heightened emotions with the quit

[historyteach]

I've noticed since I quit smoking, (november 29th), that my anxiety is worse.
I've stopped taking the welbutrin/zyban over two months ago, and haven't had a panic attack since.
But, I've had a LOT of stress this year; and more now with my mom being so sick. I'm in the process of moving in with her, and nephew thinks he can give me some shyte, (he's living there rent free doing nothing but delivering pizza part time at 28 years old.) Not gonna happen. But, I'm having a hard time with it -- more than I should be given the reality of the situation. I should be just telling him to buzz off, and get back to life. But, mom is enabling him, defending the undefensible. And I'm having a hard time with it all; an emotional time with it.
But I'm having no panic attacks; just anger and tears.

Anyway, I'm wondering something.

I've heard that it's normal for our emotions to be heightened when we quit an addiction.
Can anyone tell me for how long this heightened state lasts???

Thanks for any insights.

Shalom!

[Shakur]

Hi historyteach!,

I smoked for 15 years, and had my last cigarette a few days before May 2nd. I used the patch, and tapered down. Nicotine and alcohol were my gateways into harder substances, the foundations of my House Of Cards, so to speak.

Cigarettes have a PROFOUND EMOTIONAL IMPACT, AND ACT AS A STIMULANT/ANTIDEPRESSANT, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I cried and bitched and moaned like a little girl through several weeks of my quit. My sponsor and girlfriend took the most of my bitching, but then, it just vanished.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You simply cannot believe what your nicotine-deceived body (mind is body, body is mind) is trying to tell you: I must smoke to survive.

You will feel better. The body was happy before it smoked, much happier, when you were young and free. It remembers these times, and will revert to them if you do not reinforce the urge to smoke by smoking.

Cry, yell, bitch, moan, whimper, whine, gnash...just don't smoke, and then, the storm will have vanished, in time.

All urges are conditioned, even hunger. (Hence Gandhi could hungerstrike for weeks without wanting to eat) Don't reinforce them, and they recede.

Be Well,
Joe

[historyteach]

Thanks Joe;
It's been over 7 months that I have quit. That's why I'm wondering how long it will last. The urge to smoke is still there occassionally, but, nothing like before. It's just this anxiety and emotional response.
I appreciate your thoughtful reply.

Shalom!

[Iwanttobe1]

Hi historyteach,

A close friend of mine, that quit smoking with me, explained it as the loss of a good friend. The friend that was there with coffee, after dinner, when we were happy, when we were sad, you name it. When we were in the car, or board, or even just when we had a few minutes to kill. That friend was always available.

We turned a way, by our own choice. We miss our best friend. I have been through a lot since then. Once you get over the physical addiction, your mind tries to convince you you can start back.

But when I remember how I obssessed about quittting and how hard and painful it was... I don't ever want to go there again.

Right now I am struggling with a drinking problem. I have an addictive personality. Same kind of thing. Help!

I miss smoking, almost 7 years later. I had fantasies about smoking. During a period of family stress about a month ago, I smoked 1 for the first time. For days I felt like someone hit my lung with a blow touch and burned them.
The urge is gone.

You are a very strong person. I have read some of your posts. Smoking is nothing compared to you and your confidence about things.

You can make it. I did.

Carol

[skunkape]

Teach, these feelings will pass very soon. I'm at a year and a half smoke free, and my urge to smoke left me completely between 7 months and one year. Now I don't think about it at all, unless I'm in a restaurant and some people are smoking near my table, which just makes me sick.

Anyways, hang in there, you're winning!

[jlo34]

((((History)))))))),
You've been through soooo much since you've quit smoking. Life continues. When my attitude goes to heck...it generally is because I am less-spiritually centered. The stronger my connection to my HP - the more serene I am. The more scattered my brain is - the less connection I feel. When I let life get away with taking me - instead of my HP and me - then my peace and serenity go down the pooper.

Feelings, emotions, they are normal. It's ok to feel them. It's ok not to be balanced all the time, in fact, I think it's downright impossible to always be balanced. Important thing, you are aware. Awareness is the big key. Next, what makes it better. Work the steps, talk to your sponsor. Usually when I start going off the deep end, for me, it's because there's something I fear, something I'm afraid of. Sometimes it takes someone else to help point that out to me or help me find what it is.

Give yourself a break - and a hug, big hug from me!! You're my old-timer on this board!! I know that since you've made it through these early months, that I can too. Don't think that I haven't figured out how many cigarettes all of you use to smoke a day - yea, I'm sick. I wasted a bunch of time and figured it all out. Sad, but true. With the amount that you use to smoke, History, I feel you are doing an absolutely remarkable job!!! By the way, you mentioned that you recently stopped using the wellbutrin...obviously that is an anti-depressant as well and it would take about 6-8 weeks for the full effects of the drug to wear off. So yep, you're probably right where you are suppose to be!!!

(((((((((((((((love ya)))))))))))))))),
Jen