First normal day in a while - nicotine?

Hi all,

I was here a while ago before I moved back overseas, and now I'm back. I actually tried to post while I was away but psychforums just gave a big "Your IP address is banned" every time. Seems to have been for that particular country!
I had my first definite manic episode while I was away, complete with hallucinations and extreme paranoia. I absolutely terrified myself and I still don't know what was real and what wasn't about a lot of it.
I ended up hospitalised overseas, followed by a hospitalisation when I got home. Everyone seemed to have a different idea of what to do. Overseas the first thing they did was inject me with clozipane (the doctors back home were very upset about that). I had lost my meds and couldn't be sure I'd been taking them properly anyway (lamictal).
Once I was home they put me on Seroquel (GP) for a few days, then another admission with no meds (I think) for a few days, and finally I got transferred to a private facility with a psychiatrist who put me on lithium 500mg and risperidone 2mg.
I was pretty messed up prior to that, and really I should have come home sooner. It was a 2 month downhill spiral. Since I got home I've been in a state of depression ever since, and just can't find enjoyment in anything.
Then all of a sudden today I had a little "burst" of enjoyment. The nicotine arrived for my e cigarettes. I had been smoking up to 3 packs a day prior to my admission, but generally I'd classify myself as a pack (16) a day smoker. After my admission I haven't had a cigarette which is 2 and a half months ago.
I know it's a backwards move to pick up ecigs after I've been off smokes for so long, but I've put on so much weight as I've swapped smoking for eating. I'm just a bit shocked though at the profound effect it's had on my mood (at least in the short term). Can anyone else relate to this?
Also do you think it's still true about the link in bipolar disorder and smoking? I've seen figures up to 90% of sufferers being smokers but I can't see that being the case. My support group has I think one smoker out of about ten. My country has a particularly harsh stance against smoking however.

Hi and welcome back

Confuzzled12 wrote:I was here a while ago before I moved back overseas, and now I'm back. I actually tried to post while I was away but psychforums just gave a big "Your IP address is banned" every time. Seems to have been for that particular country!

Sorry about this - I dont know why that happened. Glad you are able to post now tho. If you want to PM me details I can discuss it but I am not sure why that happened to you.

Confuzzled12 wrote:I had my first definite manic episode while I was away, complete with hallucinations and extreme paranoia. I absolutely terrified myself and I still don't know what was real and what wasn't about a lot of it.
I ended up hospitalised overseas, followed by a hospitalisation when I got home. Everyone seemed to have a different idea of what to do. Overseas the first thing they did was inject me with clozipane (the doctors back home were very upset about that). I had lost my meds and couldn't be sure I'd been taking them properly anyway (lamictal).
Once I was home they put me on Seroquel (GP) for a few days, then another admission with no meds (I think) for a few days, and finally I got transferred to a private facility with a psychiatrist who put me on lithium 500mg and risperidone 2mg.
I was pretty messed up prior to that, and really I should have come home sooner. It was a 2 month downhill spiral. Since I got home I've been in a state of depression ever since, and just can't find enjoyment in anything.

This all sounds like it was very difficult for you and must have been scary being overseas going through it. Sorry to hear you have had ongoing depression since then too. Not good.

Confuzzled12 wrote:Then all of a sudden today I had a little "burst" of enjoyment. The nicotine arrived for my e cigarettes. I had been smoking up to 3 packs a day prior to my admission, but generally I'd classify myself as a pack (16) a day smoker. After my admission I haven't had a cigarette which is 2 and a half months ago.
I know it's a backwards move to pick up ecigs after I've been off smokes for so long, but I've put on so much weight as I've swapped smoking for eating. I'm just a bit shocked though at the profound effect it's had on my mood (at least in the short term). Can anyone else relate to this?
Also do you think it's still true about the link in bipolar disorder and smoking? I've seen figures up to 90% of sufferers being smokers but I can't see that being the case. My support group has I think one smoker out of about ten. My country has a particularly harsh stance against smoking however.

I am not sure what the answer to this is- I do find I feel more perky when I smoke my Ecig- tho I am trying to smoke it less. I know a lot of ppl with MH issues do smoke- I am not sure what the actual reason is but I can see how nicotine could perk you up when you are feeling low. Although I can see other reasons too such as boredom in hospital leading to addiction.

I hope that you are doing better soon and that things settle. Give yourself a break about the smoking and E cigs for now at least- you have enough on your plate

Hugs

Cracked

Thanks for the reply CrackedGirl!
I think it kind of lines up with what you're saying - I feel perky. Sometimes a bit too much. Definitely I think boredom comes into it as well. I've been down and a bit confused again, paranoia is creeping back in. I went to see a psychologist a few days ago and I'll have some sessions with him. I don't know how much it will help but I'm willing to try anything.

Seeing a psychologist really helped me. It took me 6 or 7 meetings to begin to really trust him and tell him how I was really feeling.

Nicotine is an addictive drug that causes cancer and other health problems. But you've heard all that before and feeling better (perky) right now with nicotine is the lesser of two evils.
Try and find a balance. Three packages per day is an extreme amount of smoking. Could you cut back to one or 1 1/2 packages per day and still feel the benefits?

I hope things pick up for you.

Take care,

I hope the sessions with the psychologist help you. Keep us posted

Hugs

Cracked

When i read your story i can relate much of it to myself.Ive been using tobacco all live until i was 36. About 1 year ago I quit using tobacco. About 8 months before i had a manic psycotic paranoid period that ended up in a psycosis with a 2 months inpatient care arranged by my family and work.

Inside we where allowed to smoke so i started using tobacco and it felt really good except for the smell you get doing it. When i got home i swapped it to diffrent tobacco found only in sweden called snus.

I feel much better using tobacco than without. Im sure there is a link between my quitting tobacco and my manic period, i slept less. It might bee the dopamin? I have tried to find out more information but its hard to find.