Depression Related to Quitting Smoking

Depression Related to Quitting Smoking Addiction Nicotine Use After You Quit Print Depression Related to Quitting Smoking How to Deal With the Temporary Mood Changes By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD on February 21, 2017 Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Sanja Jelic, MD Updated on February 22, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee In This Article Table of Contents Expand Changes in the Body Symptoms Coping Techniques Pre-Existing Depression View All Quitting smoking is difficult enough when youre feeling happy. Unfortunately, it can become further challenging due to depressionâ€"a common complaint early on in smoking cessation.?? Knowing what you may experience as you work to become smoke-free can better prepare you for the journey ahead. Changes in the Body Nicotine withdrawal is the primary reason for the temporary depression you may experience after quitting smoking.?? When you use nicotine on a regular basis, your body and brain become dependent on it as the nicotine bonds with your brain receptors to trigger the release of dopamine, the feel-good hormone. Once you stop smoking and are producing less dopamine than your body and mind have become accustomed to, it is normal to react with low moods and depressed  feelings. Lack of nicotine also means losing the companion that you thought helped you manage everything from anger to fatigue, which leaves most new ex-smokers feeling empty and adrift for a time. Luckily, for most, the condition is a byproduct of smoking cessation and is temporary. Symptoms Some common symptoms of depression that you may experience when you stop smoking include: SleeplessnessSadnessDifficulty concentratingAnxiety or an empty feelingFatigueChanges in appetite (eating more or less)Loss of interest in hobbies and activitiesEmotional irritability You may experience one, some, or all of these at one point or another, and to varying degrees. If you start to feel depressed after quitting tobacco and your low mood doesnt pass after a few weeks or gets worse, be sure to check in with your doctor for advice. Coping Techniques Quitting tobacco is a big change in lifestyle, and you should expect to react, to some degree, both emotionally and physically. You are also at an increased  risk of suffering a smoking relapse  during periods of depression caused by smoking cessation. It is hard to stay focused and maintain the resolve to not smoke when youre feeling low. After years of smoking, it is possible that you began to bury your feelings behind a cloud of smoke.  Cigarettes are used to deal with everything from anger to sadness to joy, causing smokers to often lean on tobacco to avoid difficult emotions.?? It is healthy and productive to let those feelings out, even if you feel a little raw from the experience. For depression that comes with smoking cessation, try some of the following ideas to improve your mood:?? Get out of a quick walk. Fresh air is always invigorating, and exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which are known to improve mood.Set goals, but dont bite off more than you can chew. Divide tasks related to your goals into small chunks that you feel good about accomplishing.Spend time with people who make you feel good.  When negative/sad thoughts come up about smoking, remind yourself that you miss smoking mostly because it was an addiction, and once youre healed, you wont feel this way.Create a list of things you can do at a moments notice when youre feeling the urge to smoke, like do a crossword puzzle or call a supportive friend. Jolting ourselves out of a negative thought pattern is often as simple as changing what were doing.Join a support group. Meeting people who are going through the same struggle as you can help you know youre not alone and offer some much-needed support. The American Lung Associations Freedom From Smoking program has groups all over the country, or do some research to find other support programs in your local area. While quitting smoking, the body and mind are in a state of transition, and its not uncommon for new ex-smokers to struggle with their emotions. Dont worry if you are close to tears one moment and angry or sad the next. The balance will return in time. Change Your Mind, Change Your Life One of the greatest challenges new ex-smokers face is an important change in perspective. It is that shift in thinking from seeing smoking cessation as an exercise in deprivation to realizing that it is, in fact, one of the best gifts youll ever give yourself. This is a crucial step in the process of healing from nicotine addiction, and it is with this transformation that many see their quit-related symptoms of depression begin to lift.?? Pre-Existing Depression If you have been diagnosed and/or treated for depression prior to quitting smoking, it is important to let  your doctor know ahead of time that youre planning to quit.  Smoking cessation could make you susceptible to additional mood disturbances.??   Smoking also causes some medications to be metabolized more quickly, so when you quit, prescriptions youre already taking might need to be adjusted. Your doctor can monitor and correct dosages on  any medications you might be on, if necessary. Always be on alert for drastic mood changes and contact your doctor as soon as possible if anything out of the ordinary occurs. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. A Word From Verywell If the blues have come on since you quit smoking, remember that this is not uncommon. As you are patient through this likely temporary phase,  find comfort from your friends, family, and keeping busy with healthier, more productive activities. With time and dedication, these will become the more familiar sources of good feelings, and smoking will become that thing that you thought used to bring you benefit. You can also take comfort in knowing that millions of people have been through this process successfully before you, and many include it among the most rewarding experiences of their lives. Happier days are ahead, and with them will come a tremendous sense of pride and empowerment from overcoming this addiction.