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Panic attacks three weeks after quitting advice please.
- Thread starter Silent Scream
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Me too! I call it "zoning out". Someone will ask "what are you thinking" and my mind is totally blank but the body is on auto pilot. Sometimes I can sit motionless for a good 45 minutes out by the pond and think about NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. But it chills me out considerably.
This makes a great deal of sense. I imagine it is not widely suggested because...
1. Perhaps many docs aren't aware of complications that can arise
2. Big tobacco doesn't want all the extra chemicals hyped up so they keep this hush-hush. It wasn't all that long ago that they finally admitted cigarettes were addictive.
3. People would think that it may be healthier to keep smoking
Seriously, with all these complications, no wonder people can't quit. And here we are thinking we are not strong-willed enough, or are weak, etc. Makes me mad.
THAT^^^^ happened to me once in Walmart, a lady bought a dozen or so silk flowers and the clerk was scanning each one. I became hyper-sensitive to fluorescent lights when my disorder reared it's ugly head....grrrrr........and BAM. I had to get out of there, just run, but there I was stuck between her and a few shoppers behind me. I seriously wanted to shove my cart up something and go screaming out of the store!!!
The odd thing is people who are strong, control freaks, "fixers", etc. have a higher tendency to get panic attacks, because you have that adrenaline rush hitting you while your doing what your doing,..... and trauma can go years without being addressed and then smack you up side of the head.
I don't wish this upon anyone, it sucks. You can be fine for years with meds and then it'll sneak up on you and throw you for a loop.
@Silent Scream:
Oh dear, you really do not have an easy time switching from smoking to vaping! Let me give you a big hug!
As many here have said, panic attacks can be a side effect of smoking cessation (lots of cases) because your body misses some chemicals that were in tobacco cigarettes but are not in liquids. As in: withdrawal symptoms for that stuff.
(I myself had the opposite: extreme fatigue and a feeling of not being able to think or to do anything, accompanied by a feeling of being cranky and "just not myself", like the feeling when you are coming down with something).
Some vapers from the German forum have also reported all kinds of nasty side-effects of smoking cessation. Not vaping. Smoking cessation.
OR they can be a symptom of an underlying condition that was masked / self-medicated by smoking.
And yes, smoking cessation can also play havoc on an underlying / not diagnosed thyroid problem.
I would also recommend getting some of those WTA liquids (sorry, no idea where to get them in Europe) AND going to see a doctor to make sure it is not an underlying condition. And do mention the smoking cessation.
I wish you all the best, and I hope that those nasty symptoms will disappear soon!
Hugs
Anja
Oh dear, you really do not have an easy time switching from smoking to vaping! Let me give you a big hug!
As many here have said, panic attacks can be a side effect of smoking cessation (lots of cases) because your body misses some chemicals that were in tobacco cigarettes but are not in liquids. As in: withdrawal symptoms for that stuff.
(I myself had the opposite: extreme fatigue and a feeling of not being able to think or to do anything, accompanied by a feeling of being cranky and "just not myself", like the feeling when you are coming down with something).
Some vapers from the German forum have also reported all kinds of nasty side-effects of smoking cessation. Not vaping. Smoking cessation.
OR they can be a symptom of an underlying condition that was masked / self-medicated by smoking.
And yes, smoking cessation can also play havoc on an underlying / not diagnosed thyroid problem.
I would also recommend getting some of those WTA liquids (sorry, no idea where to get them in Europe) AND going to see a doctor to make sure it is not an underlying condition. And do mention the smoking cessation.
I wish you all the best, and I hope that those nasty symptoms will disappear soon!
Hugs
Anja
Just an update. Today has been a bit better. I won't tempt fate by saying I'm past it but it might be calming down.
Thanks again for all the support and kind words. I still haven't touched a cigarette and still, bizarrely, have had no desire to through all of this. I don't blame any of this on vaping unless it's through my own choices (high nic liquids for example).
I have been on lower nic the last two days and haven't had a repeat of that really horrible night (touch wood). I don't know if the lower nic has helped, I DO know I have vaped a lot more because of the lower nic.
