Anxiety

upgetupgetup

Who here is quitting because they're actively afraid? As in, have had some recent health worries related to cigarettes. How do you manage anxiety around this?

I started as a very young teen and have accumulated 20+ years of heavy, heavy smoking.

My lung function test is next week, if I can get over this cough.

I so wish I'd been able to quit and have it stick sooner. This is my 10th attempt.

nellyett

I don't have a personal health scare, but there are those around me that do. I am also a 20+ year smoker except for 2 years when I got pregnant. I started again when my ex-husband and I separated and that was 6 years ago.

You can't look back and live with regret. What is done is done. What you CAN do is look forward and make positive choices today, tomorrow and next year. Take it a day at a time. You are doing the best you can do for you, right now.

Try not to get completely stressed out about any testing that hasn't been done yet. You don't have anything to worry about until you have something to worry about. Even then, you are already ahead of the game by quitting smoking now! You can do it!

I am on day 3...yesterday was a verrrreeee bad day for me, but somehow managed to get through it. So far so good this morning. I am taking each hour as it comes, not expecting to be super productive over the next few days, but am just trying to get through the day and past the hardest stages of quitting.

Keep you eye on the prize, do your best to stay in a positive mind space and remind yourself of all of the things you are gaining, and not what you are missing....it's a mental struggle for sure, but it can be done!!

Good luck and try not to worry too much....keep doing what you're doing, move forward, keep making healthy choices during your day, and take some time for you! You deserve it!

nellyett

I forgot to add that I do have the stress where everytime I have an routine exam done like an oral exam, blood, whatever, it is always in the back of my mind that I smoke and am playing russian roulette with my health.

I find that I hold my breath until I get my results and then can exhale a big thank you that I've been able to beat the odds so far. That is definately no way to live!!

Moxie42

I don't have a personal health scare, but there are those around me that do. I am also a 20+ year smoker except for 2 years when I got pregnant. I started again when my ex-husband and I separated and that was 6 years ago.

You can't look back and live with regret. What is done is done. What you CAN do is look forward and make positive choices today, tomorrow and next year. Take it a day at a time. You are doing the best you can do for you, right now.

Try not to get completely stressed out about any testing that hasn't been done yet. You don't have anything to worry about until you have something to worry about. Even then, you are already ahead of the game by quitting smoking now! You can do it!

I am on day 3...yesterday was a verrrreeee bad day for me, but somehow managed to get through it. So far so good this morning. I am taking each hour as it comes, not expecting to be super productive over the next few days, but am just trying to get through the day and past the hardest stages of quitting.

Keep you eye on the prize, do your best to stay in a positive mind space and remind yourself of all of the things you are gaining, and not what you are missing....it's a mental struggle for sure, but it can be done!!

Good luck and try not to worry too much....keep doing what you're doing, move forward, keep making healthy choices during your day, and take some time for you! You deserve it!

TOTALLY agree with all of this!!!

Also, I HAD to quit because of issues with my asthma. I smoked for about 10.5 years- a pack a day most of those years. In the past year, I've been in the ER twice, Urgent Care a few times, and for 6+ months, I was going through an inhaler every 3ish weeks (I used to only need it when I was sick, or if I ran, and one inhaler would last me years, literally). I had bronchitis countless times and a chronic cough for longer than I can remember. For months, I couldn't sleep through the night because I would wake up feeling like I was suffocating. I had to try to sleep sitting up. I felt sick and exhausted every day. Considering I used to be a hardcore swimmer and now can't get through a leisurely walk without needing my inhaler, it scares the crap out of me to think of all the damage I have done. Even at my healthiest, my lung function was at about 80% of a normal person's...I can only image what it was for the past few months.

But if I don't quit, the damage will continue to be done. Not all the damage can be reversed but some CAN. I hope that someday I can get off the asthma management medication I'm on but I know I might need it for life. But if that's the worst that happens, I'll be grateful. But like nellyett said, you can't change the past. You can only control the future. It sounds cliche but it's true. Maybe think of it this way- if you quit and quit for good, you will significantly decrease the chances if having to go through this anxiety again! This anxiety and stress and fear CAN be gone and YOU can make it happen!

upgetupgetup

I don't have a personal health scare, but there are those around me that do. I am also a 20+ year smoker except for 2 years when I got pregnant. I started again when my ex-husband and I separated and that was 6 years ago.

Yeah, it's the emotional stuff always, isn't it Glad you're working on it now!

You can't look back and live with regret. What is done is done. What you CAN do is look forward and make positive choices today, tomorrow and next year. Take it a day at a time. You are doing the best you can do for you, right now.

Thank you for this. You're right, all I can do is work from here.

Try not to get completely stressed out about any testing that hasn't been done yet. You don't have anything to worry about until you have something to worry about. Even then, you are already ahead of the game by quitting smoking now! You can do it!

Thank you! I feel I can! And so can you

I am on day 3...yesterday was a verrrreeee bad day for me, but somehow managed to get through it. So far so good this morning. I am taking each hour as it comes, not expecting to be super productive over the next few days, but am just trying to get through the day and past the hardest stages of quitting.

