The impact of mental health on a person’s overall health and wellbeing is often overlooked. Good mental health incorporates the ability to maintain relationships, cope with stress, contribute to the community and enjoy life. Mental health is influenced by a complex mixture of internal and external factors, and because of this not everyone will experience good mental health all the time. In fact, one in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness each year, and of these three out of ten will be seriously affected.
Smoking is a highly addictive behaviour that can have a negative impact on our mental health.
Quitting smoking is associated with a number of mental health benefits, including:
- Significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress.
- Improvement in positive mood and psychological quality of life.
- Enhanced capacity to cope with life stressors.
- Ability to socialise anywhere – not just where smoking is permitted.
Myth busting: does smoking relieve stress? NO
It is a myth that smoking relieves stress. Smoking actually causes feelings of stress and anxiety as the body swings between nicotine withdrawals. The apparent feeling of stress relief you might experience while smoking occurs because your nicotine cravings have been temporarily satisfied. But these cravings will eventually return sometime after smoking a cigarette, as nicotine levels decrease in the body. Nicotine cravings and associated withdrawal symptoms such as stress can become more noticeable when you begin trying to quit. However, these feelings will subside overtime as your body adjusts to life without nicotine.
Some people that smoke also tend to remove themselves from stressful situations to have a cigarette, such as going outside to take a break from their workplace. This gives the impression that the act of smoking is helping to reduce stress levels, when in reality this could be achieved by going outside for a walk, rather than having cigarette. The inhaling action of smoking a cigarette is similar to deep breathing, and can likewise be perceived as de-stressing. However, the same stress-relieving activity of inhaling can be replicated without cigarettes by practising deep breathing exercises.
To learn more about how to cope with stress and other withdrawal symptoms while quitting, please click on the Make Smoking History web links below:
If you would like more information about staying mentally healthy please visit these websites:
If you or anyone you know needs crisis assistance, call:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Telephone Inverell Pharmacy today at 0267 223146 and make a booking with Peter Kam from Community Health for a FREE 15 minute consultation and test how much Carbon Monoxide is in your lungs. Inverell Pharmacy at 132 Byron Street (next to Telstra) – your locally owned and operated pharmacy.