Hi Jennifer.
I'm very sorry about these weird mood problems you are having. Based on your description, I might have had something similar around the 4-5 months mark. Mine was intense anxiety and agitation mixed with some very dark thoughts and low motivation to do anything decent at first. I saw a psychiatrist then who prescribed and AD med for me. It seemed to help a bit after the first week or two, but then everything had gotten much worse and I had extreme mood swings all over the map, with a lot of depressive states. I endured for a while knowing that it takes a few weeks for the ADs to start working, but it was just getting worse and worse so I stopped after about six weeks. The really bad mood issues went away quite quickly, but I kept experiencing occasional episodes a few more times during the rest of that year, and to some extent also early this year. Usually the occasional episodes would last then only 1-2 days and then disappear as though they never existed. Stress could also trigger them I think. I also wrote about these things here on SR a few times last year. Once I even ran to the ER because I felt so weird and confused.
Of course I was also looking into PAWS a lot and I'm still unsure if any of that was PAWS, especially since I introduced those meds that complicated things. I never experienced the fuzzy head and other cognitive issues, mine were entirely moods.
The stuff that I cannot emphasize enough as helpful is what Dee's link says about good and regular diet. And exercise. I think that whatever these states are, they most likely involve fluctuations in our brain chemistry, and doing anything healthy and natural to balance that (with good eating, physical activity, relaxation and rest) can only do good to it. Maybe look into some sort of holistic fitness regime and try it? There are sometimes good discussions on fitness and healthy eating here on SR also. More recently, I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety and sleep problems and I want to revamp my diet and daily routine again a bit to see if it helps. I was also thinking perhaps it's an episode of PAWS for me as well (I'm over 16 months sober). Whatever it is, changing something for the better will not hurt.
Also, I recall reading you're having relationship problems with an alcoholic partner... that might also contribute to your weird moods?
Yeah quitting smoking may be a good idea, but if you are really dependent on it, do expect some discomfort for a while.
I hope you find something that helps and you feel better soon, Jen!