Congratulations on making it through a rough day! Your approach is good. I agree we should be kind to ourselves.

Keep you eye on the prize, do your best to stay in a positive mind space and remind yourself of all of the things you are gaining, and not what you are missing....it's a mental struggle for sure, but it can be done!!

Good luck and try not to worry too much....keep doing what you're doing, move forward, keep making healthy choices during your day, and take some time for you! You deserve it!

Aw, thank you, really really, for your encouraging words. I don't think I can add to them, but only hope you remember your own words when times are tough, as they were yesterday.

It's so appreciated that you took the time to write, just when things are hard for you too.

All the best!

upgetupgetup

I forgot to add that I do have the stress where everytime I have an routine exam done like an oral exam, blood, whatever, it is always in the back of my mind that I smoke and am playing russian roulette with my health.

I find that I hold my breath until I get my results and then can exhale a big thank you that I've been able to beat the odds so far. That is definately no way to live!!

It's not. BUT, you're not a smoker anymore, right?

upgetupgetup

TOTALLY agree with all of this!!!

Also, I HAD to quit because of issues with my asthma. I smoked for about 10.5 years- a pack a day most of those years. In the past year, I've been in the ER twice, Urgent Care a few times, and for 6+ months, I was going through an inhaler every 3ish weeks (I used to only need it when I was sick, or if I ran, and one inhaler would last me years, literally). I had bronchitis countless times and a chronic cough for longer than I can remember. For months, I couldn't sleep through the night because I would wake up feeling like I was suffocating. I had to try to sleep sitting up. I felt sick and exhausted every day. Considering I used to be a hardcore swimmer and now can't get through a leisurely walk without needing my inhaler, it scares the crap out of me to think of all the damage I have done. Even at my healthiest, my lung function was at about 80% of a normal person's...I can only image what it was for the past few months.

So sorry you've been dealing with all this. Much of it is familiar to me, though the sleeping, god... really sorry you've had that to deal with. Sounds torturous I'm very happy you're taking steps to make things better

But if I don't quit, the damage will continue to be done. Not all the damage can be reversed but some CAN.

It is important to remember this. We can heal, at least a little, and we can improve the function of what we have now

I hope that someday I can get off the asthma management medication I'm on but I know I might need it for life. But if that's the worst that happens, I'll be grateful.

This is a great attitude to have I'm sure you will make the most of your health

But like nellyett said, you can't change the past. You can only control the future. It sounds cliche but it's true. Maybe think of it this way- if you quit and quit for good, you will significantly decrease the chances if having to go through this anxiety again! This anxiety and stress and fear CAN be gone and YOU can make it happen!

Grateful for your thoughts, Moxie. You're right, it's critical to focus on the room we do have to affect things. We have power, here

Thank you

nellyett

Good morning ladies!

Sounds like we are all moving in the right direction! Just wanted to let you in on something I saw last night. A good friend of ours has quit a week and a half ago. I was away and haven't seen him until last night. Anyway, the physical changes in him are AMAZING!! I honestly couldn't believe it!

His skin tone is awesome. Almost pinkish....like he's glowing. His horrible cough that he has had forever has completely vanished, and he looks like he is completely at peace. That's the only way i can expain it. Like a self satisfaction or something. And that is only after having quit for a week and a half! Pretty incredible!

He also said that there is a PDF that he's reading from an 'ex'-smokers perspective that has been helping remind him of all the positive things for quitting etc. I'll see if I can find it and will post a link when I do.

Keep up the great work!! Today is day 4 for me and has been a tiny bit easier than the last.

upgetupgetup

Aw hey, that's wonderful for your friend! And, super motivating! Kind of what Alan Carr talks about... quitting as returning to an original, healthy wholeness. I can report that my longest quit felt good in that way

Glad things are easier for you today! Are you going it alone, or using some kind of support, like NRTs or Chantix?

I've been quit for over a week now, maybe two - didn't even plan a date to remember, I just got fed up.. Still have gurgling and wheezing in a very specific part of my chest, though (same place every time I get a cold). I am going to assume it's just the cold & give up figuring it out up, til I do the test, at least

nellyett

Good for you! I've had a cough all week too, but I'm pretty sure it's part of these virus' going around. Had it last week before I quit, but I'm sure that my lungs are pretty confused at the moment too so who knows??!! LOL

When I quit when I found out I was pregnant years ago, I had really weaned myself down to one per day and then gave up that one, so it was gradual. A few years ago I tried Zyban and that really didn't work for me. I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks and said forget it!

This time I just went cold turkey. From a pack per day to nothing. It has been a really huge shock to my system. I figure if I could just tough out some pretty crazy withdrawl symptoms for a few days, then it might be smooth sailing from there....today is day 5 and everyday gets a little easier. Day 2 was incredibly uncomfortable and difficult for me. My girlfriend had a hard time on day 3.

There are 4 of us who have quit together. It's been a lot easier to have that kind of support! These boards are helping too.