Managing Mood Changes After Quit Day

Mood changes are common with any behavioral change, and especially common after you quit smoking.

People report that withdrawing from nicotine makes them feel restless, sad or irritable. There are several things that you can do to avoid or lessen those feelings. The key to managing your moods is planning ahead and using available resources. Try these tips:

1. Get and stay active. Beyond going to the gym, taking a walk or a riding a bike can help. It can be hard to start moving at first, but over time, it will pay off.
2. Be social. This is no time to isolate yourself from others. Try to set up opportunities for routine interactions through friends and family or church groups. You might also consider hobby groups, like book or running clubs, or classes like pottery or dance.
3. Join a support group. You can join a group virtually or attend one in person. Try these resources through smokefree.gov: https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/text-programs and https://smokefree.gov/about-us/social.
4. Plan. Make a list of activities that you enjoy, and try to engage in one each day. For example, work on a scrapbook, go to lunch with a friend or spruce up your garden.
5. Know when to seek help. Your friends and family are there to support you. However, if the mood swings turn into something more serious, talk to your health care provider or check out Walgreens' mental health resources. There, you can video chat with a therapist, find screening tools for anxiety and depression or find local assistance through a Mental Health America affiliate.

Published on October, 28 2019