How Smoking Affects Your Mental Health

Many smokers do so to cope with stress, worry, and other mental health difficulties. However, smoking can exacerbate these issues in the long run. Years of experiencing the fleeting highs caused by smoking have most likely conditioned your brain to crave it even more. 
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However, quitting smoking has several benefits, including a higher life expectancy. Here are some of the negative impacts of smoking on mental health.

1. Stress
   Smoking is frequently used to cope with stress; many feel it helps them relax. However, smoking's short-term effects on pressure may be deceptive since smoking might raise tension in the long run.
   
   Smoking can raise stress hormone cortisol levels while decreasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Furthermore, smokers may experience stress due to the harmful effects of smoking, such as the financial cost and the poor influence on health.
   
   
2. Anxiety and Depression
   By exacerbating the symptoms of pre-existing mental health disorders, smoking can lead to the development of anxiety and depression. For example, smoking can make it more difficult for persons suffering from depression to recover, and it can exacerbate anxiety.
   
   Smoking increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may lead to anxiety and sadness. Smoking also lowers mood-regulating chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which can lead to stress and unhappiness.
   
   
3. Schizophrenia
   Persons with schizophrenia are more prone to smoke than the overall population, and smoking is more frequent among people with schizophrenia than any other mental condition. This practice increases the likelihood of acquiring negative symptoms such as apathy and social disengagement, which can impair cognitive performance.

How Can I Stop Smoking?
Quitting smoking is a complicated process, but it is doable with the correct tactics and support. Set a stop date, ask for permission, or develop healthy coping mechanisms like cravings. Keep in mind that quitting smoking is a process that may require multiple efforts before you succeed. Don't give up if you encounter a setback; keep trying and seeking assistance as needed.

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