Anyway, I don't want to bore anyone with all this stuff but since people have been kind enough to comment and offer advice and words of support I thought it would be the right thing to do to give an update.
My thanks to you all, I love the people on this forum. There is so much talk always of how bad people are in fact that's all the news is about every single day but nobody ever hears about the good side of people though in places like this it's everywhere to see.
Thanks again for all the support and kind words. I still haven't touched a cigarette and still, bizarrely, have had no desire to through all of this. I don't blame any of this on vaping unless it's through my own choices (high nic liquids for example).
I have been on lower nic the last two days and haven't had a repeat of that really horrible night (touch wood). I don't know if the lower nic has helped, I DO know I have vaped a lot more because of the lower nic.
Anyway, I don't want to bore anyone with all this stuff but since people have been kind enough to comment and offer advice and words of support I thought it would be the right thing to do to give an update.
My thanks to you all, I love the people on this forum. There is so much talk always of how bad people are in fact that's all the news is about every single day but nobody ever hears about the good side of people though in places like this it's everywhere to see.
I agree Silent Scream...this was a super friendly, helpful place to hang out back over four years ago, and I am very happy to see it hasn't changed much, except to get bigger. I like just bein nice to everyone I meet!! Let us know again how you're doing, as your struggle is very close to what some of us are dealing with, and I truly hope it passes for you!! You're not alone...
I just want to thank all the posters who shared their experiences with anxiety, and panic issues. It's always good to hear that you're not alone.
Dear, you are not "boring us" at all.
Look at how many people are experiencing similar things! You are not alone.
And if some new vaper gets the same problems.... comes here.. sees this thread... then that new vaper will know "No, I am not "crazy". No, I am not "weird". This subject has been mentioned, these symptoms have been experienced by others. I am not alone!" - and this alone will help that new vaper already.
[OT]
There is a reason for that bolded part. A very strong reason. That is done for a purpose.
[/OT]
And that is precisely why it is important to be part of a community of like-minded people.
You are not alone! None of us are alone. And we love to help each other.
I used to have panic attacks that told me...if I do not leave this place I am going to die I would pace around and continue the thought...I have to leave this place..and I would rush out the front door...and eventually calm down....
This happened about 50 times??? I never counted but it seemed to happen a lot...but it was always when I was alone.
Then I moved in with a roommate and when I had a panic attack she freaked out..and I just laughed...and explained it was JUST a panic attack...that was the last panic attack I ever had...laughing in the face of it...
Every now and again, I get the first inklings of an attack..and I admit it is panic..and it never comes to fruition.
This happened about 50 times??? I never counted but it seemed to happen a lot...but it was always when I was alone.
Then I moved in with a roommate and when I had a panic attack she freaked out..and I just laughed...and explained it was JUST a panic attack...that was the last panic attack I ever had...laughing in the face of it...
Every now and again, I get the first inklings of an attack..and I admit it is panic..and it never comes to fruition.
I seem to be worse when I am alone too. I have tried to rationalise it to myself and just tell myself to relax and calm down. I haven't had much success so far, I'll try harder.
It's great that you can do it
I was having chest pains and tightness when I was at 18 mg. I thought maybe it was asthma or I was allergic to the juice, but then I stepped down to 12 mg and much improvement. I am now down to 6 mg, though vape the occasional 12 mg, and am fine now. I do get frequent panic attacks if not on my meds and I think that part of my problem was I felt my chest feeling tight and then panicked that I was having a panic attack!
Glad you are feeling better and no, you are not boring us. this was a very helpful and supportive thread!
Glad you are feeling better and no, you are not boring us. this was a very helpful and supportive thread!
I think panic and/or anxiety attacks and depression are more common for people quitting smoking than we realize, because many won't identity the symptoms as such or make the connection. I think it may well the main reason it is so hard to quit.
I started having issues within a few weeks myself. I didn't make the connection, and went to my doctor who prescribed antidepressants, and Xanax "as needed". Those mostly took care of it, but much later, when I finally connected it to quitting smoking (one of my "Eureka!" moments), I decided to try WTA. That immediately eliminated the need for the Xanax.
