Controversy burns over smokers (debating finding of depression)

[HuckleB]

Controversy burns over smokers -- Debate arises over the use of findings by experts that smokers are more depressed.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-livcrave26042605apr26,0,1955877.story?coll=orl-home-entlife

"...

Social scientists turned to a new quarry: understanding the mind of the smoker. What they have found has proved more controversial than most researchers expected: Smokers are more depressed and suffer a higher rate of anxiety disorders and other psychological maladies. At the same time, nicotine may provide a mental boost that helps them cope. These findings help explain why some people won't quit, experts say.

"We thought understanding the smoker's mind would help us end tobacco use," says Gerald Markle, professor of sociology at Western Michigan University and author of Cigarettes: The Battle Over Smoking. "But, in some respects, we've raised as many new questions as we've answered."

Recent studies show smokers are 4.7 times more likely than the population at large to suffer from major depression. Dozens of other surveys reveal cigarette users are more liable to struggle with anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, alcoholism and drug use.

Smokers consistently demonstrate higher-than-average levels of neuroticism and high-risk behaviors, and show poorer impulse control than nonsmokers.

..."

[CornField]

1. My personal experience

I quit smoking last fall. Within a couple of weeks, I was suffering from anxiety (although I didn't realize what it was at the time). It was roughly 6 weeks later before I finally visited my doctor. By that time I was in a deep depression. (It felt as if someone had tossed a large, thick, black blanket around me that nothing good could penetrate.)

Once I was able to get myself balanced out a bit, I tried to explain it to my husband. He told me that was almost exactly what happened to him when he quit smoking in 2002.

I do believe that smoking is, on some level, a self-medicating proposition.

[EFerrari]

3. Smoking is an incredibly efficient way to manage multiple personal

issues. Unfortunately, it also kills you. :(

[Demit]

4. Nobody gets out of here alive. Something always gets you :shrug:

[UdoKier]

7. I've been a smoker, and have quit now for many years.

"Self-medicating" implies that there was an imbalance before the cigarette habit. I don't think this is usually the case. The nicotine makes you dependent so that if you don't have your fix, you feel lousy and anxious, but after a few weeks, the feeling fades. Exercise seems to help get rid of the withdrawal symptoms, and strenuous exercise on a regular basis gives you the endorphin "runner's high" that is even better than nicotine, and doesn't leave you feeling bad when it wears off.

I do agree that people who tend to be more compulsive are more likely to start smoking.

I sucked my thumb as a kid, I ate compulsively as a teen, then replaced that habit with cigarettes until I was about 24. After quitting the cigarettes, I went back to eating compulsively, but finally got into a good exercise routine that really helped.

Now I'm 35, trying to get back on an exercise routine because I was too heavy. Unfortunately I pulled a tendon jogging, and have been sidetracked to just biking.

But I'm sure glad I don't smoke anymore.

[Occulus]

2. For those that have seen my posts about my mom,

well, guess what? Both my mom and dad were heavy smokers. I've been exposed to cigarette smoke from birth, until now.

Did I mention I've been diagnosed as being clinically depressed? Shocker.

I turn 30 at the end of next month, and I'm quitting on my birthday. New leaf and all that. I'm still getting psychologically prepared for it, because I've quite literally never been 100% nicotine-free, even as an infant (secondhand smoke).

This is going to be tough.

[freedom_to_read]

11. power to you

I quite over a year ago after smoking for more than 15 years. It was hard, but I'm so glad I did it, and I know I will never go back.

It really comes down to asking yourself, "Do I want to smoke for the rest of my life?" and if you honestly answer, "No," then the sooner you quit the happier you will be. Just remember, once you quit smoking you no longer have to worry about "when am I going to quit smoking."

And as far as the depression issue is concerned, I've had my share of depression/anxiety issues, but quitting smoking really empowered me. Once I managed to conquer that, I realized that not only was it my own responsibility to take care of my mental and physical health, but also that I had the power to make changes in my life. It gave me the courage to seek out a mental health professional, get diagnosed, and start working on being a happier / more balanced person.

