Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 13498

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nicotine addiction affecting personality

Posted by katie on October 20, 1999, at 11:30:15

I have been smoking too long to mention without causing myself embarassment on this board. My problem is this---I can get the resolve needed to start to quit, but I never follow thru on it. It's so damn aggrevating. I take Wellbutrin, but not enough to be a smoking deterent. If I take too much (wellbutrin) I become a little manic.

Now... the personality thing...for some reason when I do "quit" I become somewhat of a "wet blanket". It's like I lose part of my personality when I quit. I become lethargic and uncommunicative and basically relent to other's demands even when I disagree. I don't ever reach the point of "rocking the boat", I barely tap it. But when I start back smoking I become "myself" again.

I know the damn things are ruining my quality of life and will most likely "do me in", but a just can't disassociate myself from cigarettes.

Any feedback would be welcome.

thx in advance, katie

 

Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality

Posted by dove on October 20, 1999, at 12:28:03

In reply to nicotine addiction affecting personality, posted by katie on October 20, 1999, at 11:30:15

When I quit smoking I actually get psychotic, in the strictest sense, and suicidal. It is extremely aggravating when everytime I quit my husband begs me to start again. He does not smoke and hates the smell and the money spent, but he can't handle watching me implode. My doc is hoping that the right combo of meds will enable me to quit permanent like. The patch has worked, until I go to the lower dose or stop using it.

So, yes, nicotine does affect some people's personality and my psych-doc has reaffirmed this and has shown me abstracts illustrating strong evidence supporting nicotine's positive effects on ADHD and Schizophrenia. I don't know if these results have been reproduced or how accurate they are. I only know what my doc deems genuine, verifiable and interesting in the treatment of these disorders including depression.
Don't know if this helps or just confuses the picture more.

dove

 

Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality

Posted by Noa on October 20, 1999, at 20:20:20

In reply to Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality, posted by dove on October 20, 1999, at 12:28:03

Yeah, I was thinking you need the stimulant in your system. But also, I have a question: how long have your smoking - free times been? Since you are a long time smoker, your brain/body probably need a while to adjust to being off the cigarettes. Being a "wet blanket" might not be a permanent condition after you quit, but maybe a part of the process of resetting all of your body/brains systems. Maybe it would get better after a while. But it seems you need some medical help if you are to quite successfully without these bad effects.

 

Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality

Posted by Dee on October 23, 1999, at 22:29:22

In reply to Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality, posted by Noa on October 20, 1999, at 20:20:20

Katie,
What you are describing is very typical abstinence symptoms. I've gone through all these feelings as I have quit street drugs, and I also quit smoking some three years ago.

Thing with a habit forming substance is that it feels so much like a part of one, to a point where one looses the concept of the chemical and one self being separate, the need for it is no longer conscious. In the deep addiction I felt I needed the drugs like I need food, water, or ait to breathe.
After I dropped the habit, I felt that somehow I was not complete, that there was something very essential to my personality that I would lose without the substance.

All these feelings are feelings only, they are not based on reality. It took me some time, close to a year, I think, before I could feel 'complete' again. Both after the drugs and smoking. These feelings will pass.

I used to think that as soon as the immediate physical withdrawal eased, the detoxification would be over. I've learned that it is a long time process, in which not only the body, but the mind as well must recover.

Dee

PS.. hey, Noa. Thanx for the note up around 'babble adiction'. Reading it saved a very, very bad day.

 

Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality

Posted by Di on October 29, 1999, at 9:18:53

In reply to Re: nicotine addiction affecting personality, posted by Dee on October 23, 1999, at 22:29:22

>Oh yes. Since quitting smoking I've gone into
depression, therapy, need prozac and left my
husband. Aside from the physcial addition, smoking
shuts down the mechanism in the brain the produces
seratonin - the happy drug. Our body needs to start
producing it again OR get it through anti-depressant
medication. It's a medical fact. It's a horrible
addition that I've fought with for 30 years. I
will not go back even if i'm whacking out I don't
want to die of lung cancer or walk around with an
oxygen tank. Hopefully, the mental problems will pass.
Good luck.


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