and get some information about nicotine replacement therapy? (I have no idea how any of this works as my brief smoking days are over two decades ago now and I was lucky enough never to have been addicted).

I think I need to get some patches I haven't had a cig yet but I'm going too.
last night was awful I felt like I was going to start hallucinating or that someone was going to harm me it was horrible, never ever experienced anything like that in my life before .

I think they become almost like a security blanket don’t they. Stressful day...have a fag, nasty shock...have a fag. It’s being able to find something else that calms you down to do in place. I did deep breathing but I get it’s not for everyone.

It's probably the psychological fear of knowing you can't have a fag if something bad happens. I gave up several years ago and if something stressful happens, I still automatically somehow expect to go home and sit in the garden with a brew and a fag...

I wasn't even a big smoker, I think it was the psychological addiction that was worst! I found vaping really helped. Firstly, because it takes care of your physical addiction so no cravings and secondly, because once you've been using it for a few days, a real fag tastes disgusting! I gradually reduced the percentage of nicotine over a year or so, then just lost interest in it once I'd been on 0% for a while. Good luck.

I would have one now if I were you then have a plan in place when you want to try again such as cut down first and slowly removing the 'monumental' smoke times like in the morning and after eating while using the gum or inhaler to control cravings. Cold turkey works for some but not others. Some people smoke to help with their anxiety so it can be disastrous when stopping.

Lots of pharmacies now offer a stop smoking service. Have you looked into that? I think they encourage you to cut down first then pick a date to stop and they provide you with the best NRT to suit you then support you.

Smoking is bad for you, we all know that and it is best to stop but you need to try and stop in the best way possible. You could also see you GP about some help with anxiety? If smoking helps your anxiety, stopping means you may need something else to help control it

I had a nicorette inhalator and a motive dispisable e cig to help me cope what you are feeling is what they don't tell you get some NCT and reduce your levels because going cold turkey is hellish

When I gave up smoking I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I figured it was easier to loose a few pounds than grow new lung tissue. It worked for me. Every time I wanted a ciggie I went and made myself an elaborate sandwich - I used to roll my own so the ritual making part of my addiction found an outlet - or went to the biscuit tin.

I put on a couple of kilos but successfully tackled that later.

I feel for you, giving up was the hardest thing I ever did and I had to deal with my Dad dying and arranging his eventual funeral a few months later. I had alot of the DTs you described (I also suffer from GAD and depression) but it does get easier.

I didn't go cold turkey though I vaped for a year first starting October 2017 on a low strength of nicotine, I then used nicotine gum and sometimes patches before giving everything up October 2018, my Dad passed April 2019 but when he was really poorly in January it was hard not to reach for a smoke.

I don't miss it now but I did put on the best part of a stone since Oct 2017, (I did need to constantly have something in my mouth and food served that purpose alot of the time, I bought 2 bags of 120 full sugar chuppa chup lollies ) I also found exercising more really helped, jogging, zumba, bootcamp pilates anything you would find enjoyable and to measure your health improvements!

Its a battle but you can do it, and I will never touch another smoke again because I don't want to go through quitting again.

I also put aside the money I used to spend on smokes and treat myself (I could afford an extra holiday every year!), I'm currently pregnant but after I have the baby I'm going to get my teeth professionally whitened too. ;) The feeling of not being addicted is so worth it. X

It's the peak withdrawal time physically around 48 hours. Id avoid patches if you can just because you've done the hardest bit and things should get better now. The patch is putting nicotine back in but obv if it's that or smoking again go for the patch!

I stopped smoking 15 years ago and yes it was bloody hard but i don't miss it at all. Honestly you are doing great and better times are coming. Hang in there...

I also kept a bar of dark chocolate in the cupboard and ate a few squares i swear it eased the anxiety probably all in my head but it helped.

I read somewhere dark chocolate released endorphines or something so win/win

I went cold turkey too and had a similar experience to you.
I went to my GP about it and he said to use my breathing to calm myself.
I definitely wouldn’t start using anything with nicotine in it, you have 3 hard days done, don’t go back to the start.

Breath in for 4
Hold for 4
Breathe out for 4
Hold for 4

Repeat.

I also went for a walk or swim before bed to release endorphins. It doesn’t last just push through.
Giving up smoking was the hardest I’ve ever done but I’m so glad I did it.

You can bet you'll feel MUCH worse if you carry on smoking and get a terminal disease. Time to get a grip and get on with it I'm afraid.

If you are doing this without nicotine replacement, I would try the stop smoking books by Allen Carr (they are on audio book too if you'd rather play them in the background but I found listening to him irritating)
They sell them all on Amazon.

One of the books is specifically aimed at women.

They worked for me (& have worked for a LOT of people) but don't work for everyone.