If you are suffering from depression, there is a chance that you smoke too. Studies have shown that depression and smoking are connected. People who suffer from depression are not only more likely to smoke, but they may also find it harder to quit smoking than those who are not suffering from depression.
Researchers have recognized for years that there is a connection between smoking cigarettes and depression. It is still not entirely clear exactly how depression and smoking are related, but numerous theories may explain the connection.
Depression often leads to smoking. It may be that people who are depressed turn to smoking, hoping to make themselves feel better and hoping to alleviate their depression symptoms.
Recent research suggests that smoking can cause depression. The research showed that one of the numerous negative effects of smoking is an increased risk of having depression. This could be because nicotine damages certain pathways in the brain that help regulate mood. As a result of this, nicotine may trigger mood swings.
A vicious cycle is at play as other studies have suggested that smoking can make people feel more depressed and depression makes people smoke. Depression and smoking may perpetuate each other. There may even be shared genetic triggers. It has also been stated that certain genetic predispositions may increase both the risk of depression and the risk of smoking in some people.
Secondhand Smoke and Depression
People who do not smoke, but who spend a lot of time around smokers are at risk of smoking-related death and disease. This is very significant since so many people are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Now numerous studies have shown that secondhand smoke exposure may also be connected to depression. One found that those who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their life but lived with or even worked around smokers were more likely to have depression than non-smokers who are not exposed to secondhand smoke.
What this means for you
If you are suffering from depression, smoking or even exposure to secondhand smoke could make your symptoms worse. Likewise, if you are a smoker, an increased risk of depression is one more reason why you should try to stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure.
As most smokers know, quitting is not that easy. For people who are already managing depression, giving up cigarettes can be even harder, since stopping smoking can also trigger worsening symptoms of depression.
Even so, these symptoms eventually pass and the health benefits of quitting outweigh any downside. To get the proper help that you need in order to quit smoking, do not be afraid to tell your doctor and ask for suggestions.
Remember that it is natural to feel irritable and sad during the first few days and even weeks after you stop smoking. It is also important that you keep in mind that a lot of smokers who have depression experience more severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms that those who do not. But sticking with your plan and staying away from cigarettes is worth it as it will help you feel better in the long run and it can help make you feel proud that you have conquered the challenging task of quitting smoking.
Most people feel better within a month after they stopped smoking. If your feelings of depression are too overwhelming or if your depression continues for more than a month, make sure that you talk to your doctor about it.
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