• Feeling sad or blue
• Having less energy
• Not enjoying the things you used to
• Trouble concentrating
• Not sleeping well
• Loss of short term memory
• Thoughts about death or suicide
• Eating too much or too little

So how can doing something that is so good for you make you feel so bad? The answer lies in figuring out why you get depressed after quitting. The most common reason is that when you quit smoking you unmasked a depression that was always there. Cigarettes actually contain several chemicals that fight off depression. So, when you were smoking you were actually self-treating your depression all along. This is why so many people who suffer from depression smoke cigarettes.

Pack Fact: Nicotine is a powerful anti-depressant and has been shown to work in the same way as many prescription anti-depressant medications.

Sometimes, feeling depressed after quitting is a sign of nicotine withdrawal. This is more common if you quit smoking cold turkey. In fact, all of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are more common if you go cold turkey.

Missing your cigarettes is another reason for feeling depressed. It is not uncommon to feel like you have lost a good friend or to feel as though you have given something up. But think about it. Are you really giving something up, or are you gaining your health and freedom from an addiction? Take a close look at your so-called "friend" and remind yourself that good friends do not try to kill you.

Getting depressed after quitting can cause you to go back to smoking again. So, if you think you may develop depression after quitting, talk to your doctor about using the quit smoking pill called Zyban. Not only does this medication take away many of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms (irritability, difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious) associated with quitting smoking, it is also a very good anti-depressant medication.

Quit Tip: Be sure to take the Depression Quiz and see if you suffer from depression. Also, read the article called Treating Depression.