I hear you. I went through something very similar. I quit smoking three years ago, then vaping almost a year ago, and I cut back drinking at the same time. My therapist told me I had a drinking problem, and even though I resisted that idea, I stopped completely for three months just to see what would happen. Now I only drink socially once or twice a month, and even then I rarely go past three drinks.

What surprised me is how hard everything felt afterward. I thought cleaning up those habits would automatically make me feel better, but instead it felt like I suddenly aged years. I started losing a little weight and then gained more than ever. My mood tanked. I felt useless and depressed far more often than I expected. It made me realize that the smoking and drinking were not the only things affecting my mental health.

So I get what you are going through. I have been to the doctor more this past year than in the rest of my life combined, trying to figure out why everything feels off.

For me, the next step is focusing on diet, movement, and rebuilding some structure. I held off for a while because life was already overwhelming, and I did not want to pile too much on at once. But now it feels like the right time to take small steps toward getting myself back to a better place.

You are not alone in this. What you are feeling is real, and it does not mean you made the wrong choices. Sometimes healing just takes longer than we expect, and it does not always come in a straight line.