Emotional

Circle of Wellness
Emotional Dependence on Smoking
Emotional

Dependence on smoking is a result of elevated sensitivity to nicotine. Psychological issues related to this sensitivity factor can greatly influence the beginning, the continuance, as well as the elimination of the tricky problem of emotional dependence on smoking.

The Severity of Dependence

Until a few years ago, dependence on cigarette smoking used to be treated as a triviality and not as a drug addiction. This social indifference could be attributed, in some degree, to the following assumptions:

• There is no link between cigarette smoking and intoxication.

• Smoking does not give rise to any socially unacceptable behaviour on the part of the smoker.

• Smoking related health problems are not of a serious nature.

Of late, however, these beliefs have undergone a serious change. With increased knowledge about the serious physical and psychological drawbacks of smoking, people are now unquestionably aware of the following facts related to cigarette smoking:

• Regular cigarette smoking does lead to dependence.

• This dependence is caused by nicotine, which is a drug intrinsically present in tobacco.

• The effects of nicotine dependence are as bad as any other addictive substances, such as heroin or cocaine.

The severity of dependence on smoking can be substantiated by the fact that almost half of the smoking population diagnosed with acute health complications, such as myocardial infarction and lung cancer, revert back to smoking within a few months.

Symptoms of Psychological Dependence

Emotional dependence on smoking is characterised by one or more psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, sleepiness/sleep disorders, disproportionate hunger, impatience, emotional turmoil, lack of focus, and craving for nicotine.

Factors Leading to Dependence

While starting smoking is primarily attributed to social or environmental influence, continuing the habit is usually ascribed to personality factors. The related personality traits are impulsiveness, recklessness or unconventional behaviour patterns, anti-social leanings, and extroversion (implying that smokers are rather more of extroverts in compared to non-smokers).

Results of studies suggest that dependence may be more firmly associated with individual personality characteristics that make smokers increasingly vulnerable to psychopathological elements such as neuroticism, negative affections, despair and emotional grief. Neuroticism, considered as a fundamental personality trait, subjects the smokers to:

• Bouts of anxiety, depression, anger and guilt

• Tendency to react weakly to environmental stress

• Visualising commonplace situations as intimidating

• Perceiving minor irritations as inordinately demanding

• Increasing self-consciousness as well as shyness

• Uncharacteristic impulsiveness

• A persistent sense of dissatisfaction

Management of Emotional Dependence

Smokers progressively get accustomed to these symptoms over a long period of regular indulgence. As a result, any inclination or attempts to abstain from smoking meet with serious withdrawal symptoms that compel majority of such people to resume the habit.

Despite the possible hazards of the withdrawal syndrome, one can always try to first reduce the dependence and then eliminate it altogether. Steps, some of which can look small yet can make a smoker’s life extremely difficult, could include the following:

• Seek the help of your family members and friends for you to quit smoking.

• Inform everyone about your determination to finally kick the undesirable habit.

• Stay away, as far as possible, from people, places and situations you normally associate with your smoking.

• Divert your mind by thinking or doing something else.

• Breathe deeply, slowly, and as many times as possible, as if you are trying to simulate smoking.

• Use yoga or meditation methods to build up your will power against the disagreeable habit.

• Approach community help centres and organisations known to be engaged in related help-missions for counselling and help. Nicotine Dependence and Canadian initiative

Health Canada, through a number of agencies and campaigns, is actively engaged in bringing help to the millions of Canadians harmfully affected by all the facets of nicotine dependence.