Mania, Here I Come!

I know I'm going to get manic. I've decided to quit smoking. Believe it or not, this is a manic trigger for me. I'm using lozenges this time, cause my pdoc told me, in no uncertain terms, that I'm not allowed to try quitting cold turkey again. I'm hoping I don't get too manic with the lozenges, but at least I'm ready for it. The cigarettes I have left are in a container that I wrote, "You're brain is a liar" on, so hopefully I'll think logically if I go to grab one. I've already been thinking if I have just one more it won't be the end of the world, but I'm resisting the urge. Luckily the urges haven't been too bad so far, but I can sense the storm is coming.

Be careful, put some safeties in place like good friends, a limit on your bank account, plans for if anything gets out of control. If you get psychosis with your mania it might be a good idea for your doctor to give the local crisis service a heads up, if you have one.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully there won't be much spending, the bank account is already empty and credit cards are maxed, so I can't really do anymore damage to that. Mania doesn't usually make me any more psychotic than I already am (since I have schizoaffective), but I will be on the lookout for that, because I hadn't really thought about it. I'm hoping that getting the first three days done while I'm off work will help, and I have a short week this week thanks to Easter, so hopefully it doesn't interfere with work. If it does, I have FMLA time set aside for bad episodes, so I shouldn't have to worry about my job if I get too manic.

Part of me feels stupid for knowingly triggering an episode, but at the same time, I know that I need to quit for so many reasons. Hopefully the pros outweigh the cons in the end. I also hope that I actually am able to quit for good this time, and that I'm not throwing myself into mania for nothing.

I understand about the knowingly triggering episodes, because you need to for medical reasons. I don't completely knowingly trigger episodes, but I take testosterone weekly. If I forget that dose, or put it off because I hate jabbing myself with a huge needle, or if I run out of testosterone, it triggers an episode. I need to take it on the same day every week or else.

Wanting to quit smoking is something that is good for your health, and you absolutely should not be held back from doing it because you have bipolar disorder. I commend you for that, to be willing to put up with a storm - just remember, storms blow over. You'll get through it, things will settle down - and hey, maybe it will be a good incentive to never start smoking again.

I just hope I don't give in when things really start getting bad, which I know they will, and my brain says, "one cigarette will make this all go away..." That seems to be where I fail when it comes to quitting. The easy fix is just so tempting.