Quitting Smoking Causing Insomnia.

[Man of Shred]

yesterday i quit smoking. I was chewing niccorrete gum all day. but at night i had to stop 'cause the nicotine would keep me up. well the cravings kicked in and i layed awake till around 3 am. i had to have a smoke to calm myself down. and i REALLY want to keep up with my Dream Recall. this should only last a few days. but in the meantime is there anyone that had a similar experience? am i just gonna have to wait it out a few days until the cravings stop keeping me awake. or is there anything i can do to calm my internal diolougue and crazy emotional outbursts?

[qzole]

I never smoked, so I can't help you that part, but about insomnia: There is a thread about reverse blinking, and ppl said that they could go to sleep MUCH easier (10-15 minutes) It might help you too, here is the thread: Reverse Blinking

[Slight]

I think meditation helps a lot to get yourself out of the emotional bursts and waterfalls of thoughts .. in the end meditation is being able to alter your state of mentality .. and smoking is for the most part a mental problem .. or at least I am thinking that you can overcome your physical addiction by being mentally fully powered, calm and determined.

[Keeper]

chew gum

[Howie]

That is common when your body is addicted to nicotine. When you smoke it calms you down. Of coarse, now that you have quite, (congratulations btw) you may have difficulties going to sleep. I think because it was an actual substance that you body "thinks" it requires, that meditation may not have what it takes. I would not suggest to go and get addicted to another substance, at the same time you may quite possibly need an over the counter sleep aid to help you. Exercise, night time herbal teas, Nytol and such.. all may help. If the severity continues you may be able to be prescribed a sleep aid such as ambient and others.... as a last resort. Nicotine and caffeine are very under estimated drugs. Most likely because they are legal. Good luck!

[Jess]

Go running, thats how I quit, train for a marathon or something. If you're not up for that do a half marathon. I think got sleepy when I quit as nicotine is a stimulant. Oh you're chewing the gum, thats why you can't sleep. Go cold turkey.

[Man of Shred]

I've been burning sage recently and so far that helps me sleep pretty damn good. i did have an insanely long vivid dream on my 3rd night of quitting tho. Since then It's mostly been deep sleeps.

[Alucinor Architecton]

glad to hear it

[Placebo]

Google on 'melatonin' and supplement pills of melatonin. It's the hormone released at night that leaves you drowsy (or in your case, is missing). You can probably buy the pills from your local pharmacy without prescription, and there's no harmful overdose effects. But make sure you read up on it first. There's still some argument about the whole thing. And it's always a good idea to research these things first. BTW, in people over 35, melatonin levels begin to drop dramatically as they age. I don't know what your age is... but you might find that of interest