Many in the dental and medical community are now coming to terms with the fact that there is a defining link between smoking cessation and depression. Depression is associated with the increased frequency of smoking and if you remove the smoking habit, depression seems to worsen in a normal person. Smokers addicted to cigarettes are usually preoccupied with smoking, and continue to possess an abnormal attachment and anticipation for cigarettes. Quitting smoking is then complicated because the level of pleasure seems to decrease and therefore mood swings set in, causing frustration and anguish over simply smoking. The brain can get adapted to this sort of self medication of sorts and while it seems natural to quit if something is harming you, the brain has a hard time letting go of the attachment forced on it via the smoking habit.
Depression and smoking cessation are also linked more so in people that have depressive symptoms. These individuals mask that depression with smoking and studies suggest that cigarette smoke has a slight antidepressant property that explains why cigarette smoking is somewhat common for those that are depressed before starting to smoke. To follow the idea further, studies have proven time and again that smokers that have underlying issues of depression are less likely to quit through a cessation program than those that do not struggle with depression.
Smoking cessation is somewhat of a necessary thing for many people. There are countless warnings from top to bottom about the addictive properties of smoking in general. That’s not to say that people don’t start smoking anew, it is still a problem, but the hazards are much worse and publicized far greater than ever before in recent history. Treatment is available for those that are looking to both quit smoking and aid with the depression that is caused by quitting. There are medicines that seem to help many patients suffering from depression, including Bupropion, which seems to be a safe and effective, non-nicotine treatment for smoking which helps with the withdrawals that lead many to spiral into a deep depression. There is also a medicine called Zyban, which has a major antidepressant quality under the trade name Wellbutrin.
Whether you’re now finding out that there is a definitive link between smoking cessation and depression, or you’ve heard about this before, one can not simply go at it alone. Do not try cold turkey as the will might not be strong enough to conquer both items at once. The best thing to do is seek medical help, and see if you’re a candidate for prescribed medical help to not only quit smoking but also help ease your depression as it might manifest in a heavier format if you’re not careful. Remember, first and foremost, that this all starts with a strong desire to quit smoking. Without that desire, you could find yourself never quitting and leading down a road of complicated diseases. It’s best to quit, but help is there if you need it, so don’t forget that.
.
