Anxiety is a common known psychological disorder. It has a generalized notion in the society as its common to everyone. But anxiety as a normal subject when escalated to a higher degree then it becomes a very non-negotiable issue. Anxiety becomes a very critical factor when it gets associated with other psychological disorders.
Cigarette smoking is always been the biggest contributor to death worldwide. Smoking rates are significantly higher in anxiety-disorder people and various research establish a relationship between cigarette smoking and psychiatric disorders
Various research have thrown the light between association of cigarette smoking and anxiety disorders, with early life exposures potentially leading to enhanced anxiety responses in later life. Explanatory models support a potential role for neurotransmitter systems, inflammation, oxidative and nitrosamine stress (The reaction of body tissues to nitric oxide, nitrous oxide or similar species at levels greater than can be neutralized), mitochondrial dysfunction (Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs when the mitochondria don’t work as well as they should due to another disease or condition), neurotrophins (Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that induce the survival, development, and function of neurons. They belong to a class of growth factors, secreted proteins that can signal particular cells to survive, differentiate, or grow) and neurogenesis (Neurogenesis is the process by which nervous system cells, the neurons, are produced by neural stem cells).
All of these pathways are affected by exposure to cigarette smoke components, including nicotine .Excess use of nicotine affects and damages of nervous system .It starts with the affecting minute parts of the nervous system, after having a consistent and long term effect on it, the colony of cells have a greater effect, which carves a way for a dangers impact on the whole human body. The weakening of cells is not a factor which should be taken up lightly.
There is a strong bridge between nicotine and mood associated disorders. Researchers understand that your brain, including your mood, is influenced by nicotine in cigarettes. Your mood tends to get attached to the nicotine. More clear method of explaining is considering you as a musical instrument, and the sound or music from you is your mood and the composer of the music becomes the nicotine. No smokers know what he is going through. The inner process within a human body while smoking is not realized or noted by the smoker.
Anxiety is a fearful, nervous, or panicky sensation. In stressful situations, most individuals experience discomfort from time to time, but feel happier when the crisis ends. If it persists, anxiety could be an issue. You may feel sad or depressed and struggle to sleep or focus.
Key point:
Some deep insights and research into smoking and stress has shown that instead of helping people to relax, smoking actually increases anxiety and tension. Nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation so people smoke in the belief that it reduces stress and anxiety. This feeling of relaxation is temporary and soon gives way to withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings.
Smoking reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which are similar to the symptoms of anxiety, but it does not reduce anxiety or deal with the underlying causes.
When they are nervous, many individuals turn to cigarettes, and the physiological effects of nicotine can produce a soothing sensation. But only temporary relief from anxiety is provided by nicotine, while also undermining overall physical health. Continuing conditions that cause anxiety would soon return the person to the same level of anxiety as they had before smoking a cigarette.
Smoking is a destructive and dangerous thing.
Established research claims that individuals with increased anxiety are more likely to smoke Multiple factors are proposed to elucidate this, including use of cigarettes to scale back anxiety (i.e., self-treatment) and an increased susceptibility of these with anxiety in initiating smoking in response to see pressure additionally , smoking appears to extend the danger of developing increased anxiety. Potential explanatory models for this include the consequences of smoking on neurotransmitters, neurobiology, respiratory health and autonomic control, additionally to effects on normal neurodevelopment. Finally, numerous shared vulnerability factors are identified which will increase the likelihood of both smoking and increased anxiety for instance; lower socioeconomic status is related to both increased smoking behaviors and anxiety (Kessler et al. 2005).
Despite the many health impacts arising from the duality between smoking and anxiety, the biological mechanisms underpinning this association have received less investigation than for other psychiatric disorders. The connection between smoking and anxiety is complex as evidence supports that cigarette smoke can reduce anxiety in some smokers additionally , smokers often report increased anxiety post smoking sessions.
Cigarette smoking and anxiety disorders are co- related to structural brain changes. Cigarette smoking has been related to various changes, as well as reduction in integrity of cerebral nervous tissue microstructure reduced anterior cortices (PFC) grey matter volumes reduced grey matter volume, these changes seem related to with magnitude of cigarette exposure. Changes to white matter microstructure, which is a key factor is present in both smokers and individuals with anxiety disorders. Cigarette smoking appears to influence the integrity of white.
When cigarette smoking and anxiety goes hand to hand and persists for a long time, it becomes a common understanding for the body and mind. The body and mind becomes a easy target for many long lasting physical ailments and also opens the door for many psychiatric disorders. A psychological disorder when non treated for a long time forms a cormobidity of disorders.
It’s very much a rigid task to separate anxiety from smokers, as said before in the article both go one with one in a perfect manner. It’s like anxiety takes a camouflage in smokers.
It is evident that anxious individuals measure additional possibility to start smoking and to become tobacco dependent. To some extent, this can be explained by the impact of nicotine within the brain circuits once anxiety is reduced, euphoria is created and different sensations perceived as pleasant by the smoker. Mood changes are detected once the smoker is within the withdrawal method, as a result of that apparent balance is lost, turning him into agitated, impatient and lacking the required concentration for his daily activities. Thus, smokers diagnosed with anxiety tend to possess lower possibilities of withdrawal within the long run.
Quitting Smoking is not an easy task but not an impossible one to. Once the individual realizes his actions effect on his body the next step for him is to take steps to eliminate the ill habit. With consistent effort of introspection one can notice his own effect with his mind and the actions of anxiety within himself. Below are some useful mentions which can be very much useful for readers who want to quit smoking
1. Nicotine Patches
It’s easy to get nicotine patches. You can find them at your local drugstores. These products, work by delivering small doses of nicotine through your skin, so as to reduce your cravings. You progress through a series of increasingly lower dose patches, until you’re essentially weaned off of nicotine.
2. Nicotine Gum
The oral habit of smoking can sometimes be as difficult to break as the nicotine addiction itself. Nicotine gums deliver nicotine to help reduce your cravings. It is very hard when you are used to physical action, it gets attached to your muscle memory and it craves for repetition. Nicotine gums replaces the action smoking by chewing.
3. Lozenges
Nicotine lozenges, like those made by Good Sense, are another nicotine replacement product sold without a prescription. You cannot smoke while using nicotine lozenges, many people use them as a good component to quit aid. But, the consumption of lozenges must be used only in a very rare and needed manner. It tastes and looks like a candy so itself becomes addictive after consistent time of usage and to the readers notice there is no doctor prescription needed also.
Support Tools
4. The Quit smoking group
It’s very much important to have peer group which supports you towards your goal. And yes, such supports groups have shown greater achievement in a person to accomplish their desired goal. Social supports groups are great part of rehabilitation structures.
5. Breathing exercise
Breathing exercise show a significant effect in a individuals physical and mental health. The clean intake of oxygen to the brain will flourish the performance of the brain, which enhances with a laser like focus, mental balance and promotes a holistic pathway to a person’s life. Breathing exercise also helps a person to watch and observe his on breathe, which helps one to observe his own behaviors after a while. People who are associated to breathing exercise are less to tend to smoking.
6. Build a connection with an Ex-Smoker
A great way to engineer the mind towards the goal is to having known a person who had already accomplished the goal what you are aiming too. An ex smoker who had the same issue, but over came it must a exact example to follow. Not all ex smoker need to exact been as deep into smoking as you, but still they can come with a lot help when it comes to boosting your confidence.
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