As one might imagine, physical health is closely linked to psychological health, which is why tobacco also carries important emotional consequences. This happens not only as a consequence of the effects of tobacco on a physical level but also due to the addiction that smoking supposes on a mental level. Some of these emotional consequences are:
Increased risk of depression.
It is a misconception to think that tobacco is directly related to a better mood. In fact, as different researchers point out, the opposite relationship exists. The findings found in the different scientific studies agree that smoking increases the risk of suffering from depression. The fact that smokers “calm down” when faced with stressful situations while consuming a cigarette is not the result of a direct relationship between smoking and improved mood but is due to the fact that what really “calms down” are the effects of withdrawal syndrome caused by addiction. In other words, a non-smoker in a stressful situation would not calm down with the act of smoking a cigarette since tobacco does not have this effect.
Emotional consequences related to the negative health effects of tobacco.
Taking into account all the effects that tobacco causes from a holistic perspective, seen as “a whole”, the harmful physical effects of tobacco affect the emotional ones and vice versa. Thus, a person who experiences respiratory or sterility problems caused by tobacco is likely to experience changes in his mood due to it and try to make changes in his addiction. But it is not necessary to suffer from a specific disease, you can experience physical changes produced by consuming tobacco, such as noticing less capacity or greater fatigue when practicing physical exercise or simply in day-to-day activities, causing this fact frustration or sadness.
In the opposite sense, suffering, for example, a traumatic event, a love breakdown, or the death of a loved one, generates an emotional state that induces greater tobacco consumption; or even to go back to smoking in those who have quit. Psychological therapy can help a lot in all cases, both to stop smoking to avoid deterioration in health, avoid smoking again, or increase consumption when going through a bad emotional moment.
Loss of control.
Although many smokers express that “they love to smoke” and that they “enjoy smoking”, a high percentage of those who feel identified with these words also admit to feeling a certain deprivation of freedom, in the sense of the loss of control of oneself that implies an addiction in life. Your inner balance can be affected by not being able to control yourself when you crave a cigarette.
Disappointment with yourself.
Despite the fact that some smokers decide to smoke deliberately, in many other cases, it is the social pressure to which they are subjected, especially some adolescents, that drives them to carry out this behavior. For this reason, certain smokers are disappointed to admit that they would have preferred to face such pressure but did not do so at the time. The relationship between disappointment and failure in the quitting process is also very relevant.
Feeling of isolation.
Every day, anti-tobacco awareness campaigns are more impactful. Furthermore, fortunately, the situation in our country has changed a lot. Before, it was common to go to a bar, and it was full of smoke. However, now it is forbidden to smoke in bars that do not have a part enabled outside. In some cases, those who want to smoke have to leave the place where they are: restaurant, workplace, guest house … regardless of the weather conditions outside. Although some people indeed consider this moment “pleasant”, that is, leaving the place where they are at that moment to go out to smoke a cigarette, other smokers express experiencing a feeling of isolation when deciding to go outside, especially when you are enjoying good food, conversation, music, etc.
Feeling of rejection.
In relation to the previous paragraph, it may be common for some smokers to feel rejected by certain plans or certain situations. For example, going to a friend’s house and not being able to smoke inside or finding complications when looking for a flat to share, as in those where not smoking is a requirement.
Tobacco as a generator of conflicts .
The fact of smoking, on some occasions, is the cause of conflicts between the smoker and an important person in his circle, such as his partner, parents, siblings, close friends, .who disagree with this habit and who fear for the health of your loved one. This type of discussion, with tobacco as a trigger, can generate discomfort in the smoker.
Read More, Negative Effects of Tobacco for Physical Health
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