ill start with some background information,

after my last girlfriend dumped me i started smoking and drinking alot, maybe only 5 cigarettes a day and id atleast have enough to drunk on weekends. and i think i started to get hooked to both of them. then i met a new girl back in february who is my girlfriend. shes really amazing and great to me, better than any girl has ever been to me before. so i quit smoking and drinking because shes not into that stuff. it was for the better anyway, and that was about a month and a half ago. then last week my truck started giving me all kinds of ****. i replaced $30 worth of hoses, 2 alternators and a battery, all in one week.

now heres my question/problem. in these last 2 weeks ive been perfectly happy with no reason to feel otherwise but i feel depressed at the same time. i dont have any of those stupid crazy thoughts that depressed people get, i just feel down. i thought i was just upset about my truck but its fine again and im still this way. theres something different about my girlfriend but i cant figure it out, its probably just that shes busy and had a cold. oh and my 18th birthday was on sunday which my girlfriend made very amazing for me, so this should be the happiest time of my life.

can quitting smoking/drinking lead to withdrawals that include depression? or is there some other reason why im like this.

 

When I quit drinking, I started seeing snakes. It was the worst 3 days of my life. But seriously, when you quit something like that cold turkey, it's bound to have an effect on your mind and body. You get used to the chemicals involved, and suddenly they're gone. It will straighten itself out. Congratulations on not smoking. It is one of the worst habits you can get into. You will be much healthier, and better smelling, too.

 

The withdrawal from smoking and booze would have been a problem the first week. There was a study years ago that showed men also had a cycle that affected moods, just like women. The difference was the occurences. For women it was monthly, for men, if I remember correctly, it was once a year.
Can't answer what is causing your depression, but I will say one thing. Don't go back to smoking and booze, it isn't worth it.
You may go see a doctor. Depression can be caused by medical problems.
Hope you feel better soon.

 

I am not a doctor, but here is my 2 cents:

I read recently that some people are sort of predisposed to cetain levels of depression, and sometimes the depression is so minor it's not even noticed until there is a change. When you smoke, the nicotine makes your brain produce more of 2 chemicals (I don't recall which) that make you feel "better". Probably you're still getting used to being at a certain level you may have grown up with, but were so used to it, you didn't think it was depression. And in reality, if it even is depression, it's so minor it's not even relevant. But the nicotine just upped the good chemicals enough to make you think that it was pretty good. It may take some time before your brain gets back to normal.

 

The Law is exactly right! I also might add, being you live in Ill (I live in Ia so I know) the weather may have an adverse effect on mood, I know it gets to me at times. I am an outdoor person and this weather just horrible for me

HTH

 

And you're 18! A certain amount of depression is normal. If it starts adversly effecting your ability to take care of business, get some help!

 

Nicotine is more addictive than heroin, if you can believe that. Cold turkey is the hardest way to drop anything. Not that I think smoking and drinking is ok (I do drink), but you should reduce youre intake, instead of just dropping it like a brick.

Disclaimer: I am no doctor. I am lucky if I wear matching socks on a given day.


Rich

 

Dude your 18 get your aZZ up and go exercise your young heart out. I will garrenty you will feel better when you are done. Get that heart rate up over 140 for about 20 mins at a crack and you will feel much better. you are to young for any of this stuff, get busy, get active.

 

Maybe this help you understand the wonderful benefits. I have been cigarette free since Thanksgiving last year. Much lower beer intake 4 years this July.

http://www.jackal.inta.net.au/PrevWeb/witch2.html

 

i can vouch for nicotine being extremely addicted....stay away from that stuff, once you get addicted to it its REALLY hard to stay away from it

 

For me, nicotine defiantely has an effect on my mood. I smoke at work and when I go out. I don't smoke at home or around my kids or wife.

In the mornings on the weekends when we're all in the barn doing chores, I'm usually REALLY crabby. I thought it was because my wife drives me nuts, but when I leave and have a smoke, my mood changes. Again, that could be because I'm away from everyone, but I think smoking has something to do with it.

I am trying to quit and have made progress. But until I quit completely, I'm making a serious effort to control my attitude when not smoking.

Kevin K.

 

to answer Law, their called endorphins which your body produces and is effected by nicotine.going cold turkey from both alcohol and butts will take some time for your body to adjust.Just hang in there for awhile if you don't start feeling better talk to your doctor about it,good luck.
JFR-

 

Learn this as early as you can: Girlfriends cause depression.

 

Every time I try and quit Everybody around thinks I've gone mad and will most likly kill sombody in less than a 24 hour period over nothing. I never tryed to quit drinking though. I can't imagine life with out jack.