Last week I received a request from a Mental Health Notes reader wishing to see a post regarding smoking and mental illness – specifically, the effects of quitting smoking on people with mental illness:

Alicia, can you please make a posting about the effects of quitting smoking on people with mental illness. The challenges of it, how it can spark an episode, safe ways of quitting etc…This is a really important issue that the “regular quitters” don’t have to deal with. I have had a difficult time finding online information and support on this topic.

Always happy to oblige, I put on my detective’s cap and found the following information and resources for people with mental illness who smoke and want to quit.

General Information about Smoking and Mental Illness

One case study published by the Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique states that within a population that has a low rate of smoking, “Smoking is associated with schizophrenia, but not with mood disorders [...].” Another study, published by the same Centre, states that “patients with schizophrenia show a greater frequency of tobacco smoking than patients with mood disorders.”

Similarly, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has published studies regarding the relationship of mood disturbance to cigarette smoking and the association between high nicotine dependence and severe mental illness, while the American Journal of Psychiatry has published a study regarding cigarette smoking and schizophrenia and the Archives of General Psychiatry provide Major Depression and Stages of Smoking: A Longitudinal Investigation.

So, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the number of smokers soars among groups of mental health patients, and mental health patients may deal with side effects of smoking that other smokers don’t have to deal with (like interaction with medication). Couple that with the health dangers all smokers deal with, and why shouldn’t a mental health patient be interested in quitting smoking?

However, for some mental health patients, the side effects of quitting smoking may be frustrating on an entirely different level. Read on to find out why.

Why Might Quitting Smoking Be Difficult for Mental Health Patients?

According to Quit Smoking Message Not Getting Air Time In Mental Health Care, “health services are failing to provide appropriate smoking cessation strategies.” Lack of support aside, what are the side effects – if any – a mental health patient may endure as s/he tries to quit smoking?

Unfortunately, most of the information I found about mental health side effects to quitting smoking revolved around certain drugs to help people quit smoking, like Chantix. However, in addition to “an intense craving for nicotine,” in its list of nicotine withdrawal symptoms the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia includes:

• Tension
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Drowsiness and trouble sleeping
• Increased appetite and weight gain

All of which can wreak havoc on a person who’s already trying to manage the symptoms of mental illness.

Even more interesting is that the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia also states, “Withdrawal may also sometimes bring on a relapse of major depression, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse problems.”

Um, hello. That’s scary stuff.

So, how are mental health patients supposed to quit smoking and avoid relapses of mental illness symptoms?

Information about Resources to Help Mental Health Patients Quit Smoking

Naturally, you need to talk to your doctor before you start any health-related program – including one designed to help you stop smoking. Given what the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia has told us, folks with mental health issues may want to pay special attention to getting a doctor’s advice and supervision.

After talking with your doctor, you may want to check out the following resources to help you quit smoking:

• The American Cancer Society’s Guide to Quitting Smoking
• The American Lung Association’s plethora of information about quitting smoking
• The Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute’s Web site Smokefree.gov
• Nicotine Anonymous

Do you have experience trying to quit smoking with a mental illness? Feel free to share your story in the comments!

Image: morgueFile

Post from: Blisstree

What Are The Mental Health Side Effects Of Quitting Smoking?

Today is No Smoking Day over in the UK. *waves across the ocean to Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei*

In honor of that, I wanted to write about the mental health risks associated with smoking – you know, because the physical health problems are pretty well covered. However, I was unable to find much reliable and concrete information about it. Sure, there was the occasional mention of lower IQs and the current surveys dealing with people with mental illness and their smoking habits, but, none of that suited me.

So, instead, I’ve decided to list the top five reasons why smoking is dangerous to my mental health.

Top 5 Reasons Smoking Is Dangerous To My Mental Health

#5 – Smoking does not make me happy. Regardless of the little thrill I get each time I can put an end to a nicotine-free time period by lighting up, smoking doesn’t really make me happy. What’s the point of doing something that’s both bad for my health and doesn’t make me happy?

#4 – Smoking makes me worry. It seems like I learn something new about smoking every other day. It’s been linked to blindness, psoriasis, and sleep disturbances. As if cancer weren’t enough?! Seriously. I don’t have the time or energy for all this worry. (On that note, smoking has turned me into quite the hypochondriac. Every chest pain, every stomach ache, every sore throat – it’s always cancer, I just know it.)

#3 – Smoking gives me too much to deal with. Not only can smoking affect my health, but it can also affect my physical appearance. Wrinkles, yellow teeth, discolored fingernails…yuck. Why spend money on beauty products if I’m just going to sabotage myself by smoking? Plus, I’m too narcissistic for this crap. Premature wrinkles and decaying teeth are just not things I want deal with – especially if I’ve caused them myself!

#2 – Smoking stresses me out. Do I have enough cigarettes to make it through the night? Does my new boss allow smoke breaks? Gas went up how much?! There’s no way I can smoke and drive today! Yes, these are all things that have gone through my mind at some point, and honestly, it’s quite stressful. No one should have to factor in little sticks of tobacco, paper, and cotton when balancing their finances and planning their daily schedules.

#1 – Smoking makes me feel guilty. This is the number one reason why smoking is dangerous to my mental health. I feel guilty all the time! Over everything! Spending hard earned money on cigarettes, polluting other peoples’ air (and my pets’ air) with cancer-causing cigarette smoke, disrespecting my body and everything in it, hurting family members and friends by speeding up my death – you name it, and I feel guilty about it.

So, what about the rest of you smokers? How does smoking negatively impact your mental health? Or, how did smoking negatively affect your mental health to the point that you finally quit?

The UK’s official No Smoking Day Web site offers a wealth of information and resources to help you quit smoking. Whether you’re from the UK, America, or Timbuktu, they’re worth checking out!

The above flickr image is owned by Ian Burt and being used according to these Creative Commons conditions.

Post from: Blisstree

Top 5 Reasons Smoking Is Dangerous To My Mental Health