Depression
The reduction of nicotine in your brain can lead to different levels of depression.
The reduction of nicotine in your brain can lead to different levels of depression.
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. It acts as both a stimulant and a depressant, depending upon your mood and the time of day. It affects your mood by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain.
What To Expect
- When you are feeling sad and blue and want to smoke, remember that smoking a cigarette is only a temporary answer.
- Having a cigarette will only make you feel worse in the long run. You may get even more depressed because you could not stick with your decision to quit.
Frequency
- Having a prior history of depression is associated with more severe withdrawal symptoms, including more severe depression. Some studies have found that 17-30% of people with a prior history of major depression will have a new major depressive episode after quitting.
- The incidence rate of major depression after quitting is low, approximately 2% if you have no prior history of depression.
- If mild depression occurs, it will usually begin within the first 24 hours, continue in the first 1-2 weeks, and go away within the first month.
Self-Management Tips
- Identify your specific feelings at the time that you seem depressed. Are you actually feeling tired, lonely, bored, or hungry? Focus on the specific needs and address them.
- Add up how much money you have saved already by not purchasing cigarettes and plan how you will spend your savings in six months.
- Call a friend and plan to have lunch. Go to a movie or concert.
- Make a list of things that are upsetting to you and write down solutions for them.
- Stay positive about changes in your life.
- Increase your physical activity; this will help to improve your mood and relieve depression.
- Focus on your strengths.
- Plan a vacation or fun activity.
- Breathe deeply.
- Establish a list of your short- and long-term personal goals, dreams, and aspirations.
- Think about how healthy you will be when all smoking effects are gone from your body and you can call yourself tobacco-free.
Nicotine: Your Mind and Body
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. It acts as both a stimulant and a depressant, depending upon your mood and the time of day. It controls your mood by regulating the arousal level of key parts in the brain and central nervous system.
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. It acts as both a stimulant and a depressant, depending upon your mood and the time of day. It controls your mood by regulating the arousal level of key parts in the brain and central nervous system.
Related Notes
Everyone is different. The way you will cope with quitting tobacco may be different than what has worked for your spouse, friends, or coworkers. Learn more about medications to help you quit and remember to call your quit coach at 1-800-55-66-222 or use WebQuit for 24/7 support.
Everyone is different. The way you will cope with quitting tobacco may be different than what has worked for your spouse, friends, or coworkers. Learn more about medications to help you quit and remember to call your quit coach at 1-800-55-66-222 or use WebQuit for 24/7 support.