Did you know that smoking is responsible for about 20% of all cancers? In fact, tobacco use causes 25% of all deaths worldwide and it’s the primary cause of lung cancer.
Despite these glaring statistics, most smokers find it hard to quit. And yet others choose to start smoking despite knowing the associated health risks, such as heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes and more. This article sheds light on why smokers struggle to quit and the impact on their mental well-being.
Top 3 Reasons Why People Smoke
Here are a few reasons that make it so difficult to quit smoking:
Peer Pressure
The number one reason why people continue smoking despite knowing the effects is peer pressure, especially for young adults. We all go through the teenage phase where we feel a dire need to fit in or be part of the “cool” group.
Sometimes, this pressure to conform forces individuals to engage in risky behavior like smoking. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 90% of adult smokers addicted to cigarettes first tried before reaching 18.
Unfortunately, studies also show that the earlier you start smoking, the more likely you’ll get hooked to it. Put simply, the younger you are when you begin smoking, the higher the likelihood of getting addicted.
It’s important to note that even adults face peer pressure. If you’re trying to fit in within your job, you might feel the pressure to engage in similar behaviors, including smoking. However, you should avoid the temptation to smoke just because others are doing the same. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
The Nicotine Addiction
The primary addictive element found in both tobacco and cigarettes is known as nicotine. As soon as you breathe in the cigarette smoke, vape mist or chew tobacco, nicotine makes its way to the brain through the bloodstream.
Once there, it triggers the release of the feel good hormones. The more you smoke, the more the brain becomes dependent on nicotine to provide the good feelings. Before you know it, you’re smoking multiple times in a day to help you function normally.
Mental Triggers
One thing that makes smoking so lethal is that victims not only get hooked on the product but also on the behavior.
In other words, the act of smoking becomes intertwined with other routine activities like taking breaks, finishing a meal, chatting with colleagues or drinking coffee. So anytime, the individual does one of these things, they automatically resort to smoking as well.
For other smokers, certain emotions trigger them to smoke. For instance, experiencing stress at work or anxiety before a meeting automatically triggers an urge to smoke. Other individuals also smoke so they can feel happy when relaxing.
In this case, quitting smoking isn’t enough to keep you away from the deadly habit. You also have to make changes to your routine. More specifically, find alternative ways to cope with stress, anxiety, such as exercising and listening to music.
Link Between Smoking and Mental Health
Smoking has considerable effects on your mental well-being. The amount of nicotine you inhale/consume and the frequency of smoking determine the severity of these effects.
Apart from addiction, other mental health effects include stress, and schizophrenia. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of these impacts:
Stress
As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons why people smoke is because they’re trying to relieve stress. What many don’t realize is that it only relieves stress temporarily. The long-term result of smoking is exacerbated stress.
The nicotine found in cigarettes and tobacco not only triggers the feel-good chemicals but also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. This, in turn, forces your heart to work harder, making it more difficult to relax.
Besides, if you go too long without smoking, you’ll start experiencing withdrawal symptoms like irritability and anxiety. This only heightens your stress levels. To counter this, consider healthier stress management strategies.
Schizophrenia
Studies have shown that people who live with schizophrenia are three times more predisposed to smoking than the general population. They’re also more likely to engage in heavy smoking.
As is the case with stress, they use cigarettes and tobacco to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia. Unfortunately, this fix is just temporary and it only leads to nicotine addiction.
Conclusion
Smoking affects both your physical and mental health. Physically, it increases risk of suffering from debilitating conditions like cancer, stroke, lung disease, diabetes and more.
When it comes to mental health, it aggravates symptoms associated with stress, depression and schizophrenia. For these reasons, take the first steps to quit smoking. It won’t be easy but it will be well worth it in the long-run.
