Hi all,
Calina's mention of smoking as an anxiolytic (an anxiety-reducer) is sound. In this regard, smoking can be thought of as a form of self-medication (Lord knows, I see this quite clearly in my clients, many of whom see smoking as one of the few "pleasures" left in their otherwise "empty" lives).
The jury is still out on this, but it would appear that nicotine is a psychotropic substance (i.e., one that affects the brain's chemistry) in that it stimulates the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter thought to play a central role in elevating a person's mood. Although you'll find an entry on Smoking in the DSM-IV (ostensibly making of nicotine addiction a mental illness), the relationship between smoking and mental health is being more closely investigated... now that the consequences of smoking on a user's physical health have been thoroughly documented. According to several sources, there are possibly genetic reasons why about two out of every five smokers report an alleviation of their symptoms of depression and anxiety when they smoke. Again, self-medication. It's always hard for me to explain to a client why she should give up smoking while simultaneously not being able to offer her a good reason not to quit her Celexa or Paxil or Zyprexa. So I tell them: do it for the money you'll save (many of them live in poverty, and the high cost of tobacco products only adds to their daily stress). Actually, this is something I think is one of the better arguments for myself, as far as I'm concerned.
Regardless, if you were to draw up a comparative list of the pros and cons of smoking, I have no doubt that the cons would outweigh the pros. So, again, I wish all of you "wanting-to-be-ex-smokers" out there courage and strength in your attempts to quit. I think, on this one, Yoda was wrong: "Do or do not, yes, but try and try again."
For more information:
http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact15.html
Love,
CJ
I am glad you decided to stop for your own health. I imagine it was a tough as tough can get. 