Cigarette Smoking and Mental Illness

[historyteach]

Cigarette Smoking and Mental Illness
by Dan

A high incidence of people with mental illness smoke cigarettes. There is evidence that smoking is a form of self-medication, since it appears to reduce anxiety, sedation, and improves concentration in some people. The nicotine in a cigarette can have a calming effect, can increase alertness and improve memory.

However, four thousand chemical compounds have been found in cigarette smoke including fertilizers, pesticides such as DDT, insecticides such as malathion, 40 carcinogenic chemicals, 1000 flavoring agents, and 600 additives.

Plus, studies have shown that smoking increases psychotic symptoms because antipsychotic drugs are flushed out of the body quicker due to the effects smoking has on kidneys.

An extremely high percentage of mentally ill people smoke.

MENTAL ILLNESS:
PERCENTAGE WHO ARE SMOKERS

Bipolar Disorder 70%
Major Depression 60%
Schizophrenia 90%
Panic Disorder 56%
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 60%



NICOTINE


Nicotine can act either as a stimulant or a depressant depending on dose and history of use. Today, scientists are researching nicotine receptors in the central nervous system. The reason why many depressed people feel better after smoking a cigarette is that they are correcting a chemical imbalance altered temporarily by nicotine.

The downside of nicotine is that it is extremely addictive, and appears to act chemically like hard drug addictions. New synthetic drugs are being tested which seem to sidestep the negative effects of nicotine. One drug in early human trials is showing promise as a very effective pain medication.

A handful of other drugs designed to target nicotine receptors are being tested in patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown that the administration of nicotine can improve memory and attention in these patients.


SUCCESS STORY
“GERALD”


Gerald started smoking at a very young age. He suffered from depression and smoking helped him feel calm. After a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in his late teens he started to smoke more.

As the years passed, and knowing all the dangers of smoking, he tried to quit smoking many times. At age 32 he had trouble breathing. He quit again, this time he using nicotine replacement therapy. He chose nicotine lozenges. He followed the 12 week program as it was stated in the instruction manual. After 12 weeks of success, he only used a lozenge here and there for slight cravings.

As the weeks turned into months, Gerald's cravings for a cigarette diminished. He began eating very healthy, cutting sugar out of his diet and counting calories until his body adjusted to his new lifestyle. Today Gerald can breathe without a problem, has no smoker's cough, no longer smells like smoke, has more time to do what he enjoys, and has saved a considerable amount of money.


WHEN SMOKERS QUIT
The Health Benefits of Smoking Cessation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention



20 Minutes After Quitting:
Blood pressure drops to normal
Pulse rates drop to normal
Temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

8 Hours After Quitting:
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 Hours After Quitting:
Chance of heart attack decreases

48 Hours After Quitting:
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting:
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%

1 to 9 Months After Quitting:
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, reduce infection
Overall energy increases

1 Year After Quitting:
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

5 Years After Quitting:
Stroke risk in reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker

10 Years After Quitting:
Lung cancer death rate about half of a continuing smoker's
Precancerous cells are replaced
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decrease

15 Years After Quitting:
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker




OTHER SOURCES

http://www.prn2.usm.my/mainsite/bull...997/nst17.html
What's In Cigarettes?
Cigarette smoking and schizophrenia -- Kelly and McCreadie 6 (5): 327 -- Advances in Psychiatric Treatment

Hope this helps!

Shalom!

[need2recover]

I do hate it when I'm the only non-smoker in a mental health support group circle.

You don't have to be crazy to smoke but it helps!

[barb dwyer]

I've said for years that nicotine is helpful with adhd ....

I'm on day TWO, there, need2recover - and so far it's okay.

[historyteach]

It's day 5 for me again!
Chantix. It's a wonder drug!

Shalom!

[barb dwyer]

I'm trying it with NUFFIN ... and it's easiest of all the times so far!

[pedagogue]

Chantix is an interest med....as efficacy-wise, it isn't that great...BUT...some people swear by it. Smoking is SUCH a tough thing to kick because if you get past the physical addiction, you need to get past the social one.....smoke breaks, coping mechanism, routine, etc.