Still working on that, of course, but at least I'm not just perpetuating my problems by hiding behind that little nicotine buzz every time I feel crappy.

It's not easy, but you can do it. :)

[demigoddess]

13. in my opinion and experience I think kids smoke because their parents did

and they got hooked on the nicotine second hand. I had a friend who smoked and I would spend mornings with her until she moved and then I had a withdrawal period that I really wanted a cigarette and I am a committed non-smoker. I do not think parent know what they are putting into their kids second hand.And putting a drug into children's brains from a young age can do all kinds of damage.

[Jo March]

14. If you get depressed, please go to the doctor!

You can get a prescription for depression and you don't have to stay on it for the rest of your life. It can truly help.

FWIW, both my parents were heavy smokers as were the parents of my friends. I was diagnosed as clinically depressed in 1996. I'm still on medication for it and I probably will be for the rest of my life unless there is a cure for it sometime soon.

[Journeyman]

16. Toughest thing I ever did, kgfnally. . .

quit after 17 years of smoking, five packs a day. . . I still struggle with it, 19 years later. Best of luck. Whatever the cost, in money, time, or temperment, it's definitely worth it.

[zanne]

5. I smoked BECAUSE of depression and anxiety...

A cigarette would tone down the anxiety for me. It's not that people become depressed BECAUSE they smoke; they smoke BECAUSE they're depressed!

[UdoKier]

8. In my case it was the opposite.

The nicotine withdrawal symptoms were much worse than any natural anxiety I might have felt when I was a non-smoker.

Cigarettes suck for stress and anxiety relief. I'd sooner smoke pot.

[leftofcool]

12. Good for You zanne!

Get the patch. That is what I did and I smoked for 35 years. I put the patch on in December of 2004, wore it for about 15 days (should have been 28 but the nicotine made me sick)and I have not had a cig since! You can do it!

Left of Cool

[Dr.Phool]

6. Just what I needed to hear.

I'm going in Thursday to the clinic to receive the injections to quit smoking. My Doctor recomended it. I would have gotten it several months ago, but my wife nixed the idea, saying that she had been told that it changed your personality. Not necessarily for better or worse, just changed. She said she liked me just the way I am (I don't know why).

One of her friends at work had the injection a couple of weeks ago with no ill effects, and no changes, so I made my appointment.

[UdoKier]

9. You don't need costly injections.

Try this. It worked for me.

http://cigarrest.com/


11 years, smoke free...

[indy_azcat]

10. 2 month quitter

I read something when I started quitting that in terms of stress, depression, what have you, smokers tend to use a cig as a quick fix - rather than dealing with the cause of the stress. So when you quit, you have a deficient psychological (vs. chemical) coping mechanism.

I believe it.

[ixion]

15. to all those nonsmokers out there who are working tirelessly to understand

me, please stop, and mind your own darn business.

thanks,
mgmt. ;-)

[DS1]

17. Or perhaps a depression of sorts triggers the smoking

Nothing like damaging yourself to make things better, but sometimes it feels that way. The depression may lift later, but the addiction remains.

[Mugweed]

18. Huh...

I always thought cigarette smokers were just jackasses that started out by trying to look cool and adult and ended up addicted to a drug.

[davsand]

19. Zyban--the pills they give you to quit is also called Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin is a fairly commonly used anti-depressant. I used it to quit smoking back in October/November. I was also taking tranquilizers to help me with insomnia. I was a STONED puppy for the elections...

I was amazed at how much the Wellbutrin did to calm the burning desire to smoke, but at the same time it unnerved me to be so unaffected by everything that was going on around me. I'd been warned to go on the drug very slowly--to work up to the correct dose, but I was amazed at how little of it was in my system before I noticed a difference in how I experienced things.

It drove my blood pressure up, otherwise I might have been tempted to stay on longer. As it was, I was only on it about 7 or 8 weeks. I still craved a smoke sometimes, but it was nowhere NEAR as bad as it had been when I went cold turkey.


Laura

[Lilith Velkor]

20. Being judged all the time can be depressing

Especially when it becomes socially acceptable to fuck with smokers even if they light up outside.