I don't require much WTA to maintain my "sanity". I make my own regular liquid at 6mg strength, so I buy "high" strength flavored WTA from Aroma and mix it down 4 to 1 with a 0mg flavored PG/VG base . I use 1-3mL of my low-strength WTA daily "as-needed" along with my regular liquids.
I started having issues within a few weeks myself. I didn't make the connection, and went to my doctor who prescribed antidepressants, and Xanax "as needed". Those mostly took care of it, but much later, when I finally connected it to quitting smoking (one of my "Eureka!" moments), I decided to try WTA. That immediately eliminated the need for the Xanax.
I don't require much WTA to maintain my "sanity". I make my own regular liquid at 6mg strength, so I buy "high" strength flavored WTA from Aroma and mix it down 4 to 1 with a 0mg flavored PG/VG base . I use 1-3mL of my low-strength WTA daily "as-needed" along with my regular liquids.
Do you KNOW it is a panic attack..or do you believe you are dying??
I was only able to let go when a friend was scared...and I was able to laugh at my friend because it was ONLY a panic attack...when alone, I knew it was a panic attack, but I still felt I was dying..it was ONLY when I was with a friend that I realized the impact it had on others...
I was only able to let go when a friend was scared...and I was able to laugh at my friend because it was ONLY a panic attack...when alone, I knew it was a panic attack, but I still felt I was dying..it was ONLY when I was with a friend that I realized the impact it had on others...
My company (many, many years ago) had a stop smoking seminar on a Friday, and I quit smoking ...of course I slept most of the weekend..then on Monday morning I awoke at 5 am...not able to drink coffee and smoke till work time...I decided to jog around a deserted artificial lake while it was still dark...and became paranoid..so back home I went...
Got to work and realized I was TRAPPED...I had no choice to not smoke...all weekend I could have purchased smokes, but chose not to...now all of a sudden I had no choice..I was TRAPPED...well at lunch time...I RUSHED to the 7-11 and bought a pack of cigarettes...talk about panic!!!!!!
Fast forward 30 years....
I am definitely panicking when I feel it coming on which probably leads to an actual panic attack! I keep thinking I've got past it and then suddenly it creeps in again... I still haven't had a repeat of the other night which is good.
I'm going to get some WTA liquids next week, a few people mentioned it and it may well be the answer, thanks.
A panic attack is the only way I can think of to describe it. I didn't feel I was dying but I feel I'm on the edge of something that might kill me, like a heart attack or a stroke, but it never happens. Touch wood.
Yes...that feeling that you are having a condition that can kill you is the feeling you are dying...and the only way to prevent it is...for me leaving where I am...it may be different for others...
Touch wood indeed...maybe you need to keep a piece of wood to remind you ...IT IS A PANIC ATTACK AND NOTHING MORE....and laugh that you need a piece of wood to remind you...I know the fear..and I know the release I felt when I laughed in the face of it...
Touch wood indeed...maybe you need to keep a piece of wood to remind you ...IT IS A PANIC ATTACK AND NOTHING MORE....and laugh that you need a piece of wood to remind you...I know the fear..and I know the release I felt when I laughed in the face of it...
If you can't find WTA or it's too expensive to ship to the UK, really look at Swedish Snus. I use mine occasionally (used to use more). A 24 packet tin usually lasts me a month, and it works as well or better than WTA. Not particularly enjoyable though.
You might also look at Ashwagandha supplements, as you may be stressing your adrenals. You can google it--it's a very powerful, yet safe, herb to take long term. I'm no doctor (as mentioned before), but my cortisol levels were low (probably from being too high for too long--a stress response) and I felt I need to do something to support my adrenal gland, as well as my thyroid.
When I started my thyroid replacement I started getting anxiety attacks because my system had been so depressed for so long that the additional energy was too much for my endocrine system to handle. Racing heart, felt like I was going to pass out, but I also HAD to get up and do a few laps around the office. I felt like I was having a heart attack.
I take 700 mg a day (2 capsules) and it really helps keep the pounding heart/nervous stomach under control, and my naturopath is saying it's the best thing I could do to help with the stress my body is under.
ETA: as with anything, if you are currently taking meds or have other health issues, consult a Dr before taking any new medications/herbs/vitamin supplements, as there can be serious drug interactions.
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