I’m Really Dizzy (Foggy). How Long Will This Last?
You’re a couple of days or weeks into your quit. You’re feeling good about your decision to quit but something’s just not quite right. You feel “dizzy” – maybe not quite dizzy, but like you’ve had a beer or two. You’re “off”. You don’t feel quite like yourself. You can’t concentrate. Reading is difficult and typing is near impossible.
Welcome to the fog ladies and gentlemen. I can’t tell you when, but I can tell you that it will pass. Some quitters deal with the fog for just a couple of days and for others it seems to drag on for a while. There seems to be nothing specific to do to get rid of the fog other than drink a ton of water to flush your system and wait it out.
For the first week of my quit, I literally don’t remember what I did during the day other than read the message boards. I was playing ping pong with a co-worker that week and almost fell over – I was having trouble tracking the ball. I couldn’t concentrate on work, I couldn’t think about my family. I was totally focused on my quit and how bad life SUCKED without my friend the Kodiak bear (insert your brand of choice here).
And then something happened – the fog lifted. I saw the light and I didn’t NEED my Kodiak anymore. There were certainly difficult days to follow, but I didn’t feel like crap anymore from not having my chew first thing in the morning. I was able to concentrate on work once again.
Good post. The brain fog has been my worst symptom.
Yep… it’s brutal. But the good thing is it will go away over time. Keep it up!