Serious about Smoking Cessation?

6 Responses to "Serious about Smoking Cessation?"

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1. Untitled Comment
   G.J. Gregory
   Friday, February 15, 2008 at 01:16 AM

   You hit the nail on the head when you said quitting was like walking right into familiar symptoms.  I was able to quit many years ago, but it was the single most difficult thing I've ever done.  For me it was manic-like symptoms during withdrawal.  When my bipolar son can't smoke it's mania symptoms for him also.  If a person can prepare for those symptoms, like we prepare for inevitable mood swings it might make the withdrawal easier.

    

   Thanks for making us think. 

   
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2. I would love to quit smoking
   tls
   Friday, February 15, 2008 at 09:06 AM
   If someone can find the key I would love to quit smoking.  I have all kinds of medical problems (obese, high bp, high cholesteral, autoimmune things, GERD, and seasonal ashma in addition to bipolar, ptsd, and ocd).  Smoking doesn't help and I've been trying desperately to quit.  I go a day or a half a day and I'm back to the familiar.  I've tried patches, gum, Chantix, etc.  I live alone and I'm not working but even when my daughter was home or when I was married I just got mad at the people trying to encourage me to quit.  I feel helpless against this addiction.  I've given up alcohol without a backward glance but this addiction has a strangle hold on me.  I get so angry at myself for not being able to do what I know will help me feel better.  The latest sub-zero wind chills and snow have kept me from walking daily and now that it's a little better out I can't get back in the groove.  It's like I get paralized from doing positive things.  I don't know what would help but if someone has the answer let me know, please.
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3. Cessation
   Stardust
   Friday, February 15, 2008 at 04:41 PM
   Well, I don't feel so bad about smoking with those statistics you presented.  I'm thinking about creating a new life (by not smoking).  The brain picks up on the word "smoking", and ignores the "NOT".  They definately need to come up with a new way of talking about quitting.  I liked that you used the word "create".   I just have a lot of fear about what will become of me if I change.  And I fight change with all my being.  No matter how good the change will be for me or how bad my current situation is.  Don't like to change.  If you can get peer support on the net, that would work for me, but not in person.  For me the motivator would be more money in my pocketbook.  I'm going to use the gold magnets you place on the pressure point of your left ear.  I really believe that will work for me.  I guess my suggestion is using careful language that should be "enforced" for everyone to speak the same language.  It might be called sublingual language.
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4. Smoking as a mental illness
   Angie
   Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM

   Sue, I really liked what you said about "creating" something vs giving up something.  I am an RN, a former non-smoking zealot, and did not ever think I would be a smoker in my wildest dreams.  My bipolar symptoms began seriously interfering with my life around age 35.  One night, working those nightshifts we bipolar night owls love so much, I just out of the blue asked a co-worker for a cigarrete with my coffee.

    

   I was in love with nicotine from the beginning, but I kept it "social".  As I grew sicker with the episodes I smoked more, but still episodically.  I even went without most of 2002 without any when I took up running, chanelling my manic energy into other activities.  Some were just as self-destructive as smoking, like manic sexual activity, not sleeping or eating, and spending out of control.

    

   By 2004 I was fighting deeper, more frequent episodes.  I was craving alcohol and cigarettes.  I gave up running.  I was irritable and lost focus as work.  March 6, 2005 I had a terrible, suicidal breakdown on the job.

   THIS was when my bipolar was formally diagnosed.

    

   Fast-forward four years:  I live a tightrope of being in control of this disease.  I had to give up my job for Social Security (but I feel this is not permanent).  And I notice I SMOKE WITH MY MOODS.  It is a barometer of which way I'm going.  Few cravings on stable days.  But when the mood shifts up or down, I can't get enough, it seems.

    

   I am the family outcast.  Once when irritable about asking to "give up just one more thing", (when I felt like I had given up so much already), I simply told them "I guess I have a death wish.  I don't know any other explanation." 

    

   Sorry for the long-winded speech.  I think you're on to something.  Thanks for listening.

   
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5. Untitled Comment
   Jill Williams MD
   Friday, February 22, 2008 at 01:08 PM

   We are studying smoking in bipolar disorder in hopes that this will lead to better treatments.  Our offices in central NJ (part of UMDNJ) offer opportunities for smokers to participate in research - we have opportunities both for smokers who want to try to quit and those who do not want to quit. Most services are free and smokers are financially compensated for participating.  I also developed a 2 day training program for psychiatrists to learn about how better to treat the smokers they are seeing for care of a mental illness.

   Information can be found on our website.

    http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/addiction/

    

   I'm glad that this issue is getting more attention and recognition than in the past.  Smoking has been the cause of early death and disease in too many mental health consumers.

   
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6. One less thing to stew over
   Katie S
   Friday, March 07, 2008 at 04:25 PM

   I can't tell you how grateful I am for your comments on mental illness and nicotine addiction. My doctor prescribed Chantix, and I took it for three months. One of the side effects is depression. I am already suffering from depression/anxiety, and I sank into a depressive state beyond anything I've known for over ten years. Not a day goes by that I don't worry about my self destructive habit. If only there was a treatment center where we could attend daily group meetings, professional support, and fun (distracting) activities to help people create constructive and positive changes. I'd save up my money and go anywhere to receive this kind of treatment. Thanks again for all that you had to say. It relieved a lot of guilt, and helped me to feel more understood and hopeful. -Katie

   
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