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Bad anxiety/depression briefly after smoking cigarettes

I am in my mid 20's, and have been struggling to quit smoking for a little over a year now. It seems like I will quit successfully for one or two months, and then end up relapsing. When I do smoke, it is very lightly, as in one or two cigarettes a day, unless I go out drinking for a night, at which time I smoke more heavily.

Lately, immediately during, and after smoking a cigarette, I begin to suffer from pretty severe depression and anxiety for a period of about 25 minutes. It will start approximately half way through the cigarette. Generally, I will start feeling like a failure, because of how long I have been trying to quit, but obviously haven't. Then, a couple of minutes later, I will get racing, and disturbing thoughts and the depression worsens.

The strange thing is that it seems to be getting worse every time I smoke. This last time scared me so bad, it is what prompted me to find this forum and post this question.

I am certain this is brought forth by nicotine, and not just me being disappointed in myself for failing to quit (although that does play a part), because of the immediate nature, and time frame which it lasts after smoking. I briefly searched google, and only found information on anxiety and depression after quitting for a period of time, and not directly after smoking.

I am interested to hear if anyone has had experiences like this, or if anyone at least has any insight into the situation. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I am having the same thing happening with cigarettes triggering anxiety immediately afterwards to the point where I decided to stop smoking. I am a heavier smoker, pack a day. It just started happening today and it is so freaking bad that I decided without a doubt that I quit smoking today.
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Avatar universal
I think it has to do with smoking taking away your energy levels, plus the effect it has on your circulation. I notice that I feel different after smoking, it's like it's sucking the life force out of me, I even think more negative thoughts during the day. It also makes my breathing laboured like I am going to pass out sometimes.

So yes it does cause anxiety/fear/stress/worry in some people. This is the main reason I gave them up, I was going around depressed all the time as a smoker with no life in me, I felt drained all the time like a zombie. They took away my motivation and left me feeling hopeless and in despair a lot of the time.

People might not understand that, but we are all different. I know people who can't have one drink of alcohol because they fly into a fit of rage, where as it never has that effect on me. We are all different and react different to different things. If smoking is making you feel like nothing is right in the world, and everything you do is a struggle that you can't seem to move forward in life or progress. Give them up tomorrow, and don't look back, because if you go back, the same feelings of despair will return, trust me, I've been there and done it, staying off them is the only way you're going to have any peace and real happiness in your life.

I don't know why they have this effect on some people, I just know that they do, They also kill a lot of people... I wasted many good years of my life trying to quit, and feeling like I had no energy or life in me. Worst thing you can ever do is start smoking... but there is light at the end of the tunnel if you quit and take measures to make yourself happy, quit and start building yourself up with walking and eating healthy, making plans for what you want out of life, write it down and have hope. just be patient, and keep on going forward, one day you will find that you're happy and life is good again.

But for me, smoking seemed to destroy all my inner peace and hope. My spark for life, my life force so to speak. Maybe it's a spiritual thing, I don't know.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
yes it is the more you meditate the more they make you feel this way :)
Avatar universal
I have the same issue too, smoking makes me really sad and I just want to lock myself up in my room. Its a bad addictive drug darnt it, I wish I never would have had picked it up.
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue too, smoking makes me really sad and I just want to lock myself up in my room. Its a bad addictive drug darnt it, I wish I never would have had picked it up.
Helpful - 0
6754484 tn?1389144534
Nono, I was smoking 2 packs a day and I noticed this effect too. I don't think it's about the amount, I think that some people just react differently to different substances, and some people happen to be anxious when they smoke (regardless of amount).
Helpful - 0
6754484 tn?1389144534
You're right malushka, I've done research on this too.
Helpful - 0
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