Nicotine And Depression: Can Smoking Affect My Mental Health?
Correlations between nicotine use and depression have been discussed and pondered over for decades, but many people are not familiar with these possible links between them or what they mean. Is nicotine bad for you? Do depressive symptoms lead to smoking, or is tobacco use a product of depression? To understand the link more fully between anxiety and depression and substance use, we will take a closer look at the accepted body of research and the conclusions professionals have reached, considering mental illness, brain areas, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as potential factors in this complex relationship.
Is smoking contributing to your mental health conditions?
Nicotine and depression
If you experience symptoms of depression (also known as Major Depressive Disorder MDD) and use nicotine, you may have wondered whether this substance helps or hinders your ability to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life. How does nicotine addiction affect health? Many adults turn to smoking for stress relief and a sense of well-being, but these experiences usually don't last long-term.
Smoking may provide a temporary spike in mood and focus, but numerous animal studies have actually linked smoking and depression, some of which suggest a causative relationship.
Even in the absence of causation, some public health advocates and health professionals have discouraged the practice of smoking tobacco or other substances for those seeking or actively in treatment for MDD. This is due to a number of factors, including the following:
- Addictive Effect: Tobacco and tobacco-related products are addictive substances. Individuals with existing disorders may be at increased risk of developing an addictive response to this substance.
- Adverse Physical Side Effects: Clinical research has linked tobacco and tobacco-related products to substantial adverse health outcomes, including lung cancer. Pursuing optimal physical health can be helpful when working toward mental health.
- Additional Stress: Smoking and other methods of consuming this substance can further stress the body, potentially worsening existing symptoms. Eliminating your use can help support the efforts of people looking to reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.
The effects of smoking and nicotine dependence on mental health
People with depression have often reported that cigarette smoking limits or improves their symptoms. This is due in large part to the effect that nicotine can have on the nervous system. This substance is considered a stimulant and encourages the body to release dopamine (commonly called the “feel-good” chemical). When dopamine is released, it can create a feeling of calm or relaxation, or can even induce a feeling of euphoria. This can make cigarette smoking a powerful pull for people currently experiencing symptoms of MDD.
Using stimulants and dopamine enhancers is ultimately considered a form of self-medicating, which is the use of a substance that alters your emotional or mental state. Common legal sources of self-medication include cigarettes, alcohol, and in some states, THC. While these substances are legal, they are rarely professionally utilized or encouraged to address mental health conditions and may even be linked to poor outcomes in the short and long term. As a result, public health officials advise against self-medicating by smoking.
Self-medication and substance use
Smoking is commonly found in populations with high rates of depression. For some, this means of self-medication started in youth, while for others, smoking was taken up after its mood-boosting effects were discovered and symptoms of MDD lessened. Nicotine is most commonly associated with cigarettes, but it can also be found in chewing tobacco, and vape pens (also called e-cigarettes). All of these forms can be used as a means of self-medicating.
For some, nicotine is used as a localized agent and is utilized only when symptoms have peaked or surged. For others, it is used on a regular, ongoing basis. In both cases, usage can become habitual or addictive, leading to a loss of control via addiction.
Nicotine and depression
Nicotine use can cause people with depression to feel as though they have achieved a more “normal” baseline of dopamine production. In professional medicine and treatment, this baseline is achieved using approved drugs that do not pose the same risks and offer more effectiveness. These approved substances can be delivered in more consistent doses, providing a safer alternative.
Nicotine dependence: Withdrawal and side effects
Nicotine use may result in addiction, or a seeming inability to function without the substance in your body. As is the case with all addiction, removing the source of the addiction can result in withdrawal, or a number of symptoms that occur when a substance is removed from the body or no longer provided. Symptoms of substance abuse withdrawal frequently include the following:
- Low Mood. Withdrawal can cause low mood or persistent depressive symptoms. Low mood can contribute to irritability and restlessness or may produce a feeling of sadness, lethargy, or low motivation. People with a history of depressed mood can be especially at risk of developing a low mood during withdrawal.
- Shaking And Fidgeting. Because the substance can have a relaxing effect, some people experience shaking, fidgeting, and physical restlessness in response to detoxification from the body.
- Nausea. Withdrawal can cause stomachache and abdominal discomfort.
- Fear Or Anxiety. Finally, withdrawal can create feelings of fear or anxiety, which can compound existing symptoms.
