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Panic - failing during times of panic and recovering Cancel

1. ocean

   

   286 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   Answered

   31 Dec 2020

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   Hi everyone,  I tried to stop and lasted 24 hours.  I had a sudden brief orthodontic emergency and because I just gave up my car lease, I had to quickly call a cab.  So I was out of sorts because it was an unexpected appointment and I had to get there before they closed for the holiday.  No problem.  But then I called a cab to pick me up, and the foriegn dispatcher couldn't accept the address I was calling from.  So I tried a few times, sort of panicking as I had no way of getting home in a lockdown.  I walked down the street and had a gas station attendent call a cab from that address and it worked.  Needless to say, I got caught up in the moment and ordered a pack of smokes from the attendent.. I was already fighting anxiety as I'd been nicotine free for 24 hours, and I was working at trying to stay calm through the uneasy feelings and cravings prior to the appointment.   I panicked, not an actual panic attack, but just a panic (feeling very unorganized and stuck).  The pack is almost gone, trying to finish it before midnight so I can start the New Year tobacco free.  But how do you cope when you get these moments of feeling a bit 'out of control' when the unexpected happens.  It's like I was already anxious from trying to withdraw, so I was uneasy to begin with.  Then I responded impulsively to thinking I was stranded, lol!!  I hope to be more flexible with my thoughts when something like this happens again!!
2. treepeo1

   

   255 posts
   Registered:
   06 Feb 2020
   Answered

   31 Dec 2020

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   Hi ocean,
   
   Life is full of those moments.  A big part of quitting is realizing that you have to find ways of coping with stress other than lighting up.  When I first quit, I had many anxious moments.  Could I eat a meal without smoking afterwards?  Could I watch a program without smoking?  Could I go back to work after vacation and not smoke?  In the past, I always gave in.  But I finally realized that in order to change my life, I had to fully embrace my quit, and not let anything stop me.  The pain in my lungs was something else, but I just grit my teeth and toughed it out.
   
   Try to reach deep, ocean.  And think about things you can do to distract yourself.  Keep thinking of all the reasons why you want to quit.  The only way you will succeed is if you truly commit to change your life.  And you can do it.  Believe in yourself.
3. lesleyaf

   

   37 posts
   Registered:
   23 Nov 2020
   01 Jan 2021

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   Hi Ocean,
   I know that feeling of panic and and the urge to light up. I’ve had that urge many times in the past few days during my toddler’s many temper tantrums. 
   
   Don’t beat yourself up. Get up and try again. Believe in yourself! You can do this!
   
   
   
4. wandam

   

   241 posts
   Registered:
   05 Feb 2019
   01 Jan 2021

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   Hi ocean, 
   
   Quitting is hard & maintaining that quit is super hard in the beginning, so don’t be to hard on yourself. I relapsed 3 times after months of being quit & that sucked big time for me. Sounds like you are determined like me to never give up on quitting! Keep at it! You can do this!

   Last modified on 01 Jan 2021 14:40 by wandam
5. ocean

   

   286 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   Answered

   01 Jan 2021

   Link to this post

   Yes Wandam, quitting has you in a tailspin mentally becuase you're re-working so many thoughts and micro changes a day!  My physical cravings aren'tcrazy today, and I got by by sleeping this afternoon, lol!  But little things like having a cooked breakfast and wondering am I really hungry, or just fake hungry?  I never do breakfast so it all just required a lot of tiny thoughts.