Depressed after quitting - Smoking Cessation Message Board

Fibrana · 04-17-2007, 07:59 AM

Hi everyone,

Just need a little support today. I'm now on Day 13 of quitting, using the patches and inhaler.

The last few days I've just felt so down and cry easily. My life is pretty lonely at the moment and sometimes I just think, "I might as well smoke and die young because I don't want to live too long like this anyway".....
I know, I know, I shouldn't think that way. I guess cigarettes have helped me through most of my life to deal with loneliness and depression. I'm in a singles group etc., but find it hard to make new friends at age 45. My fiance and I broke up 10 months ago also and it seems like I have had no happiness at all since then. Also, my dear stepmother died a few months ago, my real mother got breast cancer, etc. etc. As you can see, I've had a rough 10 months!

I do see a therapist every 2 weeks and basically just talk.

Is this normal after quitting smoking to feel so down and crying, feeling like nothing is fun anymore?

I do not want to get so down that I take up smoking again. I'll try to think some positive thoughts today about quitting.

Just wanted people to know that quitting isn't always easy.

SanyBelle · 04-17-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fibrana

Is this normal after quitting smoking to feel so down and crying, feeling like nothing is fun anymore?

I do not want to get so down that I take up smoking again. I'll try to think some positive thoughts today about quitting.

I got very anxious and depressed after quitting and I still am, if you read the Depression Forum here you'll see me on there a lot.

Yep I think to myself .... I can't smoke, I can't drink, I can't eat what I like, I can't have caffeine.... the only think I can do is exercise, ugh.... so what's the point... But I'm trying to get help for it so I can't help you through this.... I can only let you know that you aren't alone. But I am not smoking!!

About 20 years about 4 of us friends tried to quit smoking. I said "Wow, I'll save $1,000 a year, I can afford a cruise". One friend said to me "I'll bet if someone offered you a cruise right now and you couldn't smoke, you'd hate it". I guess we weren't in the right frame of mind back then.

And other friend passed away last year at the age of 50, I'm sure smoking had alot to do with his death. He used to smoke next to his oxygen tank, that's probably not a good idea.

Keep coming back here Fibrana, you help me a lot with your posts!

Fibrana · 04-17-2007, 09:34 AM

Thanks Traveller. Nice to know I'm not alone.

It's funny, but 15 years ago I quit for 4 months and saved enough to go on a trip to the Dominican. It was my first flight ever and I was so scared of flying, that I started again! In those days, you could still smoke in the last 10rows of the plane.

Quitting is truly one of the hardest things I've ever done. You constantly have to talk yourself out of it. It will be worth it though!

I was just browsing the web and looking at lung, jaw, tongue and face cancers. That's enough to scare me for awhile! LOL

"Smoking is no longer an option".

Sherry.

True Brit · 04-17-2007, 10:54 AM

[QUOTE=Fibrana;2926802]Hi everyone,

Hi Fibrana
Depression is common when quitting as most go through sort of mourning process for cigarettes and also your dopmamine levels are affected by quitting for a few weeks. If you are not taking anti depressants, St Johns Wort can help. I can completely understand your feelings. It has taken nearly 4 months to know that I will be able to enjoy life after quitting. Now I know that life is better after quitting. Whenever I felt down and was tempted to smoke I told myself I could have one tomorrow, but not today. Somehow this worked for me. Quitting is never easy but it is worth it in the end.
Good luck and keep us posted

SiiouteSapphire · 04-17-2007, 01:28 PM

Fibrana

These angels are for you, to shield and protect you. You post touched my heart. I can relate to what you wrote, sometimes I just do not know what to do with myself, in the past during times like that I would smoke. Did not take much of an excuse for me to smoke anyway. I am learning to live life without cigarettes and I feel it is the hardest thing I have ever done, Childbirth was easier, but not by much.

Loss of a lifestyle is a loss. You have had your quota of losses for quite a while. Top that with QUITTING and woohoo, yep, the natural thing to follow are feelings of depression. The one thing I can tell you is that in time, they will pass. Each day you become stronger than the day before. You can do this and in doing so your self esteem will be even greater than before you QUIT. You will have something to really be proud of, and you will have done it all by yourself (and this cheering section).

Take care Fibrana, know your tomorrows are going to be better. You might want to see a doctor about the depression if it lasts longer than just two weeks. They have great meds to help with depression these days.

13 DAYS SMOKEFREE FIBRANA YOU GO GIRLFRIEND

My best to you and yours,

Sapphire