Advice (love, friend, couple, alcoholic)

[cremebrulee]

I quit smoking 6 months ago...I am angry and moody a lot of times, I can feel it, and it feels awful...still have cravings...sometimes bad, sometimes not so bad....but I tell you true, if I knew I was going to die, I'd run to the nearest WAwa and buy a pack...

is this normal? does anyone have any input...

I warn you...watch it....

[Padgett2]

I think what you feel is more the usual thing than those people that just quit and never ever crave another one.

Some of it is the nicotine. That's for sure! And some of it is because of the habit of having something to do with the hands. I never was much of a smoker, but there are times, like waiting to be served in a restaurant, when I would love to light up and just leisurely smoke.

We had a friend that was a heavy smoker. When he was where he couldn't smoke, he jingled the coins in his pocket. Drove everyone around him crazy!!

I have heard, don't know if it's true, that lemonade would cut the cravings better than anything. Something to do with the sugar and vitamine C. Maybe you could try keeping a few cans of the frozen concentrate in the freezer and fix a pitcher full when you start feeling moody and need a lift. I think you are supposed to use some extra sugar in it.

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

I think what you feel is more the usual thing than those people that just quit and never ever crave another one.

Some of it is the nicotine. That's for sure! And some of it is because of the habit of having something to do with the hands. I never was much of a smoker, but there are times, like waiting to be served in a restaurant, when I would love to light up and just leisurely smoke.

We had a friend that was a heavy smoker. When he was where he couldn't smoke, he jingled the coins in his pocket. Drove everyone around him crazy!!

I have heard, don't know if it's true, that lemonade would cut the cravings better than anything. Something to do with the sugar and vitamine C. Maybe you could try keeping a few cans of the frozen concentrate in the freezer and fix a pitcher full when you start feeling moody and need a lift. I think you are supposed to use some extra sugar in it.

thanks, so much....but what about the anger, loss of patience, it's not me....I'm really impatient and moody, and say exactly what I'm feeling...that is not good?

I am presently taking vinegar so that might be as good as the lemonade as far as helping the cravings...we'll see, this in only my 2nd day...

It's flu season time, which starts me on a regimented Vitaimin kick, which includes vitamin C.

Thanks so much...

Hugs
Creme

[tmacd]

Sugarless cinnamon gum is supposed to quiet the cravings of nicotine. There is a new drug out Chantrix, a couple I know is using it. They rave about it. They've been smoking heavily for years, and have tried it all. They haven't lit up in 3 months and counting. I am weary of new drugs on the market, but this one seems to be working for them. Good for you to have the courage to try to overcome the addiction. Keep in mind, each day will be easier than the one before. Don't Give Up!

[Sam I Am]

Creme....

Approximately (+/- 10 years is good!) what age are you? Suspecting maybe something underlying, like the dreaded menopause or something.

I've found myself MUCH more irritable lately - turns out my thyroid went toes up (which also explains the weight gain - thank goodness, I thought I would have to diet, which is a four-letter word if ever there was one).

Could you have anything metabolic going on? Any other symptoms?

There's a new anti-smoking drug out, Chantix, that's supposed to have good results and alleviate some of the stressful feelings associated with not smoking. I can't speak personally for it, but maybe someone else can? Killing two birds with one stone is always a good thing in my book!

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by tmacd

Sugarless cinnamon gum is supposed to quiet the cravings of nicotine. There is a new drug out Chantrix, a couple I know is using it. They rave about it. They've been smoking heavily for years, and have tried it all. They haven't lit up in 3 months and counting. I am weary of new drugs on the market, but this one seems to be working for them. Good for you to have the courage to try to overcome the addiction. Keep in mind, each day will be easier than the one before. Don't Give Up!

thanks and right backatcha....I've done the Chantix, that is what helped me quit, I didn't even need to finish the first kit. The cravings are one thing, sometimes tough, sometimes not to bad, but what bothers me is the ugliness...I don't like me like this...I'm really irritable and irritated easily....that is what bothers me the most...yanno....

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Creme....

Approximately (+/- 10 years is good!) what age are you? Suspecting maybe something underlying, like the dreaded menopause or something.

I've found myself MUCH more irritable lately - turns out my thyroid went toes up (which also explains the weight gain - thank goodness, I thought I would have to diet, which is a four-letter word if ever there was one).

Could you have anything metabolic going on? Any other symptoms?

There's a new anti-smoking drug out, Chantix, that's supposed to have good results and alleviate some of the stressful feelings associated with not smoking. I can't speak personally for it, but maybe someone else can? Killing two birds with one stone is always a good thing in my book!

nope, isn't menopause, and I've done the Chantix, what Chantix does is go after the craving part of the the brain, it doesn't do anything for moods...and I know it's the smoking, or the lack thereof...there are no ohter symptoms, except, that there is a lot going on right now...in my personal life...but that isn't it either...I've never been this irratable and moody/ugly...

but thanks so much for your thoughts...

Hugs
Creme

[cremebrulee]

oh boy, I am so sorry, this shouldn't have been posted in the relationships thread...I meant to post it in the Health Thread...
Please excuse my senior moment, dahhhh

[shuke]

I'll fix the over/under on this getting moved to the health forum at... oh... 4 hours. I'll take the over.

Anyhow.

Ol' Shukey here quit smoking May 1, 1989. Before that... quit on and off many times. Always seemed to start back again thinking that there was no harm in just one. And, just as recovering alcoholics say it's the first drink that gets 'em drunk, I finally learned it was that first butt that got me smoking again.

As far as the feelings you're describing are concerned... I really can't say for sure whether, six months later, that's due to smoking cessation. As you are probably aware, the physical effects of nicotine withdrawal last a relatively short period of time... say, somewhere between 10 days and 3 weeks. After that period of time, you're learning what psychological addition is all about.

And, as others have mentioned, there are lots of other variables that could be causing the anger and impatience you may be experiencing. Not so sure about mood swings per se, but impatience... sure. And here's another thought... just the fact that you're linking these psychological problems to quitting smoking, suggests to me these may be part of the mental addiction process at work. Your mind is probably sending a message... 'creme... if you want to feel normal again, have a cigarette...' Your mind will try all sorts of tricks to try to get you smoking again... if the anger and impatience doesn't work, something else might.

I found one of the most valuable things in quitting smoking, and staying stopped, was to start up an exercise program. Something cardiovascular that gets the lungs and heart pumping again. I found that, besides the expected benefits, the frequency and intensity of the cravings went down considerably... as well as the other side effects. If you haven't started such a program, you might want to give it a try and see if it helps with the anger, impatience, and mood swings.

Good luck.

[Padgett2]

You're used to the calm person you were when you smoked. Maybe that wasn't the real you. Maybe you would have been cranky, moody, etc. long ago if you hadn't been a smoker. Think about it that way.