Should I take up cigarette smoking for stress relief and improved focus?
October 23, 2021 10:16 PM   Subscribe

I am asking this question completely genuinely.

I'm under quite a lot of stress, and have considered that it might make sense to start smoking cigarettes to get some kind of escape. I know that most smokers who try to quit have a massively hard time getting off their nicotine, but that's true of a lot of other drugs and other habits as well.

If you are a smoker, I would especially like your input. Are cigarettes for you what antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs are for some people—mostly beneficial despite side effects ranging from unpleasant to miserable?
posted by cinchona to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Hey there, sorry but Ask Metafilter isn't really for questions of this type ("Should I do [something dangerous / life-threatening] in order to achieve [perceived benefit])" -- taz

 
Someone who quit both heroin and cigarettes told me the cigarettes were harder. I wouldn't start.

You could take up coffee for improved focus and temporary mood elevation if you haven't tried that yet.
posted by slidell at 10:22 PM on October 23, 2021 [5 favorites]


I am a smoker. I do not recommend smoking. It has zero similar effect as antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, which actually DO give me the relief I seek, much much much more consistently than smoking.

The only relief smoking gives you is in the moment you are smoking. It doesn’t give you a lasting feeling of calm and ease between cigarettes. Between cigarettes is even more stressful bc you are counting down time until the next one, so really, it’s a net loss in relief bc you’ve now added the stress of ‘when do I get to feel calm again’ to your overall stress levels.

Smoking is just what smokers do when they need a five minute break. You can do anything during a five minute break, what’s important is taking the break, not smoking the cigarette. Take a walk, drink some tea, do some stretches, rub some lavender oil on your temples, literally anything else. Just take a break.
posted by greta simone at 10:33 PM on October 23, 2021 [7 favorites]


Are cigarettes for you what antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs are for some people—mostly beneficial despite side effects ranging from unpleasant to miserable?

No.

As an ex-smoker who has also been on antidepressants for decades: unlike anti-depressant medication, cigarettes were completely non-beneficial. They were just addictive and expensive and also disgusting. Add to that anti-social, if you’re still in any doubt.

I’ve tapered off high dosages of Pristiq and Effexor and neither were as bad as quitting smoking.

I can’t emphasise strongly enough how bad an idea this is. Sorry.
posted by Salamander at 10:34 PM on October 23, 2021 [3 favorites]


Former smoker here. Don't do it. Nicotine is very addictive and hard to quit.

It may provide some focus, but the stress relief comes from other factors:
- relieving the withdrawal symptoms
- going outside to smoke
- probably talking to other smokers while you have your smoke break.

Get outside everyday and make small talk to people and that should work just as well from a stress relief POV.

The things I remember being good that were clearly attributable to nicotine and not the ritual/social circumstances were the mild headrush from the first few puffs, which is transitory, the awesome power to always have a regular crap in the morning from the stimulus of the first cigarette of the day, and with alcohol, being the nice upper to counteract the downer of ethanol. The good things in no way made up for the negative effects and the risk.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 10:37 PM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]


Nah, it's not worth it--if you want to calm anxiety, booze is a better vice. You'll also ruin your life, but in terms of relieving stress, it's a classic for a reason.

I've heard that nicotine can improve concentration, so if you're interested in that you can try the gum without going through the entire smoking process.
posted by kingdead at 10:40 PM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]


Cigarettes are a nicotine delivery system. Their ease of use is one reason why people become addicted to the nicotine so quickly.

When addicted, reduced levels of nicotine in the blood stream cause stress and tension in the body that is alleviated easily and rapidly by another cigarette. While it might provide a placebo effect for other stresses, this is the only true stress nicotine solves. It's a Catch 22.

In other words, taking up cigarettes won't reduce your existing stress, but it will temporarily reduce the stress that you will gain through training your body to crave nicotine.

Signed: 40yr smoker, 3yrs ex.
posted by Thella at 10:40 PM on October 23, 2021 [3 favorites]


No.
posted by firstdaffodils at 10:48 PM on October 23, 2021


Sweet weeping Jesus no.
posted by jesourie at 11:04 PM on October 23, 2021 [3 favorites]


Please don't underestimate the risk of cancer. I know many people with the attitude of "Eh, something has to kill me," but seeing cancer up close tends to change your mind. It might not wait until you're old and ready to go. It might kill you slowly, stealing away your bodily integrity and dignity bit by bit, leaving you in intolerable pain. It certainly will offset the benefits of any temporary escape from stress smoking might provide.

I don't mean to be melodramatic, but seriously...don't flirt with cancer (or any other diseases that smoking makes more likely). Respect your body and your future self.
posted by Comet Bug at 11:09 PM on October 23, 2021 [2 favorites]


Heavens no. I managed to quit smoking about 15 years ago and I still have dreams in which I'm smoking. This terrible own-goal is 100 percent avoidable. Nothing good will come of it.
posted by mumkin at 11:11 PM on October 23, 2021 [2 favorites]


Just fucking no. Nicotine is basically 98% about dealing with withdrawal symptoms. If you want stress relief and escape just go somewhere private and masturbate.
posted by holgate at 11:14 PM on October 23, 2021 [1 favorite]


I feel like I should add that, by exhorting cinchona to respect their body, I didn't mean to pass judgment on people who currently smoke or imply that they don't have self-respect. I know it's very hard to quit after starting, and people are just doing their best to get through life.
posted by Comet Bug at 11:23 PM on October 23, 2021 [3 favorites]


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