Symptoms of withdrawal can be quite similar to the symptoms of MDD that people are trying to avoid, which can further complicate an individual’s attempts to quit smoking. If nicotine is being used to manage depressive symptoms, withdrawal can feel unbearable, and, consequently, smoking cessation can feel intolerable, too. For some, it can be useful to address mental health and well-being prior to quitting, and for others, a medication regimen under a doctor’s care can help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and manage depressive symptoms while lessening or eliminating nicotine use.
Learning new coping techniques
Depression is a mental illness and is treated as such by mental health professionals. People can learn to use techniques to address this condition and its most common symptoms effectively and safely. A combination of therapy and medication has a greater rate of efficacy in addressing depression and can produce more reliable results.
Coping techniques are often one of the first steps established when treating depression. Coping techniques are used to develop safe and healthy responses to MDD symptoms, and they are also used to identify how to respond to the craving for nicotine.
Breathing exercises
Breathing exercises can be useful in both situations, as breathing can help ground you and connect you to your body to lessen dissociative anxiety. These exercises can also help manage the anxiety and shaking that can be caused by withdrawal.
Physical activity
Physical activity is another common coping tool used to manage both depression and nicotine withdrawals. Physical activity has been proven to help symptoms of MDD, and getting active can help replace the urge to smoke a cigarette or dip into a tin of tobacco. From developing a yoga practice to taking a walk in the park, physical activity is enormously valuable to mental and physical health.
Mental health benefits when you quit smoking
Over time, eliminating nicotine can actually lead to improvements in mental health. Though the substance may initially boost mood, as discussed above, it can rapidly lead to additional mental health symptoms and further compound issues common to MDD. Quitting smoking can result in positive physical health outcomes, which may further improve mental health challenges.
Discontinuing nicotine use can improve health in two important ways: increasing one’s feeling of self-control and improving one’s sense of well-being. Smoking creates feelings of calm or euphoria, but may do so at the expense of feeling in control of yourself and your faculties, and feeling as though you are healthy and well.
How therapy can help
If you find yourself in need of help managing your depression symptoms or eliminating nicotine use, consider reaching out to a mental health professional like those found on BetterHelp. A mental health professional can help you develop the coping tools and mechanisms required to manage your symptoms and quit smoking.
Online therapy to address depressive mental health symptoms
Online therapy provides the benefits of traditional therapy while increasing convenience and lowering costs. Internet-based therapy can be conducted from your home or anywhere you have an internet connection, eliminating the need to commute to an office. Additionally, because our therapists do not need to rent or buy office space, sessions are typically cheaper than in-person therapy, even without health insurance.
Research suggests that online therapy is an effective form of care for those looking to address depressive symptoms. The National Center for Health Research conducted an in-depth analysis of dozens of these studies. They found that online therapy is just as effective as traditional therapy for a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Takeaway
Does nicotine cause depression?
The relationship between tobacco smoking and depression can be complicated to navigate. Evidence suggests that nicotine in small doses can release dopamine, leading to a euphoric feeling in those who smoke. However, when someone is nicotine dependent and uses cigarettes to cope with feelings of sadness or anxiety, they can lose the adaptive benefits of sadness, the restorative responses that the body naturally releases in the wake of stress or negative emotions that build resilience. This pattern may contribute to depressed mood, increased depressive symptoms, and even nicotine withdrawal, which is common among young adults. Some studies show that depressed individuals who depend too much on addictive behaviors, like smoking or substance misuse, may face a higher risk of developing major depressive disorder or experiencing major depressive episodes.
Can nicotine cause depression or anxiety?
In the case of nicotine dependence and mood disorders, it is somewhat of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. Smoking is one of the more common maladaptive coping skills for people with psychiatric disorders, so it’s difficult to determine whether individuals smoke because they are anxious or depressed, or whether stress, anxiety, and depression are exacerbated by the smoking. However, experts do agree that managing emotions is an important skill to learn, and using nicotine to blunt these emotions can lead to smokers being more susceptible to depression in general.
Does vaping nicotine increase depression and depressive symptoms?
It can. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which offers a euphoric response that many people use to deal with stress or sadness. This habit (especially when established early in life as young adults) can interfere with building positive adaptation skills to negative emotions. Repeated nicotine exposure during this stage of development may affect the adolescent brain and emotional regulation systems. Over time, this may lead to nicotine dependence and make quitting nicotine more difficult for young adults and other nicotine-dependent users. As a result, individuals may face a higher risk of depressed mood, nicotine withdrawal, and eventually severe depression. Some research also suggests that nicotine's effects on the brain and serotonin system, or serotonergic system, may contribute to increased depressive symptoms in depressed individuals.
