Does smoking cigarettes cause mental health problems?

Question

smoking of legal tobacco products only!

18 months ago i quit some how! i managed it, for 18 years i smoked up to 40 a day and suffered numerous bouts of depression.

since i have quit i have been sharper, happier and feel better all round.

Answer 1

no, they actually help with mine!

Answer 2

If your body is bogged down with toxins, you can feel more down that usual. This includes smoking, excessive drinking, eating bad foods, etc. The physical and mental are directly connected.

Answer 3

In fact, nicotine appears to be an anti-depressant:

"Individuals with underlying or current depressive symptoms are more likely to experience mood disturbances when they attempt to quit. Furthermore, it appears that smoking may mask an underlying depression in some smokers."

http://psychcentral.com/library/depressi...

However, that's just average behavior. Not everyone is wired the same way -- what matters is what works for you. If smoking makes you depressed, then you have one more good reason to avoid it.

Answer 4

hi, welldone for giving up................and yes you would feel better as smoking dulls the senses ,and also you now have more oxygen circulating your body.

Answer 5

no, besides addiction to yucky cigarettes!  I just quit after 12 years.

Answer 6

Thats probably because your body is healthier so it can perform better.

Answer 7

No but mental health problems may contribute to smoking. Smoking, as we all know, does affect lung function though, and the more efficient your lungs are, the better oxygenated your blood, and hence your brain will be - bingo, sharper, clearer thought.  

Answer 8

yeah, addiction is a mental health problem.

Answer 9

no they don't they help mine to keep me calm

Answer 10

i  honestly think that the smoking isnt a big part of your life so you dont have anything to fall back on.. with all the results and researched that i have done the only mental problems that it will give you is a having a colded mind which is almost like being stoned but its diffrent. your sharper because you dont have that one thing that you always are thinking about and your putting more brain power into it..  

Answer 11

Look at tobacco like a medicine. The active ingredients in a medicine can have positive and negative effects of the individual. For example a person with ADD takes a medicine that helps them concentrate. But if a person without ADD took the same medicine, they would be less focused and probably tweak out all night long.

Nicotine is what gets you buzzed. Some people feel relaxed after a cig. Other people use it for energy because it stimulates the brain in whatever way. But some studies suggest that smoking for a short term time can increase your likelihood of schizophrenia. That's probably not good because addiction leads to cancer and respiratory problems. Along with cancer, you'll also be insane.  

Answer 12

Well you were your own experiment and from what your saying smokeing did seem to cause mental disturbances.

I am happy that you have quit and I can see how quitting has made you happier all round:)

Your brain is nice and fresh now without all the toxins of carbon manoxide and tar and all the chemicals in the siggirets, they were poisonous!!!!!!!! and that could effect the physical and mental health of the body.

And yes i have heard that long term smokeing can cause schizophrenia!!!!!!! So siggerets are bad for mental health.

Answer 13

When I quit smoking, I got the worst depression bout of a lifetime. This was after being off nicotine for about 5 months. Doc refused to put me on antidepressants so I started smoking again after about a year and felt ok almost immediately.

I never smoked 40/day, though, but don't think that's the most important issue.

Answer 14

No, cigarettes don't cause mental illness. Is it possible that you feel good about yourself for accomplishing this?

Answer 15

Nope but it is like putting tar from the ground into your body, and 40 a day! whoa you must feel good now. I am proud of you :]

Answer 16

mental health problems no i dont think so

Answer 17

nope

Answer 18

It can do yes.  As a professional Hypnotherapist I have been trained to recognise the drugs that are put into cigarettes.  they contain over 4000 chemicals and also reduce your oxygen intake, affecting circulation, respiratory functions, and yes brain activity.  Depression, anxiety can be affected.  Lack of oxygen, and stress on the body as a result of unwanted chemicals will take it's toll.

Don't smoke.