I know this sounds crazy but my DH is giving up smoking and I am worried about him

[CrushWithEyeliner]

He has been smoking for 18 yrs and has stopped straight without any help whatsoever. He has become depressed, overly emotional (crying) and shaky and last night I am sure he had a fever. I am shocked that it could cause these symptoms.

He is the old-fashioned unemotional type so it is really hard to get him to call a helpline or go to the GP. I have had a brief internet search but not found anything really, I just want some literature or advice on how to do it properly and what to expect....

it is an anti depressent apparently - nicotine.

it can make you v. depressed giving up.

these symptoms sound normal.

it might be worth letting him see tangible 'markers'

so do some googling

it takes 48 hours to get out of your system.

he might be past this already and give himself a pat on the back.

there are also calculators that show you how much money you have saved.

forums - if he wants to chat online.

hell...get him to join mumsnet - charliecat will have him sorted in no time

Alan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking has been very useful for people I know. It's basically about debunking the myths about tobacco.

Poor you and DH. I'm stopping on Friday and I know how hard it is to stop. (I've done it before).

Well done to your DH for taking action though.

here he doesn't have to speak to a soul!

thanks - that's good advice C. I keep telling him to join MN! He thinks it it some kind of mysterious female club where we talk about mens willies....

seriously though he is going through an awful time

"What To Expect When You GO Smokefree
The first few days after your quit date can be challenging. Nicotine withdrawal can make you feel very irritable and frustrated but this intense period of withdrawal only lasts 48 hours and you will soon notice an improvement. Nicotine patches and gum can really help you to cope with the early stage symptoms of withdrawal."

Tell him to read the Alan carr book

here

Ah- did not see you had also said that Glam!

benefits with a timeline great motivation

www.whyquit.com get him reading there. What you describe is PERFECTLY normal.

definitely agree re Alan Carr book-my dh used it years ago and has not smoked since
really changes your whole mindset

Withdrawal symptoms are the physical and mental changes that occur following interruption or termination of drug use. They are normally temporary and are a product of the physical or psychological adaptation to long-term drug use, requiring a period of re-adjustment when the drug is no longer ingested. In the case of smoking, some of these are: [9]

Withdrawal symptom
Duration
Proportion of those trying to quit who are affected

Irritability / aggression
Less than 4 weeks
50%

Depression
Less than 4 weeks
60%

Restlessness
Less than 4 weeks
60%

Poor concentration
Less than 2 weeks
60%

Increased appetite
Greater than 10 weeks
70%

Light-headedness
Less than 48 hours
10%

Night-time awakenings
Less than 1 week
25%

Craving
Greater than 2 weeks
70%

from here

thank you all so much that is GREAT

Another vote for Alan Carr - I used it 8 years ago and have never looked back. Dh (a hardened fag lover) also quit 5 years ago with it and he was 40 a day.

Allen does not recommend the use of the patches etc though, as he thinks it's pointless to put the drug back in your body which you are trying to kick. He also says that nicotine withdrawal physically should be painless so maybe your DH's symptoms are psychological and will disappear once he is happy to be a non smoker?

Congratulate him from me, it is fabulous what he is doing for his health and will save ££££. I didn't realise fags were not £6 a packet - I coulnd't afford to smoke now even if I wanted to!

All the best to you both.

i know i'm a girl and so he might take no notice, but the first time i quit, i remember being sat in the toilets at work and i was honestly crying and thinking " what's the point of life if you can't enjoy it....sob sob...no fags...you can only eat healthy food (lettuce) omg. everything good for you is pants...whats the point whats the poiiiiiiiint"

LOL story of my life without the fags C

and CM I gave up with Allan carr he was a genius but DH just won't listen...

Posted this a few weeks ago because someone elses DH was going through something similar:-

Cut and paste:

Taken from a communication I had with someone I know. These are her words, not mine:-

When I was at this stage of quitting, I became really depressed and would cry at everything. This was spectacularly unlike me. through lots of reading and posts and research i found out that nicotine was a very strong antidepressant. Nobody had told me that!

What I was experiencing was chemical. i was still doing really well in my quit and this was out of my control. Once I knew that, it was easier. the very reason that zyban works for some people is because it works on that part of the brain. It is an antidepressant which has a side effect of you not wanting to smoke.

I used strong St John's wort and 5htp. These can't be taken by everyone. Check out the drug interactions and if on any medication then ask your doctor. The difference they made to me was great and I was myself again.

It doesn't happen to everyone but if you're feeling down at this stage expecially in the winter it's probably chemical, don't give up your quit. you are doing brilliantly. Get out in the day when it's not grey and wet that is and get some sunlight, use st johns wort or 5htp or a light box or anything that makes you feel better!

Doodle again - please try and get him to understand that the anti depressant effect slams some quitters more than others. I, like my friend above, was severely wolloped by it but like her, once I knew what it was, I could handle it and counter it with some AD's for a while until my body settled down.

It's difficult to research and not all smoking cessation nurses etc accept or even know themselves that this happens to some people but not all.