Do cigarettes really relieve stress?

Question

Or do grown-ups really just say that? I'm curious.

Answer 1

Yes, but only temporarily (as in like 20 minutes). There are much better and healthier ways to relieve stress that don't require you to spend a lot of money or smell like crap. Try deep breathing or going for a walk, or just taking a break to do something you enjoy (gossiping with a friend, video games, whatever). As an ex-smoker, I can honestly say that the "stress relief" you get from smoking is NOT worth all the other things that come with smoking.

Answer 2

They definately do not relieve stress. They make it so that people think they do. I know a lot of people that smoked and have now quit so I can give a fairly objective view from what I have seen:
One of my best mates in high school started smoking during college and he would get so cranky every time he would need a cigarette and he was unpleasant when he was smoking. He wasn't that great afterwards, only his usualy self for a short period of time and then he would get crankier faster and faster as he got more and more addicted. Also, it makes it seem like it relieves stress because when you try to quit, you get so stressed and panic and having a cig can take that away temporarily.
People who have quit are generally much healthier, happier and normal. They don't bite so much. Grown ups are only telling you that smoking relieves stress to try to justify what they are doing. They are telling you that they have so many problems and cigarettes are helping them but in actual fact, if you are stressed, having a cigarette can block your arteries and stop blood from being pumped around the body, and so causing a heart attack/stroke. This is not aiding stress and stress is not aiding the fact that they are in bad health.
Talking of bad health, cigarette taking is linked to cancer. They will not be so happy when they are on their death bed because of the fact they were smoking.
basically... DO NOT SMOKE!!
Oh yeah, the money spent on cigs can add up and usually a lot of poorer people smoke, adding to debts/money troubles. This adds to stress!

Answer 3

As a recovering smoker (hey, you never really kick the habit), I'd have to say yes.

Personally, I am not sure if it really does help with stress or if it helped because I thought it would help (placebo effect).

Either way, stay away from cigarettes. Once you get hooked, it is really, really tough to break the habit for good. I've quit from a 2 pack a day habit, but I still break down and have some now and then. I still probably go through a carton or two a year.

Exercise or drink instead (quitting drinking was easy...just get tired of the hangovers)

Answer 4

I quit after 25 years of at least 1.5 packs a day, and I will sign in blood that not one cig ever eased any stress. It felt good, but not against stress. The tales of addiction - judging by my case and a few more people who quit cold-turkey, no patches, no crap, are obviously a lame excuse for those who can't quit. Now, scientifically speaking, nicotine will sharpen your perception and even give you a little high, so that might be the anti-stress factor you've heard about. And, in stress, you light a cigarette and you give yourself a 5 minute break to regroup, so it looks like anti-stress, too. But smoking felt good to me, and people drink booze knowing that it's harmful, people smoke pot knowing it's bad, people take drugs... eat junk food... smoking is just one of the stupid and harmful pleasures people love.

Answer 5

No it doesn't. It is just a common excuse that we use to ourselves so that we could justify the smoking thing.

First, the only benefit I see when I smoke is that it makes me burp fast especially when I've had a very sumptuous meal, that's about it. I'm not even sure if this is even triggered by smoking or I just think of it that way. Everything about smoking is dangerous and leads to your self destruction.

Damaged yellowish teeth, dark lips, damaged lungs, bad breath, you easily get tired even walking within the next 200 meters. The list on dangers of smoking is actually endless.

If you are not yet hooked into smoking, well don't get hooked in the first place. It will be a hard habit to break in the long run.

Answer 6

I don't know that "relieve" is quite the right word. I think smoking is something you do more of when you are nervous or stressed or pissed off but does it actually relieve stress, I have to say no.

Oh, and I smoke.

Answer 7

In case of women, cigarettes do relieve stress. Women need to smoke at least 2 cigarettes everyday to keep themselves on the toes. If you are a woman and you do not smoke, then you are missing something in life.
Do smoke everyday.
Good luck.

Answer 8

Ya, but for only for a short period then the need for another brings on stress. The nicotine is an addiction. Life has a certain amount of stress. The way to deal with it is to learn to deal with it. You can handle it without the cigarettes. Your health will improve as well.

Answer 9

The tobaccoo content of cigarette relaxes the veins of the brains for sometime. Because of it we feel relaxed. But this is just for sometimes. When the effect of it is over you start feeling more stress and hence edicted to it. Just think about the ill-effects of it. So dear, please don't take the chances and find other ways for relieve. Bye.

Answer 10

They relieve the stress built up from not having one because you are addicted.

Don't start.