Quit zits & insomnia normal after 2 months?

[Nat11]

Well, hello everyone! I was hoping for some clarification from other fellow ex smokers. So, just a quick intro to my question. Basically, I've always been a healthy eater. Always went to bed on time, exercising frequently avoiding alcohol etc. Except for the fact that I was smoking since the age of 20 (am now 27). Finally quit around two months ago. Never been happier or been more dedicated to healthy eating and exercising. However, I'm having really annoying quit zits and insomnia. I've never suffered from acne, not even in puberty and insomnia just never truly believed it to be that bad. For the quit zits, I literally eat so much fruit and vegs and drink at least 2L of water a day... Also hygiene wise I do facials once a week, have a good routine etc. Yet, they keep appearing lol. And in really random places on my face. The skin around my zits looks amazing though. And the insomnia. It's terrible. I cannot fall asleep before 5am no matter how early I wake up that day or how active I am. I even tried not sleeping for a whole 24hours and even then to my shock I barely fell asleep at 3am. I also felt fine and energized during this little experiment lol. I can deal with all of this, I am just wondering has anyone else been through something like this and if so any tips/advice? Also, if you have been where I am now in the past how long did it take to become the past lol? Thanks! 

[Tabbiekat]

Yes it has happened to me, the zits are crazy at times the first few weeks. Drinking lots of water does help and from my understanding it is just the lasting effects of the nicotine working its way out. Now at the 80+day mark it doesn't happen outside of my normal-bad eating times

I have been dealing with insomnia for years and take an over the counter sleep aid, the non pain reliever one. I tried many starting with the natural meletonin. I personally have to take it around 7-8pm in order to be asleep around 11 or 12. I would suggest trying something on an evening where the next day is kinda free- at least the morning. Some people have the lingering sleepiness or an out of it feeling. Start with the lowest dose and work up and give it a few tries before giving up. After years I finally found a combination that will help me fall asleep along with what to take to fall asleep fast and stay that way overnight, but that requires an RX so I try to avoid that route.  If it does continue over a month I would suggest getting in to see your doctor. Good luck

[Nat11]

Wow, 80+days seems amazing. Well done . Yes, water does seem to kind of help. When I'm not forcing 2L on myself    the acne goes mad and attacks my entire face. With water its limited, yet it's still there and getting so annoying. Funny you mention melatonin, I actually purchased some only to find a lot of negative feedback online. I'm not one to blindly follow or not follow other people's opinions but it did worry me as I read on different forums/websites that some people experienced weight gain and strange menstrual cycles. Not to be shallow, but I have already gained 4kg since quitting and that was on my healthy diet lol. So, if you have the time and patience to talk a bit more into details about the melatonin. And is there a way I can only consume it for a while and then stop? Thanks  

[Tabbiekat]

For the melatonin, like YoungAtHeart stated try the warm milk w/ a bit of sweetener first since that is truly natural-I always forget to mention that since me and milk don't get along well. You should know within 2-5 days if it will help. Then if you go to the pill form start at around 2mg at first, you can always cut the pills in half if you picked up a higher strength unless you got the soft gels. It is not a one minute your fine then then next you are out cold type of medicine, it just helps relax you. Slowly increase the dosage every 3-5 days, but do not go above 10mg without doctors advice. Be willing to alter the time when you take it. If you take it an hr before you go plan to go to sleep, don't get to sleep until 3 hours later then wake up groggy- just take it a couple hours earlier. Just make sure you can relax, dim lights, put the electronics away or dim and set them to a night light (it takes away the blue and turns it into a brown tint). Turn the TV off, use a radio if you need the background noise or just cover the TV screen if you have one in your sleep area. I have a book that I read after I get into bed too. Even if the typical bed time alters, set a routine that you follow no matter what as it will be a reminder to your body that you are getting ready for bed. The nice thing about melatonin and any other sleep aid over the counter is they are non-habit forming and you can stop/start them anytime. Even if I need them for months on end I always take a 2-3 day break every few weeks for my own piece of mind. If the insomnia keeps up and you can't easily find an over the counter med then do get in to talk to your doctor so they can make sure nothing else is going on though.

Personally outside of the feeling groggy when I woke up, no matter how early I took the melatonin I never had any adverse side effects.

[YoungAtHeart]

WOW - Congratulations on TWO MONTHS!!!!

Here's a list of early withdrawal symptoms that you might find helpful: /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/09/19/a-repost-early-withdrawal-symptoms 

Tabbiekat has given you excellent advice.  The only thing I would add for your insomnia is warm milk right before bed (you can add a bit of sugar and vanilla if you like)   It produces melatonin, a natural sleep aid.  You can also buy it in a pill form, I think.  A LOT of folks struggled with insomnia - and my best advice is to nap as you can.  This WILL pass as you get further along in your quit.  Your body is adjusting to life without all the chemicals in cigarettes and it takes a bit.

Be mindful that you are traveling through what we have termed No Mans Land (2-4 months quit).  A lot of quits can be lost during this time.  You may have become complacent and lulled into thinking the journey is over - which is far from the truth.  For some reason, a random, intense crave that seems to last forever can hit out of the blue.  If you keep your tools handy and use them, this will have no power over you.....but be prepared for it, not surprised.  They WILL end!

You are doing GREAT - keep doing what you're doing...it's obviously working for you!

Nancy

[Nat11]

Hi! Thanks  it was a bit tough the first few days, but I think that this time I really wanted to quit. Before it was always because of someone or something else, this was the first time I quit because of me. For now, I've had no cravings. I'm actually disgusted by cigarettes and hate myself for ever smoking lol. But, yes I am carefil just in case the addict in me decides to show his ugly face again. The no man's land is probably more tiring than anything else if you ask me. What worse is that I don't even feel tired. If I try to take a nap, I'm just laying there staring at the ceiling. But thanks, the milk before bed sounds good. Will try that:)