Anxiety, Stress and Smoking

[historyteach]

Anxiety, Stress and Smoking

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Dr. Trudy Manchester, M.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Primary Care and General Medicine, UMASS Memorial Healthcare


Do you feel that smoking a cigarette helps you to calm down and get through some difficult moments in your life? Do you feel anxious and tense most of the time? Do you feel too stressed to be able to quit cigarettes? If you’ve answered "yes" to these questions, you may have a great deal of stress in your life. You might have an underlying anxiety disorder that is causing that feeling of being "too stressed out". It’s even possible that smoking is causing some of your stress. In this column, I’ll discuss stress, anxiety, and anxiety disorders and provide some tips on how to tell the difference.


What is stress? Stress occurs when the demands put upon us by our jobs, our spouses, our children, our friends, or our life circumstances go beyond our ability to cope with them. We use the word stress to describe the way we feel when we just can’t cope with these demands. The physical effects may include headache, fatigue, difficulty with sleep, upset stomach, neck pain, headache, backache, change in appetite (either loss of appetite or overeating), heart pounding, and increased sweating. The psychological effects of stress may include anxiety, increased tension, irritability, anger, resentment, and inability to concentrate. Most people who are experiencing the symptoms of stress can identify a specific cause.


Smokers generally report higher stress levels than non-smokers. However, their stress levels and anxiety both can go down a great deal several weeks after quitting. It seems that smoking itself may actually be causing some of the symptoms of stress, perhaps by inducing mild withdrawal between cigarettes.


What is anxiety? Anxiety is a general feeling of being worried or tense, and is a part of normal human experience. For most of us, it occurs only occasionally and we are generally able to determine specifically what is making us feel anxious. Perhaps we feel anxious because of rumors about an upcoming job layoff. Or perhaps we’re worried because a close relative is about to undergo major surgery. The same physical effects that are caused by stress can also occur with anxiety.


What is an anxiety disorder? Anxiety disorders are illnesses of the nervous system which cause the individual to feel anxious and tense much of the time and which interfere greatly with enjoyment of life. An anxiety disorder is different from stress because the cause of the anxiety cannot be identified. It is also different because the feelings of anxiety and tension are present most of the time, perhaps going back for many years. It is estimated that 30 million Americans have an anxiety disorder.


It is known that people with anxiety disorders are more likely to be smokers. Likewise, individuals with anxiety disorders have a much harder time with quitting because their anxiety symptoms can get much worse during the withdrawal phase. Treatment for the anxiety disorder can be extremely effective, however, and once the anxiety is treated, quitting cigarettes is easier.


The most common types of anxiety disorders are the following:


1) Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - People with GAD may feel on edge or very restless most of the time. They may also feel tired, have difficulty with concentration, feel irritable, experience muscle tension, and have difficulty with sleep.


2) Panic disorder - This condition is characterized by episodes of very dramatic anxiety or terror, usually lasting 15 to 30 minutes, and accompanied by a wide variety of physical symptoms.


3) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - PTSD may occur in an individual who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, though many people with PTSD cannot remember the event. The symptoms can be very similar to those of generalized anxiety disorder.


Anxiety disorders are usually caused by a combination of psychological, physical, and genetic conditions. Many people who have severe symptoms are already diagnosed and being treated. However, folks who have a milder form of anxiety disorder may simply feel that they are stressed. They may be using tobacco, alcohol, or sleep medications to deal with their symptoms.


If you’re feeling overwhelmed and just too stressed to be able to give up cigarettes, you may actually have a mild form of an anxiety disorder. Or perhaps smoking itself is causing some of the problem. Either way, it is especially important to see your doctor who can help you to determine what’s causing your symptoms and get you started on treatment. No matter what the cause, effective treatment for anxiety may let you feel calmer, more in control of your life, and able to kick the habit for good.
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"It seems that smoking itself may actually be causing some of the symptoms of stress, perhaps by inducing mild withdrawal between cigarettes."

Shalom!

[Jane63]

Thank you History!
I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder years ago and am still on medication for it which helps control it greatly.

It would be absolutely amazing if when I quit smoking that the anxiety would stop or at least subside alittle!!!
This just gives me one more positive goal to work towards!!! Thanks!
Jane

[Alera]

I have noticed that personally, when I would first start a cigarette, my anxiety did go up through the roof.