It's commonly thought that teen depression can lead to cigarette smoking, but a new study, published in the
October edition of Pediatrics, shows it's the smoking that increases the risk of depression.
"Cigarette use is a powerful determinant of developing high depressive symptoms," says Elizabeth Goodman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics in the division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital Medical
Center of Cincinnati and lead author of the study. "In fact, nondepressed teens who smoke face approximately a
four times greater risk of developing depression than non-smoking teens."
Smoking's effect on the development of depression may be attributable to central nervous system effects of
nicotine or other smoking by-products, according to Dr. Goodman. "The effectiveness of antidepressants in
smoking cessation, independent of previous or current depression, provide additional support for this view," she
says.
While heavy cigarette use is not necessarily a result of depression, Dr. Goodman's study shows that other social
factors do predict progression to heavy smoking. These include previous experimentation with tobacco products,
poor school performance, peer tobacco use, more frequent use of alcohol, and parental report of bad temper.
For healthcare providers, the study highlights the importance of providing "anticipatory guidance" regarding
psychosocial functioning and tobacco use to teenagers, according to Dr. Goodman, and of encouraging
adolescents to stop smoking. "The findings of this study suggest that problem behavior, physical dependence, and
social influence all impact on the progression to heavy smoking in adolescents," she says.
Nicotine in the brain activates the same reward system as other drugs of abuse such as cocaine or amphetamine, although to a lesser degree. Nicotine's action on this reward system is believed to be responsible for drug-induced feelings of pleasure and, over time, addiction. Nicotine also has the effect of increasing alertness and enhancing mental performance. In the cardiovascular system, nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure and restricts blood flow to the heart muscle. The drug stimulates the release of the hormone epinephrine, which further stimulates the nervous system and is responsible for part of the "kick" from nicotine. It also promotes the release of the hormone beta-endorphin, which inhibits pain.
People addicted to nicotine experience withdrawal when they stop smoking. This withdrawal involves symptoms such as anger, anxiety, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, and craving for nicotine. Most of these symptoms subside within 3 to 4 weeks, except for the craving and hunger, which may persist for months. Health professionals helping smokers with co-factors to quit smoking may have to treat the depression, anxiety, ADHD or binge-eating behaviors first or simultaneously. A 1995 study found that Prozac helped smokers with depression to quit but it had no effect on smokers who were not depressed," she said. "It is possible that some of these patients wouldn't need nicotine replacement treatment once they received appropriate medications or psychotherapy for their underlying conditions."
I am my no means suggestion Prozac as a solution for depressions or withdrawal symptoms to help quit. I am offering other solutions and attempting to let you know that your depression when quitting is real, but not impossible to combat. I had extreme depression when I quit smoking. Some researchers believe Nicotine may be masking depression that become only evident when one attempts to stop smoking. Taking chemicals to solve emotional and spiritual problems is NOT THE ANSWER. Because Nicotine plays with your brain chemistry and your pleasure chemicals within the brain, Quitting can without a doubt cause severe depression.
Kava Kava an herb has been very successful in helping smokers deal with the withdrawal symptosm of depression.I had to take a vacation away from the US for one month to meditate and deal with the depression. I traveled to Nepal and Tibet and learned how to meditate and relax. I have found in the States that we as a community have gotten away from the inner. We live in a "if you can't see it or touch it--Then it does not exist" society. One must instead know that before we had the microscope we could not see bacteria, but they still existed. We are as good only as the tools that we process. When we discovered the microscope a whole new whole of bacteria came into our world. With the Electron Microscope, we discovered viruses and so forth. I was trained in school to be a scientist and only to accept things that were proven. Nepal has given me back my spirit, to learn that we don't know it all and you really can't prove things. We can disprove things, but still we are only as good as the tools that we have. I learned that it was ok and logical to believe in prayer and power of the mind. With this I was able to develop, a strong will and mind control to help me without pills or patches to end my seventeen-year addiction to nicotine. This experience in Nepal and Tibet help me see the light and gave me the courage to quit and write my first book about quitting smoking, along with developing subliminal and hypnotic CDs to augment quitting. I also plan to do worldwide quit smoking seminars. I would like to dedicate my life to helping others quit smoking. I have seen so many family and friends die from smoking related issues.
We as a society have forgotten that what differs animals from humans is that we, as human have the ability to not act on our desires, habits and needs. We have a spirit that can help us deal with the most difficult tasks. We instead have become a pill-popping society. We take a pill to help us not eat, We take a pill to get us aroused, We take a pill to help us deal, we take a pill to help us concentrate. We take a pill to help us relax. However, we as human have the ability to go beyond. Meditation, Web based support groups, relaxation techniques, exercise, bio-feedback, hypnosis, self help books and finding something in your life that you enjoy--such as hobbies, can be extremely helpful when planning to quit. Quitting smoking for many is very difficult, the feeling of emptiness along with increased hunger and depression can make most people return back to nicotine. Some 80% of smokers, who attempt to quit, smoke again because of the withdrawal symptoms. We don't have to let Nicotine control us. Because Nicotine works with our serotonin and brain chemistry, when we quit we need to also stimulate our brain endorphins. Jogging, running and spiritual meditation or relaxation techniques works very well to help with the imbalance of within your brain that Nicotine has affected. Before you quit smoking, plan it well. Do a lot of research, learn meditation and relaxation techniques, join a smoking cessation group or use a smoking cessation book to help you. You do not have to do it alone. Sites like MSN Cold Turkey are an excellent way to meet others, share similar experiences and ideas. Pills and Patches may help some, but they can't give you the true support that you need to help your spirit never to take another puff, even when things go wrong or with your nicotine cravings. Nicotine is an addictive drug. Our cravings must be first dealt with on a spiritual level. We have the choice from within to tell ourselves "NO" when we want a cigarette. I have found it very helpful to take vitamin B complex, Vitamin E Selenium and other antioxidants and Vitamin C, along with a daily Detox tea and Quit smoking Teas. Exercise and relaxation techniques are also very important. Please also talk with your doctor before determining an exercise program and/or taking vitamin and herbs supplements, some may interfere with medications or medical conditions. These combinations help the mind, body and spirit while attempting to quit. Quitting cold turkey does not mean--Quitting without a plan.
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Best regards
Joe Weaver
