Smoking and Mental Health
The importance of quitting for mental health.
Posted June 25, 2014 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Quitting smoking is no small feat. Those who opt for the challenging road toward tobacco abstinence often face bouts of anxiety , serious depression , challenges in their relationships, and other major hurdles. Of course, these acute symptoms of quitting smoking are short-lived, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The health benefits of kicking the habit, though, begin immediately and last a lifetime. The benefits don't stop at a reduced risk of lung cancer and a healthier cardiovascular system, though. Research increasingly points to a strong correlation between smoking and mental health.
Smokers and Mental Illness
People with mental health conditions have unusually high smoking rates. A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association , for example, found that 43 percent of all smokers have mental health conditions. The same study also points to a 41 percent smoking rate among people affected by mental illness. To those familiar with the effects of nicotine, these numbers should come as no surprise. Nicotine acts as a moderately effective mood stabilizer, and the habit of smoking can help people with mental health conditions temporarily feel calmer.
Of course, these apparently positive effects are only temporary. Nicotine can increase anxiety, and the depression and stress that frequently accompany tobacco cravings are powerful. Smoking's apparently positive mental health effects are illusory. While it's unlikely that smoking alone can trigger mental illness, there's plenty of evidence that cigarettes can make mental health conditions, relationship challenges, and everyday stress significantly worse.
Quitting Smoking for Better Mental Health
Many smokers are terrified of quitting after hearing endless horror stories about a lifetime of nicotine cravings are depressive crashes after quitting. There's no denying that quitting smoking is challenging, but the challenge is only a temporary one. Indeed, new research suggests that smoking can actually improve mental health. Particularly among mental health professionals who may be hesitant to encourage their clients to stop, knowledge of the mental health benefits of quitting is paramount.
The study was actually a meta-analysis of 26 other smoking studies, and it examined smokers whose average age was 44 and who smoked, on average, a pack per day. Researchers followed up with the subjects after six months, evaluating measures of mental health such as depression and anxiety. They found that, among those who were able to kick the habit, giving up smoking had dramatic positive mental health effects.
The effects were so pronounced that the researchers compare quitting smoking to antidepressant treatment, suggestion that one of the best things smokers who want to be happier can do is quit. Those who quit smoking also reported greater life satisfaction, less anxiety, and an increase in positive feelings.
Few smokers want to continue with the habit, but for most, smoking is a way to feel normal. The prospect of giving up nicotine can be terrifying, particularly among smokers who believe that quitting requires a long and protracted period of misery. Medical methods to help smokers quit can ease the suffering; many ex-smokers quit with the assistance of Chantix or Zyban. Nicotine replacement therapy can also help stem the tide of unpleasant symptoms and allow smokers to ease into quitting. Quitting cold turkey, however, remains the most popular method for quitting, and among successful quitters, it's the most common approach. No matter what approach smokers use, though, several choices increase their chances of long-term success. These factors include:
If someone you care about is trying to quit, supporting them through the process really can make a difference. Here are some things you can do:
Quitting smoking is never easy, but the health benefits — both mental and physical — keep piling up. A few days of misery is worth it for a lifetime of good health, and no matter how long you've smoked, it's never too late to quit!
Chapman, S. (n.d.). Is going 'cold turkey' the most effective way to quit smoking? Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2010/10/1…
Helping a smoker quit: Dos and Don'ts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/helping-a-smoker-quit
Lasser, K., M.D., Boyd, W., M.D., Woolhandler, S., M.D., M.P.H., Himmelstein, D. U., M.D., McCormick, D., M.D., M.P.H., & Bor, D. H., M.D. (2000). Smoking and mental illness. Journal of the American Medical Association. doi: 10.1001/jama.284.20.2606
Taylor, G., M.Sc., Greening, J., M.Med.Ssci., & Aveyard, P., Ph.D. (2014, May 5). Quitting smoking: Therapeutic in mental health treatment. Retrieved from http%3A%2F%2F www.psychiatrictimes.com%2Faddiction%2Fquitting-smoking-therapeutic-men…
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Joel Young, M.D. , teaches psychiatry at Wayne State University, and is the Medical Director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.