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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Anxiety And Pain/tightness In Chest After Quitting Smoking?

I quit smoking 6 months ago after 30 yrs and 1 to 11/2 packs a day. I took chantix for 2 weeks, only long enough to go through the initial withdrawal (hard and horrible) From the day I quit, I have not been able to sleep and have been taking Zolpidem 10 mg for over 3 months now, which to me is a god send. Just recently have been experiencing severe anxiety, pain and tightness in chest, increased pressure up through my carotid and into my head and more headaches. Blood tests are good and have high cholesterol which I will be addressing with my physician. Would starting a NRT and introducing nicotine back into my system be advised at this point or should I expect that my body will adjust and start to produce more Dopamine to relieve the sleeplessness and anxiety? Female-age 55- 5 3 190 lbs
Thu, 12 Nov 2015
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Psychologist 's  Response
Dear
Welcome to HCM
We understand your concerns

I went through your details. Anxiety disorders are a category of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear, where anxiety is a worry about future events and fear is a reaction to current events. These feelings may cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heart and shakiness. In your case, your stem of anxiety is from quitting your habit.

The basic lies at the pleasure point of the brain, where, whenever you smoke, the point gets activated and therefore, the body craves for more. You already know, craving is equivalent to anxiety disorder. You overcame it physically but yet to overcome it mentally.

At this instance, you do not need nicotine. you need anti-anxiety drugs like xanax. You should also exercise rigorously, engage in physical and agile games, change your life style so as you are always busy whether physically or mentally, undergo rational emotive therapy and cognitive therapy. If you go ahead with the above methods, you are sure to have good sleep.

If you require more of my help in this aspect, please use this URL. http://goo.gl/aYW2pR. Make sure that you include every minute detail possible.

Hope this answers your query. Further clarifications are welcome.
Good luck. Take care.
I find this answer helpful

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What Causes Anxiety And Pain/tightness In Chest After Quitting Smoking?

Dear Welcome to HCM We understand your concerns I went through your details. Anxiety disorders are a category of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear, where anxiety is a worry about future events and fear is a reaction to current events. These feelings may cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heart and shakiness. In your case, your stem of anxiety is from quitting your habit. The basic lies at the pleasure point of the brain, where, whenever you smoke, the point gets activated and therefore, the body craves for more. You already know, craving is equivalent to anxiety disorder. You overcame it physically but yet to overcome it mentally. At this instance, you do not need nicotine. you need anti-anxiety drugs like xanax. You should also exercise rigorously, engage in physical and agile games, change your life style so as you are always busy whether physically or mentally, undergo rational emotive therapy and cognitive therapy. If you go ahead with the above methods, you are sure to have good sleep. If you require more of my help in this aspect, please use this URL. http://goo.gl/aYW2pR. Make sure that you include every minute detail possible. Hope this answers your query. Further clarifications are welcome. Good luck. Take care.