Good luck to everyone looking to quit! The best outcomes are with the people who use multiple methods to quit (nic. gum, support group, patch, etc). Obviously consult your doc if you are using replacement therapies, etc.

[AbsentFriend]

Become an EX

[historyteach]

Ped;

It's interesting that you say Chantix is not efficient.
I quit for over two years before.
I used zyban, the patch; the group smoke cessation counseling and tele counseling by the lung association; nic gum; the gym and chorus, (behavior modification); and a personal mantra; and I *still* went crazy for about three months!!!
The cravings were horrible!
Sometimes, I thought I was going to go crazy; other times, I knew I *was* crazy! There were times, I just white knuckled it, and for months, I was still reaching for my pack of cigarettes.

This time, it's qualitatively different. I have very very few cravings at all. And when I have them, they are very mild and they last only for a moment. They are much much shorter than before. I mean, I just don't have them, to speak of! This is like a miracle!

I grant, I only relapsed a few months ago. I never went back to the amount I had smoked before. And I had quit for over two years prior to my relapse. Furthermore, I was really motivated to quit, cuz, I was mad that I had relapsed. So, there were many differences between the two quits. So, perhaps it is not *just* the Chantix that is making this quit so very much easier. But, it *is* much easier this time! And whatever it is, I'll take it!

Shalom!

[barb dwyer]

way to go TEACH!!!

[pedagogue]

history teach: I was talking about how effective it is at doing its job (on average) in comparison to other methods. According to the research, it isn't that great....BUT that doesn't mean it doesn't work, it is just more of a crapshoot based on the averages. Efficacy can be a tricky thing, because meds can be different for each person, so it can work great for one person, but the next it doesn't, but then the next 3 it does, etc.

Anyhow...Good luck!!! A colleague of mine has a few co-workers who quiet on it, and they were very heavy smokers. They tried a number of different methods too.

[barb dwyer]

You're right about that, Ped...
cuz it sure NUFF did NOT work for me.

it did at first - then 'twisted'.

But then - most of the medication the doc has handed me - hasn't had a positive effect, either.

I'm doing better now - with nothing.

I am apparently a "rare but reported side effect' ... waiting to happen.

[yogurt75]

People labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis (or diagnoses) do have a higher percentage of nicotine addiction than the general population. People labeled with psychiatric diagnoses also, according to a recent long-term and multi state research project die 15 - 25 years earlier than the general population.

It's not just the cigarettes - it is the medication and side effects, certain behaviors and the fact that most physicians and those doing the prescribing do not test for BMI, sugar levels (A1C) or other factors. All they are interested in is behavior management - keeping someone so-called compliant and causing no trouble to families and others. Most so-called mental health professionals confuse behaviors with symptoms. Cigarettes keep people into slavery to one of the most destructive and deadly addictions.

Keeping people labeled with a diagnosis quiet, not acting out, docile, and generally in the background is chemical restraint. Cigarettes are also part of that chemical restraint. In the early days and not so early days of psychiatric hospitalization, people who were in those institutions were rewarded for their behaviors and compliance with cigarettes. It was behavior modification; if you behaved you got a cigarette.

It has been proven that people labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis generally die 15 - 25 years earlier than the general population. Cigarettes are just a part of that life shortening process.

[pedagogue]

I hear ya barb. I figure if there are a few different methods, hopefully people can find one way that works for them. Good luck with kicking it!

Once you get through the actual physical withdrawal, it becomes about the social and behavioral factors, which can be challenging, but as long as you find other stuff to do instead...it can be done. Best of luck!!

[barb dwyer]

talking on the phone and first thing in the morning.

I'm down to those two.

and man, life has become INTENSE ... LOL

thanks for your input Ped -I truly enjoy your posts!

[Seeker957]

Nicotine reacts on the serotonin receptors of the brain.

[pedagogue]

Seeker is correct that it can have an effect on Serotonin receptors (5HT-3...which is a sub-type serotonin receptor). Nicotinic receptors are the primary target for nicotine, though nicotine effects multiple receptors and can trigger a number of different things to happen to the body and brain. Who would have thought a little cigarette and some additives could do so much?!