Insomnia and Anxiety

[DanielG2]

I've been quit for 67 days and I am still going strong, but insomnia and anxiety have become increasingly acute issues since about week 4. My sleep is fragmented, where I wake up within an hour of going to sleep. I'll usually wake up 2 or 3 more times at night. Sometimes lying flat bothers me and I move to a recliner to elevate my head. Acute anxiety often translates to a shortness of breath (probably panic and hyperventilation). I believe I'm largely past physical symptoms and I've been checked out physically by my doctor with no issues. Has anyone else dealt with these types of issues in later stages of their quit effort? Quit literature often stresses the first 3 weeks, but my issues seem to be in the following months.

[DanielG2]

Thanks so much, Thomas! It's awesome ro have such great support! I am very grateful. I really haven't had a history of these symptoms before, but perhaps smoking masked them? I appreciate the reference to "No Mans Land" and plan to research this topic and learn more about what to expect in months 2, 3, and 4. I also appreciate you sharing how you addressed your own anxiety and insomnia issues. A lot of the techniques you mention look promising! Dan

[Daniela2016]

Hi Daniel, 

It took me longer to finally address them, but I am still working with a therapist on the anxiety/depression side of it.  Insomnia has been accentuated since I quit smoking, but addressing the depression by taking an anti-anxiety/anti-depression made it more tolerable.  I am still waking up at night, but I am able to go right back to sleep.  

I am sure you got a lot of guidance from Thomas, good luck and let us know how it goes!

Great job on 67 days, and welcome here, sorry if' you've blogged before and I missed it.

Happy Freeday!

[YoungAtHeart]

Sometimes folks self-medicated with nicotine for underlying issues.  If the anxiety and depression continue, you might talk to a doctor.  We hid from a LOT of things behind that cloud of smoke - and eliminating it brings it all to the fore.

Nancy

[Barbara145]

Hi Dan.  Have you seen a doctor?  I think your symptoms may be from COPD.  Having to sleep elevated does not sound like garden variey anxiety to me.  I think you may need your lungs checked.  Congrats on 67 days.  Things will get better.  It just takes time.

[Eric_L.]

Glad you shared.  What I've learned is that sometimes my brain will take physical discomfort and associate anxiety with that sensation.  In reality, there is often physical sensations that are not directly related to emotional states.

The problem is for ex-smokers, who seem to have a sense of urgency about a wide variety of things, is that we irrationally believe that dwelling of fearful things will create them or influence them, etc.  Which, in turn, causes more anxiety and more physical discomfort.

Also, like Barbara said, I'd recommend seeing the doctor.

[DanielG2]

Hi Barbera, Thanks so much for the recommendation! I've been screened for COPD by my primary care doctor (more than once). He's ruled it out so far. Typically elevated sleep is also indicative of issues like congestive heart failure and is also related to anxiety, and things like coughing with sputem associated with COPD are not symptoms currently. My vital statistics, x-rays, ekg are good; and physiological factors (e.g. blood pressure, weight, resting heart rate, daily exercise intensity) are stable enough to lead my doctor to believe this is simply an adjustment rather than something serious or chronic. I'm not ruling anything out, but at some point I have to trust the medical experts and look to other causes and try to address them. I was hoping others might have had similar experiences to help guide me and give me an idea of when they might subside in this long journey. In all honesty, I'm much better today than 2 weeks ago, so I hold hope that these symptoms will disappear altogether.

[DanielG2]

Wow! Thanks Eric L. Sage words. I also looked through your blog and saw you were going through similar issues at a similar period. Seeing tour entries did wonders for me. Thanks!

[TerrieQuit]

Congratulations on 67 days! Give your quit the time it needs to get over all the changes in your system. Keep moving forward! You are doing great!

Don't Quit on your Quit!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I had no anxiety before I quit. It hit me hard in the mid 50's (days) of my quit. It wasn't from quitting but I'm dure most of us stuffed our worries in smoke.

[maryfreecig]

Welcome. You are in the right place for top notch from the heart and experience support. I luved my smokes, and I was a dedicated quitter but I smoked for most of my life up to the age of 54...I had little experience in being a nonsmoker and though I did not intend to smoke, I could not relate to the non smoking way of life. I hung in there. I had a lousy sleep pattern before I quit, that continued on after I quit. But time has healed that problem. I've also relearned life without the nicotine. Addiction goes deeper than the physical dependency. Nicotine is a stimulant and aids in focus...although short term. The brain takes a while to adapt. Today I get life without the smokes. So give it time. Keep learning, reading, posting, keep coming back. 

[HealthyOrange]

I too suffered from anxiety and insomnia around the same time in my early quit.  I believe that it is from relearning life without a dopamine high to hide behind our fear.  I had to calm myself in those days through positive self-talk and nurturing myself with massage and other healing messures.  I have learned to face my feelings in a healthier way.  I'm still a work in progress, but I no longer suffer to that extent anymore.  It gets better, much better.  Give yourself time; you will pass through this stage with flying colors.  You'll see.  Welcome and congratulations on your quit!  67 days is an excellent accomplishment.  Cherish getting to know yourself and this healing journey.