Stress Center Peer Support

is any body else out there a smoker or trying to quit like me?

i have smoked half my life and had panic attacks all my life im 35 now im convinced that smoking a ciggerette could give me a attack but also i think that is stupid since it never did before this time i have just gotten sooooooooooo paranoid about everything. but on the other had sometimes i just want to smoke a ciggerette just one its giving me anxiety just jonsing for the cigg. im also depressed about how much i miss them. i dont want to smoke alot again just everyonce in a while without me thinking its going to give me a panic attack. does this make any cents? please help!

Hi akul21, I am a smoker who really wants to quit. In fact I has quit smoking for more than 2 years. I was able to quit after I had been taking an antidepressant for almost a year and felt like a human being again. I did have side effects, weight gain and loss of interest in sex but compared to the hell of anxiety and depression it was worth it. Unfortunately I went through a tough time and started smoking again. Its been almost 2 years and I would like to quit. I actually felt much better when I didnt smoke but with the anxiety and depression Ive been suffering again Im not in the place to quit yet. I just ordered Lucinda's program and Im hoping this will not only help me be free from the anxiety but also help me get to the place where I can quit again.

I am a smoker. I often feel guilty because I smoke. But I've come to realize that it is a bad habit. I took courses to help me stop smoking and have stopped smoking many times. Once 5 years the longest 12 years. I always start smoking when I am socializing. If you are doing the program - this will help you. You got to observe yourself. Note when you feel like smoking, is it for a break, or when you are nervous, stressed, or whatever reason.

First you need to understand what is your need when you smoke. Then note why you want to stop and why you continue. You need to set a date and try it - One day at a time. Don't be harsh with yourself if you start up again. You need to be ready. Mark it as a goal to accomplish.

I have the tools to stop but right now I know i am not ready. And I try not to be harsh with myself. One day soon I will decide. I need to work on my anxiety and depression first. But I know when I will be ready I will succeed. One day at a time. Baby steps. The most important thing for me right now is to not make myself feel bad because I am smoking.

Maybe you need to work more on yourself first. I believe smoking is a crutch like obessive thinking and scary thoughts. Work the program first and work the tools for anxiety or whatever issue you have. One thing at a time. And don't forget we are not perfect.

Good luck. Take care of yourself.

Hey Everyone, This was a topic I was going to start this morning and was anxious about doing so because the social acceptance of smoking seems to be declining everyday. Nobody wants to smel it around them or on them or on anyone it seems. can't smoke in so many public places and on it goes.
Ayway I have been smoking a very long time and have stopped but went back to it a few times. Cold turkey does not work for me. The drugs to help you quit can cause anxiety. We were just at the Heart and Stroke Dr. last week and he told us we both need to quit and the new help drug has these side affects. Well at this stage of my anxiety I definately don't need something to make me worse. I'm going to get through the program first, see how I feel and then do what worked for myself and husband the last time but avoid the pifall we fell into.
This works, is less stressfull, more sense of control and after the first week it just gets so easy and before you know it you are going hours without thinking about a smoke. I know we are different and what works for some may not work for others but for me this did work very well and I didn't feel I was losing a best friend, didn't gain weight, wasn't anxious, no drugs etc.
First you must keep track of how many you smoke a day. Then you simply start to remove 1 cigarette every couple of days or so. You decide. It wasn't long before we were down to smoking 5 a day each and going 6 hours between smoking. I wasn't thinking about them every 15 minutes anymore. I didn't associate a cigarette with most things that I always had. We stopped smoking in the car also. Now the pitfall that we let destroy our accomplishment: We went to a dance with smoker friends and probably smoked more than half a pack easily while there. It just put us right back at smoking out of control again and since then the only positive thing we have done is to stop smoking in the house and we haven't smoked for 2.5 years in the house. I really feel through my own experiences that if I don't cut the association between a cigarette and my activities I won't be as succesfull and will drive myself crazy wanting one so bad that I will set myself up for failure. There is actually a web site that offers you a new way to quit...its by association. I will post it next time I see the commercial and get the site name. Good luck to all who want to quit. I wish you success and will be joining you all soon.
Be kind to yourself