Mental Health Awareness Week - Smoking and Stress

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and we're raising the awareness of how smoking effects a variety of mental health conditions, including stress.

The idea that people smoke cigarettes to help ease the signs and symptoms of stress is known as 'self-medication'. 

What is stress?

Stress is very common, affecting us when we feel unable to cope with life's pressures. Physical symptoms include headaches or breathlessness and emotional symptoms include irritability, anxious or low.

Many people choose to ease these symptoms by smoking cigarettes, thinking that a cigarette will make them feel better.

How does quitting smoking help stress levels?

When people stop smoking, studies show:

• Anxiety, depression and stress levels are lower
• Quality of life and positive mood improve
• The dosage of some medicines used to treat mental health problems can be reduced

Smoking is often used as a way of dealing with stress which can make quitting difficult, but developing other coping techniques that help you deal with stress can help this.

Yorkshire Smokefree can help you identify any potential triggers, coping techniques, nicotine replacement and so much more. Give your mental health and stress levels a boost today and start your quit journey!

Call us on 0800 612 0011 (free from landlines) or 0330 660 1166 (free from most mobiles). You can also request a callback from a member of the team here.