The bio-physiological elements involved in smoking relate to how the brain reacts to nicotine. While smoking a proportion of nicotine reaches the brain within about 15 seconds. In the beginning nicotine improves the mood and concentration, reduces anger and stresses, provides relaxation to muscles and decreases the appetite.

 On regular use of nicotine lead to changes in the brain affecting mental health which then lead to nicotine secession symptoms when the supply of nicotine reduces. Temporarily smoking reduces these secession symptoms and can therefore reinforce the habit. Most smokers habit this cycle and becomes nicotine dependent. Psychological and social factors also play a great part in keeping smokers smoking.

What are the effects of smoking withdrawal on mental health?

 Smoking and stress:

 People adapt the idea of smoking to help ease the signs and a symptom of stress is known as self-medication. Stress is very common affecting us when we feel unable to cope with unusual pressure.

 The stress is physically noticed during headaches, breathlessness and also makes the people feel anxious, irritable, and very tired. Feeling of fatigue can change our behavior and mental health and feeling tired and tensed often makes people smoke more than usual.  Stress over long period is also related to anxiety and depression.

Smoking and anxiety:

When survey done with smoking and stress has shown that instead of instead of giving relaxation smoking actually results in boosting the anxiety and tension. Smoking nicotine creates a spontaneous feel of relaxation and therefore the people take up smoking by believing that it will reduce their anxiety and stress. 

 Temporary relaxation is achieved and soon gives way to secession symptoms and increased desires. The habit of smoking reduces nicotine secession symptoms which are alike to the symptoms of anxiety but it does not reduce anxiety or deal with the underlying causes.

Smoking and depression:

Depressed people have a particular difficulty when they try to stop smoking and have more severe secession symptoms during attempts to give up. The release of the chemical dopamine in the brain is stimulated by nicotine. This chemical is involved in triggering positive feelings. In people with depression it is often found to be low, so then people use smoking as temporary way to increase their dopamine supply.

The habit of smoking encourages the brain to stop its own mechanism of secreting dopamine and therefore on a long run the supply reduces and most people get habituated smoking even when they are not depressed. There are doubts about if smoking leads to depression or is it the depression which urges the people to take up smoking. If explained there is a complex relationship between the two in affecting mental health.

 What are the ways to quit smoking?

 Preparing for change

Smoking cessation suddenly through willpower alone is the least effective way to quit. Cessation proves to be successful if you plan long before, have support and choose the right period to try. Attempting to quit smoking does not work if you are feeling mentally ill, and undergoing significant changes in your life. Analyze about what you will gain by not smoking for instance better mental health, fresh breath, improved thinking and more savings.

 Finding other ways to cope with stress

Since smoking is usually used as a way of coping, smokers need other ways of dealing with stress, anxiety. Smoking only affects your mental health rather than providing relaxation. Keep this in mind if you want to stop smoking. Regular exercise, meditation and breathing exercises, healthy eating habits, counseling, clinical hypnotic therapy helps to cope with stress and quit smoking.

 Talking therapies

Psychological counseling can help people to quit smoking. Speaking therapies can help people change their behavior by thinking and acting more positively. Many counseling programs use the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills development which proves to be effective in smokers with mental health problems.

Nicotine replacement therapy and medication

Nicotine replacement therapy and anti-depressants medication have all been shown to help smokers with or with out mental health problems to quit smoking and lead a normal life.

What is the Influence of Smoking on mental health is a post from: Mental Health