I am positive cigarette smoking has exasperated by GAD over the years.

1) Smoking is used as the stress/anxiety release caused by most of the meds given for a mental illness and also for people without a mental illness.
2) Certain medications given actually cause one to start smoking which becomes an addiction very quickly. A craving/need develops.
3) Fact, no longer has asthma while taking certain psychotrophic med, but causes smoking.
4) Fact, smoking does decrease the effectiveness of the medication and higher dosages are required depending on smoking intake.
5) What is in the drug that prevents asthma, yet causes smoking??
6) Medications given to individuals are a major problem since no person’s chemistry is the same. There are too many assumptions made that are unproven on how one metabolizes drugs.
7) A negative in smoking, yet a positive for preventing asthma. This is one example of one med.
8) The molecular formulas need to be evaluated and the results that have the positives retrieved and a new drug developed. Example: one drug can give one focus; another, calmness; another, energy, etc. Take the combination and put them in one drug only. Sounds simple, no, but it is a start on taking the old drugs and new drugs used today and simplifying the process of trying to correct the chemical imbalances which we today call mental illness.
9) Fact, none of us are perfect and a chemical imbalance can happen to any of us at anytime. Treating mental illness as a chemical imbalance might help people understand it better. The functions of the neurotransmitters in our head need to be better understood by all people and most of us need to be educated because there is fear and too many misunderstandings in this area. We need to educate at a very young age so ignorance is eliminated. Prevention, preparation, and progress are key factors in eliminating ignorance and fear. The biggest step in overcoming a chemical imbalance/mental illness is acceptance. Our society shames those who do not meet their expectations and that is our downfall in so many areas. We accept heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc., as normal and stigmitize other illnesses as degrading.

Wow! This 2 part article not only blew my mind, but has made me really want to quite smoking. I am young, but I started smoking last May, and went through a 20 pack every 2-3 days. It had helped with my mood, I had just started college and it definitely helped me socially. I have been trying to quite since about Christmas but have been finding it hard, the motivation was not fully there. For some reason I, like many others, have shaken off the threat of Cancer as if it was nothing. Reading this article has really opened my eyes and put a healthy fear in me.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
I’ll be keeping it on my desktop to read over in my moments of weakness.
Cheers!

I’ve given up one year of my life. I don’t know what to say or do anymore; my youth is going to slip away if I’m not careful. The last thing I want to find out is that I’m still the same in 40 years time.

My opinion is this: all you need is love. Do whatever makes you happy…

I feel fantastic now. I made peace with myself that I gave it a good go and although I don’t consider it a failure, I consider it a learning experience for sure.

I’ve been back to smoking now for about a month. I have no guilt about it anymore. I feel that in this world everyone has some type of physical or mental illness and while most people go to a doctor and take medication, my form of medication is smoking. It keeps me clear headed, thwarts off any anxiety I might have and just makes me feel more well rounded as a person. I’m able to make decisions easier and my thinking has become clearer.

The day I decieded to Quit Quitting, I promptly went down to the store, bought a pack of cigerettes, came home and smoked one. Within minutes of smoking it I felt like my old self. I went into the house so clear headed and focused that I spent the next 2 hours finishing up a chapter in my book that had been sitting for 3 years.

I thought about it this way Eric, and in no way, shape or form am I trying to justify my own personal reasons for going back to smoking, it’s just the truth. But I thought to myself, you know all medications have their side effects. Some cause Liver damage, some damage vital organs over long term use, some have ill effects like nausea and headaches and if I’m going to suffer some type of long term damage or side effects for any form of medication, I’d rather be able to pick the one that fits me best. Besides that and not having insurance, smoking for me is the cheapest form of self medication in the long run honestly.

Yeah, I might die of lung cancer, sure I may have complications when I’m 80, but I live in Florida, and most people who are 80 years old, regardless of whether their a smoker or not, have some form of health problems.

Like I said though, with the world the way it is today between Cadmium in McDonalds toys to the air you breath, to mold that might be in your house or medication that has side effects or long term effects, eventually we’ll all die or be afflicted with something. Regardless of how healthy or unhealthy you live your life.

At the end of it all, I know I feel at peace with my decision and it was the best decision I could make for me. You just have to figure out what your decision is for yourself.

Sherry, How do you feel now??? How long have you been back smoking??? Do you have guilt about smoking again or are you at peace with your decision???

Mike, I hope you’re ok………where are you????

Thanks to all who contribute here!!!!! Eric