Yes smoking once anybody has become addicted to it is indeed very hard to give up. In fact 80% of those who say they want to quit fail to.The reason for that is "Nicotene" which is the drug in the tobacco and it is that acts as a stimulant on everybody who smokes and is responsible for the dependence.

The nicotine, whether that person is depressed or very happy in their life, acts primarily on anybody's automatic nerve system which controls everybody's involuntary body activities. The effects of it vary from one person to another and also depend on your dosage and past use. Regular absorption of nicotene through smoking results in a person becoming tolerant to nicotine so that a higher intake is then needed by that person to bring about the same effects. So because most smokers are physically dependent on nicotine, stopping smoking commonly causes withdrawal symptoms, whatever the state of that person's mental health. The withdrawal symptoms commonly cause you to feel drowsy, have headaches, feel fatigued and difficulty in concentrating. This happens to nearly every smoker who tries to quit, and because it is so unpleasant that is why most fail to quit.

But please be aware most of that 80% who are unsuccessful in trying to quit are not mentally ill. Moreover there are people who are mentally ill who smoke who are among the 20% of people who succeed in giving it up, though it is unwise to try to generalize about that term "mental illness" since there are wide variations in what it actually means, varying between psychotic and neurotic symptoms to personality disorders, some being temporary conditions that can be cured others incurable.

So I do not know what particular mental illness you yourself, rightly or wrongly believe you suffer from. But please do not make any assumption that because you get these withdrawal symptoms that somehow means you must be suffering from a mental health issue - it does not!

I do nevertheless believe if you are determined enough you are as likely to succeed as anybody who considers themselves to be perfectly healthy mentally.

The issue is why do you smoke, because once you identify that in your own mind, then perhaps you can utilise the appropriate tactics for that reason to help you quit.

If your failure to quit is solely because you suffer these unpleasant withdrawal symptoms including intense craving for a cigarette you might benefit from nicotene substitute. Have you tried that? You can get it from a doctor in the form of chewing gum or skin patches or see a pharmacist to get advice on that. It works on many smokers in helping them to quit.

If you smoke to relieve tension, like many do, try using other techniques to reduce stress. I recently answered a question (How to control depression and Frustration) iin which I explained to somebody else about controlling his stress and may be if you click on my profile and look up that it might also be good advice for you? there is other information on webanswers about that worth reviewing as perhaps what you need to do?

If you smoke because you feel a need to occupy your hands and mouth, like some do, try chewing sugar free gum to keep your mouth busy and try playing with worry beads to distract your fingers.

If you smoke to relieve boredom try becoming interested in some new activity, ideally one that occupies your hands. That could be learning to play a musical instrument like a guitar or piano, or model making, or playing a fun game like ping pong if you can find others to play against you. But this could also be linked to your need for more exercising of your muscles and so reducing the tension that makes you want to smoke, that just might work, particularly if you have been leading a lazy sedentary lifestyle? If so just stop being lazy!

If you smoke just because it is a routine e.g. you always light up after a meal and you are the kind of person that sticks to habit and routine, as many are, you have just got to modify your routines, so change them all to doing something different.

Other tips that may help you stop abruptly at a set time like tomorrow, as cutting down gradually seldom works. try and give up with a friend so you can support one another. Throw all your cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays away. Avoid chocolate, red meat, tea, coffee, recreational drugs and alcohol which can all increase your craving for a smoke. Drink plenty of water, fruit juice and herbal tea and also it is worth considering whether hypnosis or acupuncture might help you, as they seem to with many.

Do not make excuses for not giving up like saying you suffer from mental health problems or whatever because if you are determined to quit, you can quit. If you keep making excuses in anything in this life for why you are going to fail you will fail. The choice is yours. I wish you every success. You can win if you are determined to win..

"So I do not know what particular mental illness you yourself, rightly or wrongly believe you suffer from. But please do not make any assumption that because you get these withdrawal symptoms that somehow means you must be suffering from a mental health issue - it does not! "


I just want to add some clarification about the above quote. I do have mental health issues, Major depressive disorders and several anxiety disorders, I have been battling them for about 7 years now. I have had many troubles trying to quit smoking over the years. Some Doctors and said to me that quitting right now wouldn't be good for me as I am not stable enough to deal with the withdraws . I have never got a straight answer from all the Doctors I have talked to about it, and I cannot use the quit smoking drugs because of the depression.

Is there anything at all about links between smoking and mental illness, depression for example? Is it true that smoking increases dopamine? I really am not using it as an excuse but If i knew more about it then I am hoping I can quit, I have tried and failed so many times. I really want to quit so bad. When I quit I manage a week or so and my anxiety is reduced but then my depression gets really bad and I start smoking again, so then my anxiety goes back up, like a cycle.

Please help, I feel desperate, I'm 25 and don't want to smoke anymore, any solution will be appreciated. So far I have used patches, gum, inhalator, e cigarette, hypnosis etc.

Here's a document you might find helpful: http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu/Downloa ds/TCLNDisordersFS.pdf

People with mental health issues are more likely to be smokers than those without. The document lists current thinking about why that might be. Those reasons could also apply to why it's difficult for you to quit.

The document also talks about treatment issues. There are some ideas there you might want to discuss with your treatment providers.

Finally, there are some good resources for further study.

I hope this helps. If nothing else, it will at least validate some of your own observations.

Thank you so much, this is really helping! I am going to print it out and take it to my Doctor. It makes sense to me as to why its so hard and how it effects my depression and anxiety when I try and quit, also the part that talks about PTSD is helpful since I have also been diagnosed with that. My quess is that once my medication and therapy gets to the right place I will be able to quit. I hope that others can read this too and find it helpful. Thank you so much I appreciate it!

You're very welcome. It's a frustrating situation for you to be in and I'm glad I could offer something helpful. I've heard, and I believe, that if you smoke, it's best to be a "happy smoker." In other words, you understand that smoking is not good but, until you're able to quit, it's healthier to know and accept the situation than to stress about changing it. I wish you all the best.