New Delhi: Quitting smoking is well-known for improving physical health, but it also has significant mental health benefits. The relationship between smoking and mental well-being is complex because initially, smoking appears to reduce stress and anxiety, but this is only temporary and hides the harmful psychological effects. When people stop smoking, they often see a notable improvement in their mental health as the physical cravings and withdrawal stress diminish. This reduction in stress leads to fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental and emotional stability. Understanding these benefits is essential as it motivates individuals to quit and highlights the substantial mental health improvements that come with stopping smoking.
Dr. Sayantani Mukharjee, Psychiatrist, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Hadapsar, Pune, spoke about how smoking is often mistakenly seen as just a method to relieve stress temporarily. However, while nicotine might briefly soothe stress, it quickly leads to increased anxiety, depression, and overall stress levels.
The improvement many smokers experience after quitting is often comparable to taking antidepressants. They tend to have better moods and experience less aggravation and aggression, which is commonly heightened during the cycle of craving and withdrawal of nicotine.
In addition, quitting smoking improves mind functionality by boosting concentration, memory, and information processing speed. This enables people to better manage stress and increases their mental resilience. Quitting smoking also brings about significant sociological advantages as it alleviates the psychological burden associated with the social disrespect attributed to smoking. It helps reduce social deprecation and aids in adhering to healthier social norms.
Also, smoking cessation improves the metabolism of some antipsychotic and anti-depressant medications, which helps in their depression and mental illness treatment. That leads to better long-term mental health stability. Overall, quitting smoking brings about numerous advantages including enhanced emotional well-being, social engagement, cognitive functions, and most importantly, the enhancement of mental health and well-being.
The improvement many smokers experience after quitting is often comparable to taking antidepressants. They tend to have better moods and experience less aggravation and aggression, which is commonly heightened during the cycle of craving and withdrawal of nicotine. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
