[embarassed]

I'm thinking of using nicotine patches to help with my anxiety and depression. I'm sick of waking up every morning dreading life and wondering if I'm going to screw up and do something wrong and feel miserable. I hate waking up in the morning. I'm sick of this feeling of dread and sadness that washed over me day after day after day. I want to get rid of this feeling.

I've heard that nicotine can help people feel calmer and more relaxed. It also supposedly helps with concentration (which would be excellent for my ADHD). Does anyone know if this is true? Will nicotine be helpful? Therapy and Prozac aren't quite doing it for me. But then again, I've only been in therapy for a few weeks so maybe I just need to give it some more time. I hate waiting though. I need a quicker fix too. Any smokers want to weigh in?

I think if you tried the nicotine patch and you're not a smoker, it would make you feel really sick, and probably anxious.

I've been on and off of nicotine over the years - and I would say it definitely increases my anxiety.. faster heart rate being a big part of it for me.

I think that there is some sort of deal with the act of slowly breathing in, as you do when you smoke a cigarette, that might have an anxiety reducing effect. A doctor tried to explain to me once why nicotine was both a stimulant and something that relaxes you, but I can't quite remember the explanation.

Maybe try some deep breathing instead?

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. It's awful to wake up in the morning dreading the day...I've been there.

Sending many

[gimmeice]

I agree with earthmama, nicotine is a stimulant so it would make your anxiety worse plus if you don't have a nicotine addiction why start one. You may find the breathing exercises helpful so why not give those a try. Therapy will take a while before you start seeing results, I know that it can be hard to be patient but I find therapy worth the time and effort that I put into it.

[digdug]

As earthmama suggested, I think it's the act of smoking itself as much as the nicotine that provides a calming effect.

But smoking is also dangerously unhealthy, and ridiculously expensive. Of course people are always free to make up their minds about what they want to do. But I wouldn't start a habit up if it could be avoided.

This coming from the coffee-addict, of course. But at least coffee is much cheaper, and in reasonable amounts is actually shown to be quite beneficial to one's well-being.

[Greg77733]

I am a smoker and it does not help with depression. I would quit tomorrow if I could.I am depressed if I smoke or not. Depression is a thought process and chemical inbalance. Some people fight with depression their whole life. I send you a internet hug and hang in there.

[embarassed]

Thanks everyone. I tried it yesterday anyway and it was a disaster (slap me for being stupid). I tried a 7mg patch and I was more depressed than usual. I guess I'll just have to be patient with the therapy.