Hi,
I have been quit for almost 8 months now. I used to smoke 3-4 times a week for at least 1.5 years.
The acute withdrawal was heavy, but month 3 was horrific. Extreme anxiety (waiting for impending doom), negative depressive thoughts that I could not stop, restless, highly stressed and always extremely fatigued. I was unable to form personal connections with anyone, I could not speak or think properly. It was agony.
After month 4, I saw change. Instead of being scared for the next stressful event I became more accepting. I felt I became more in control. I started enjoying more bit by bit. I consider this the point in my journey where it switched from torture to a handicap.
Now I am at month 7.5. I just got out of a bad wave that took a couple of days. I am at the point where I enjoy a lot more of life again. I am able to watch TV series again (improved attention span), more productive than during my addiction (still far from optimal) and my libido is there again (not as horny as I used to be yet).
The biggest issues now are head pressure, anhedonia, sensitivity to stress and a little bit of anxiety and insomnia.
It is a horrific experience that changed my personality. I was a very tyrannical person with low empathy and a huge ego. I am much more compassionate now, I got to know what the dark side of life is. It is extremely saddening that there is so much pain and distress in this world.
I hope to become the stronger me very soon now. I promise to let everyone know if I am recovered.