Has stopped smoking helped with your depression/mental health?

[tuto170]

I'm thinking of stopping smoking

 

[Rachel74]

Made no difference to me.

 

[Nem]

Nope no difference
Peace/hugs

 

[MaybeSoon]

I've stopped a few times. It really helped the first time because I was exercising and the benefits of no smoking were really obvious. Mentally though, apart from saving money and feeling like I wasn't as much of a social outcast around non-smokers, it made little difference. It's worth a try though, it could be really beneficial for you. I've seen studies that link smoking with depression, something to do with the reward system in our brains.

 

[Castles]

I feel worse when I don't smoke honestly.

 

[tomz323]

I feel worse when I don't smoke honestly.

Yeah, I was thinking of starting actually.

 

[Castles]

Yeah, I was thinking of starting actually.

I mean I wouldn't start if you aren't already addicted like myself lol just saying for me after smoking for years.

 

[Mr2005]

Not stopping smoking has

 

[tomz323]

I mean I wouldn't start if you aren't already addicted like myself lol just saying for me after smoking for years.

Yeah, but I love smoking. Just wish it didn't fuck with your teeth. Don't want to CTB with bad teeth.

 

[Dartz]

Makes no difference to me. Smoked on and off for 6 years since I was 16 and it didn't have any effect whether or not I was smoking or not

 

[Jack4230]

Yeah, I was thinking of starting actually.

Trust me there are way better things to spend your time and money on

 

[dandan]

I smoke when I drink, I just dont smoke even when I feel like smoking, unknown it's a never ending pleasure which does me no good , but yes I'm an addict and a smoker , I smoked like 10 the other night with couple beers Haha but none yesterday , yeah

 

[WhiteDespair]

Yes. I vaped nic salts in subohm devices. That nicotine overload contributed to feelings of numbness which, most likely, is what I wanted.

 

[tehdisturbedone]

I've stopped a few times. It really helped the first time because I was exercising and the benefits of no smoking were really obvious. Mentally though, apart from saving money and feeling like I wasn't as much of a social outcast around non-smokers, it made little difference. It's worth a try though, it could be really beneficial for you. I've seen studies that link smoking with depression, something to do with the reward system in our brains.

well, when you light a cigarette or roll a joint you get a rush of dopamine released in your brain in the anticipation of a pleasurable event. when you repeat these over and over your reward pathways and neuron pathways get hardwired (possibly myelinate more so) than surrounding areas which creates this pattern of addiction where it becomes something your life revolves around. It's a common misconception that things cause the release of a neurotransmitter, drugs are either antagonists or agonists.

 

[Sweet emotion]

Good for you. You don't need all the sickness smoking gives you. I know it calms people down whether it's a cigarette or pot but I'm sure you can deal without it. Plus why pay money to make yourself sick? Why pay money to get cancer? They're ridiculously expensive.

 

[WhiteDespair]

I just wish that the overdoses on nicotine stopped my heart, stopped my breathing or caused me to pass out and remain asleep. That would've been nice. And, "accidentally" boarding the bus.

 

[readytogonow]

I'm thinking of stopping smoking

Smoking helped with my anxiety but I feel a little better after quitting. I really hated the smell and now I don't have headaches almost everyday.

 

[kappa]

I was a light cigarette smoker when I was younger. Last year I started vaping to deal with stress.

Last few months have cut down drastically but no improvement no. Only reason I stopped was because the juices just all started tasting like shit.

I like the repetitive motions of smoking and wish I could find a decent juice.

 

[SneekUponIt]

Its stopped the self-critical voices in my head that silently scream at me "You're a nasty cigarette smoker!", but my internal mood is probably worse. Smoking is an effective, if not unhealthy, way to break apart a day. The green smoke though, it makes my mental health worse overall. I've been quitting Cannabis off and on for a year +, yet the allure of it changing the channel to something more pleasant for a few hours always catches me off guard.

...Sometimes the channel is even worse, but once in a blue moon, I'll actually find a pleasant thought tangent to carry me away with the high. I don't look down upon cigarette or weed smokers, my own self-esteem issues just make a shameless smoke impossible to enjoy :(

 

[Throwawaysoul]

I'm thinking of stopping smoking

I quit tobacco 8+ years ago. Coincidentally this has been the worst 8 years of my life. I don't believe it had anything to do with it but I can't help wondering sometimes.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

I don't usually comment in "recovery," but I saw the question heading this thread and felt compelled to share. I've heard over and over again how diet contributes to mental state. I'm a sugar-holic. I used to eat candy the way most normal people eat meals--gobs and gobs of sugar two or three times a day 'til I was sick. It was the ONLY thing that numbed my emotional pain a bit. Several times I've given up junk to eat VERY nutritiously. I'm on such a kick right now. I have always abandoned this because instead of my pride in succeeding to manage my nutrition compensating for my persistent emotional pain, I'd be left with the pain being no better but now compounded by self denial and greatly diminished taste pleasure. The only reason I'm sticking with healthy nutrition choices now is I realize I cannot move forward with my plans while I'm under the influence of excess sugar.

I know all this is very individual, but giving up my vice has NEVER helped me. Because the things that most hurt me remain even in the absence of the addiction AND the "healthy" coping skills years of therapy have taught me don't numb the pain sufficiently. For me. I guess if enough enjoyment or satisfaction accompanies giving up an addiction (which I've failed merely to decide to have or engineer), then stopping the addiction can help mitigate depression. If this were statistically likely, I think there would be far fewer addictions and that it would be much easier for people to give up their addictions. Just my two cents.

Best of luck to everyone else struggling with addiction.