Comments on: Evil Twins: Smoking and Mental Illness, Part 1

By: 5 More Interesting Articles for You: Your Occasional Reader

5 More Interesting Articles for You: Your Occasional Reader — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:21:00 +0000

[...] Evil Twins: Smoking and Mental Illness, Part 1 [...]

By: Bobbie Evans

Bobbie Evans — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:18:06 +0000

I am 49 years old. I saw my first psychiatrist when I was 11. I have major depressive disorder.

I started smoking at age 15. When I have been in psych hospitals that didn’t allow smoking, I became more depressed.

I agree that the majority of the mentally ill smoke. I believe that it is mainly to self medicate.

I don’t believe that smoking causes mental illness. Many of the smoking mentally ill people I know had mental illness as children or in their teenage years before they started smoking.

Also the state hospitals used to give free cigarettes to patients as a reward or incentive. I know this through my own experience. I believe some formally non-smoking mentally ill were encouraged to smoke by mental health staff at the state hospitals, and thus became addicted that way.

Also in 1987 when I was in a state hospital in Nebraska, smoking was allowed only once an hour. One day the staff decided to withhold my cigarette as a way to punish me. I quit for the next 9 days(Untill I was discharged).

By: Roy

Roy — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:32:32 +0000

I recently had an episode of schizophrenia last year and found something very interesting, with the schizophrenia I was pushed into a extremely heightened state which continually got stronger and stronger, with it came steady and fast increases in paranoia, visual hallucinations and the perception of time in the world (things seeming to happen at a extremely fast rate). In this extremely scary and heightened state, smoking a cigarette would quickly bring me back “down to earth”, I found usually 3 puffs of a store purchased, processed cigarette would lower my state back to that of normality, with the effects of schizophrenia then slowly climbing back up to how they were before over the next hour, smoking a full cigarette seemed to continue to slow things down but the other negative effects would soon come back, paranoia and hallucinations. I had to find a steady balance of how many puffs of a cigarette to take to calm me down to a somewhat normal state during this time, I later found smoking “Chop Chop”, slang for pure unprocessed tobacco, was a lot easier and more beneficial in keeping me in a calm and controlled state without basically any negative side effects, the use of processed tobacco containing tar and many other chemicals had a differing effect, many times bringing an uncomfortable feeling into my body and as mentioned before if too much of a cigarette was smoked it would still have the calming and slowing effect on my perception of time, however increase the hallucinations and paranoia and push me into a new state of consciousness. It was a very interesting experience as I had never felt such profound effects from tobacco or nicotine, there is definitely a major difference in the mental effects of processed, chemical enriched tobacco over that of pure unprocessed tobacco though, I have no doubt of that. Nicotine itself was definitely a benefit during my episode of schizophrenia however the chemicals added to processed tobacco created more mental problems than that of just nicotine intake alone. Unfortunately where I live in Australia “Chop Chop” or growing tobacco at home is highly illegal, and purchasing it needs to be done via illegal means, needless to say it becomes extremely hard to get and risky to possess (can be charged and fined a large excess of money), so I am stuck to smoking processed tobacco, although it has no noticeable effects to me now my schizophrenia has passed, I know it definitely does far more damage mentally than pure tobacco or the drug nicotine alone. Problem is, I am entirely addicted to it, so it is extremely hard for me to quit because I rely on it so much to stabilise my everyday mood, going without leads to even troubles like increased anxiety and anger. Welcome to the never ending cycle of a smoker with mental illness!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:15:03 +0000

Eric,
I’m glad you are in therapy. Though it may not seem like you are making any progress, many times you are and don’t realize it. Recently, I told my therapist that I thought I was not moving forward, and he recited the many milestones I had passed since we began — I was shocked that I had forgotten the bad shape I was in when I started with him!

In my opinion, it would be a big mistake to start smoking again, whatever the “benefits” are. I know you are pretty miserable, but just keep plugging away and things will get better. I’ve found that my progress is not a smooth upward climb, but happens in fits and starts: I’ll go for a long time seeming not to make any headway, then suddenly I am able to do something I hadn’t been able to do in years (it happened just this week).

