Smoking and Psychological Wellbeing: A Personal Insight

Having ADHD, I can vividly recall the convenience I found in smoking. Specifically, Gauloise red packs - yum! The active ingredient in tobacco, nicotine, serves as a potent stimulant for individuals like me, who often struggle with dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex. For me, smoking does more than just quell boredom; it helps me focus and be more productive, which in turn improves my overall mood.

Impact on Mental Health: Personal Observations

By sharing a few anecdotal examples from my life, I hope to resonate with others who may be dealing with similar experiences. Many smokers I have met tend to be the most irritable and unstable individuals I have ever encountered. This becomes particularly annoying in the workplace. It's ironic to think of how one can legally indulge in cigarettes and get special privileges for it.

The "smoke break" is a common occurrence, sometimes happening every 4-5 times an hour. Depending on their role and workplace, these breaks can significantly affect productivity. If they are working with me, I have to take on their responsibilities. If they are superior, essential tasks can be delayed because they are "out for a smoke." People like this are often incredibly useless when they don't have their fix. They start causing problems with others because they are in their most unstable state.

Working with smokers is exhausting, and it's a bit sad to see some people fall into this habit, seeking the perks of being able to escape whenever for a smoke.

Smoking and Psychological Wellbeing: A Larger Perspective

While it is common to imagine that smoking assists in unwinding or adapting to feelings of unease, stress, or melancholy, it is a highly habit-forming behavior that can negatively impact emotional well-being. According to statistics, individuals who smoke are twice as likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to non-smokers.

Even when quitting, it is normal to experience a significant lift in confidence and a profound sense of pride. Stopping smoking is also linked to numerous psychological benefits, including a substantial decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Your mental well-being and ability to adapt to life's stressors improve, and you may even experience heightened mental satisfaction.

Understanding the Smoking and Anxiety Cycle

The perceived relief from smoking can be misleading. Many people turn to cigarettes to cope with stressful situations, thinking that smoking reduces anxiety. However, the act of escaping from a stressful situation is stress relief itself. The act of smoking itself is also similar to deep breathing, a common stress relief technique.

When you smoke, your nicotine levels start to fall after smoking a cigarette. This can cause your heart rate to quicken, your blood pressure to rise, and you might start to feel tense, irritable, and restless. Nicotine levels are replenished with your next smoke, providing a temporary sense of relief and withdrawal symptoms that may ease over time. However, this relief is short-lived as the cycle of smoking begins again when nicotine levels drop.

The withdrawal symptoms, such as stress and anxiety, may become more noticeable when you stop smoking. Remember that these feelings are just temporary and will diminish as your body adjusts to the absence of nicotine.

Conclusion

While smoking may provide temporary relief, it ultimately has a detrimental impact on your psychological well-being. By quitting smoking, you can significantly improve your mental health and overall quality of life.

Keywords: smoking, psychological wellbeing, ADHD