Can quitting nicotine worsen depression?
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be both physical and psychological. Because many people who smoke use nicotine to mask feelings of sadness or anxiety, losing this coping mechanism can make their feelings seem worse. This can be true for those with a strong dependence on nicotine. That’s why some people will use nicotine replacement therapy, such as a nicotine patch, to help get them through the initial withdrawal period.
Is nicotine bad for mental and public health?
In the long term, it can be. While there can be immediate positive effects to nicotine use (a euphoric response that blunts negative emotions), as a coping mechanism, it can be harmful over time. Nicotine dependence and nicotine withdrawal may be linked to increased risks of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders, making it a public health concern. Nicotine’s effects on patients, especially young adults, might not be good for the brain. Nicotine exposure may also affect mood and emotional balance or even raise the risk of mental health issues among non-depressed individuals and patients. Nicotine and other tobacco products have been linked to significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression in smokers and depressed individuals.
Public health impact of nicotine use
Nicotine use can cause serious public health problems, leading to diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and breathing issues. These health problems can then increase healthcare costs and burden healthcare systems. Smoking can also shorten life expectancy and reduce work productivity. Since nicotine addiction is common, efforts to reduce smoking can be important for improving public health.
Can nicotine fix depression?
Depression can be a serious condition, caused by a number of factors including genetics, environmental influences, and a decreased dopamine supply. In certain cases, individuals may experience anhedonia, physical symptoms, and suicidal ideation.
Nicotine can offer a temporary increase in dopamine, which to some feels like a “fix”. But it is not a solution to depression. Studies show that nicotine dependence may worsen a person’s long-term mood and mental health outcomes, especially for anxious and depressed individuals. While some studies have explored nicotine’s possible benefits and antidepressant effects, there are significant differences between short-term relief and long-term healing. Effective treatment of depression requires more work, often with a licensed therapist. It can take self-examination, learning self-care and stress management skills, and implementing healthy coping mechanisms and lifestyle habits to manage the symptoms of depression. For most patients, evidence-based antidepressants and therapeutic treatment can be significantly more reliable than nicotine use, particularly among non-smokers and those with a higher risk of dependence.
Which is worse: caffeine or nicotine?
Both caffeine and nicotine have a stimulant effect on the brain, but the delivery system of caffeine (through things like coffee, tea, energy drinks, and sometimes pills) is generally safer than smoking or vaping. The general population is well aware of the many health risks of smoking tobacco. However, even with caffeine, it is important to be careful not to ingest too much. Large amounts of caffeine can be harmful, raising blood pressure, and in extreme cases, damaging the heart or even causing death. Both substances may also carry the risk of dependence, especially when used regularly.
Does nicotine help with studying and a person’s mental health?
It can, but at a cost to health. Nicotine has a stimulant effect on the body, increasing arousal and alertness. However, smoking is one of the more addictive behaviors. In addition to the well-known physical risks associated with smoking, this behavior can also worsen symptoms of mental disorders like anxiety or depression. Nicotine also crosses the blood-brain barrier, which may interfere with brain function and emotional regulation. Over time, reliance on nicotine can lead to increased stress and dependency, negatively impacting both mental health and overall well-being.
How bad is nicotine for anxiety?
For some people, nicotine can feel like a solution to anxiety, offering a temporary fix due to its stimulant effects. However, in the long term, using nicotine to mask anxiety can lead to a worsening of symptoms (especially when started by those in a younger age group), by creating an inability to cope with anxiety in a healthy way. This can result in increased emotional dependence on nicotine and leave individuals more vulnerable to becoming depressed over time. While it may seem helpful in the moment, effective treatment for anxiety often includes therapy, professional guidance, healthy hobbies, lifestyle changes, or antidepressants. Understanding the true prevalence of anxiety-related nicotine use can help guide healthier coping strategies.
Will it make me happier if I quit smoking and nicotine?
While it isn’t guaranteed, quitting nicotine and smoking may be able to improve your mood and overall well-being. It can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress, leading to better mental health. Some studies have found that depressed individuals and smokers often experience improvement in their mood and emotional regulation after quitting, with some reporting fewer nicotine withdrawal symptoms. According to research and systematic review findings, quitting nicotine and smoking may help restore balance in the brain. It can also reduce the negative impact of nicotine’s effects on the cholinergic system of an individual. Compared to those with ongoing nicotine dependence and smoking habits, non-smokers often show better emotional balance and overall wellness.
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