So hang in there, and keep me posted on your progress! You can use the “Contact” tab at the top of the page to send me an email directly, or you can just add another comment to this post.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:53:10 +0000

Hey Mike, Thanks for the reply. I’m currently in talk therapy and the truth is it doesn’t seem to help ,but, I continue because I have nothing else and I’m waiting for some help and I’m hopeful. I think a big part of my problem is most times I can’t pinpoint what I’m anxious about, the physical part starts and then the mental kicks in, the Doctor said this is common. I looked into CBT at the very beginning and the Therapist and I both agreed I wasn’t ready to do the work. A lot of work. I’ve had mostly negative side effects from quitting smoking which is so disappointing, I was expecting to feel so much better. But when you think about it there should be mostly negative effects. In my case my body was fed cigs for 33 years and to have just stop should be a shock. My body had to be dependent on more than just the nicotine. Now if my Doctor or other people were reading my posts they would say it’s just the junkie in me talking trying to find a reason to start smoking again, but, it’s honestly not and I don’t think smoking can be as easy as a 3 day physical withdrawal from nicotine. I think there is so much more to learn about smoking and mental disease. Again though I would hate to give up my quit after I was successful for 1 1/2 years. I’ll keep searching for an answer and hope that time will heal the GAD maybe with some other chemical swing. For the record, funny but, I also describe myself as an addictive personality. Currently my focus is coupons. Best of luck to all. I really thank you for all your efforts. Eric

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:39:31 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Eric!

All the “benefits” of smoking for those with Anxiety Disorders have to be weighed against the obvious health risks involved. I am generally opposed to self-medication of any type, since it usually involves substances that can lead to even greater problems.

I agree that if you take up smoking again and it doesn’t work to relieve your Anxiety, then you will just be an “anxious smoker.” It is unfortunate that you have had such problems with medications that you can’t get relief that way.

Have you tried therapy or counseling? They take longer, but can be quite effective in relieving your Anxiety. I’d recommend Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has a proven track record for helping those with Anxiety Disorders.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:04:58 +0000

Hello Mike, I think that I’m proof positive that your research is true to some extent. Here’s my story short and sweet. I smoked for 33 years and quit about 1 1/2 years ago. About 1 1/2 months into my quit I started to get anxiety pretty bad and was put on medication to no avail. I’m able to control the anxiety/panic but it’s exhausting. I think things to death and the only conclusion I can come up with is quitting smoking caused this onset ( or unveiled the long cover up) of anxiety at 45. I’ve been to a myriad of doctors(all types) who have no reasons. My family has a history of mental illness and my thoughts are that my smoking held mine at bay. My theory is that if most mental illness is caused by chemical imbalance and smoking alters a persons normal chemical balance/imbalance by introducing some 3000 chemicals, how can we say (or not) that smoking is bad for all people.

Now is the hard part, I don’t want to smoke, but, I don’t want this anxiety anymore. Drugs are not an option for me as the side effects were brutal and I’d rather have the anxiety. I’m trying to give my body some time to “heal” and hoping that the anxiety will subside the more smoke free time that passes. But, I’ve told my family that I might smoke again in an effort to get some relief from the anxiety. I’m also terrified if I smoke again and it doesn’t relief the anxiety, now I’m an anxious smoker!!!! It’s not a great position to be in, but, which is worse, mental health now or possible smoking related illness in the future. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your efforts with the EVIL TWINS!!!!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:23:37 +0000

Julie, thank you for the compliments, and thank you for commenting!

I began smoking at age 20 as something cool that my friends were doing. I didn’t give it up later because — I think — of all the “benefits” that it afforded. I was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder or an Anxiety Disorder at the time, but looking back, I was already having unmistakable symptoms.

I’m not saying that everyone who smokes is mentally ill, but it does seem to me to be an important indicator that one might have problems. Heavy drinking would be another. These, and other activities, are forms of self-medication for feelings that are troubling and confusing.

As I said to Kim, I didn’t realize how powerful a self-medication smoking is until I started researching this article. Sadly, it makes it all the harder to quit for those with mental illnesses.

By: Julie Walraven

Julie Walraven — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:22 +0000

This post really hit me. My son (22) smokes. Your analysis to the benefits fits. He isn't diagnosed with any illness at this point, but he has struggled with substance abuse in the past and my father was schitzophrenic with depression components. Thanks for your insight and I still have to read part II. Now I subscribed by E-mail. Congratulations on your HON Code certification. Julie Walraven’s last blog post..Are You Disciplined or Does that Scare You?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:59:16 +0000

Kim, thanks for the comment!

I was shocked when I was doing the research to see what was termed “benefits” of smoking to those with mental illnesses. I think we are all trained to view everything about smoking as negative, and to think there is something positive leads to some sort of cognitive dissonance!

Alas, I am a smoker, as I confess in Part 2. I haven’t thoroughly thought through the “benefits” as it applies to me, but I already recognize some. In Part 2, I detail why it is so hard for the mentally ill to quit smoking, which I have tried and failed at countless times.