does smoking really relax ones self in stressful situations?

Answer 1

nopes it doesn't but if you are addicted to smoking,you tend to believe that it relaxes you.its just a psychological state of mind.

Answer 2

There are physical reasons why smoking relaxes some people - the chemicals in the cigarettes do affect a person's body and can have a calming effect.

The other reason smoking calms some people is because it is their personal comfort ritual --no different than a bulemic person gorging themselves and purging...

But reaching for that smoke has been proven to be an unhealthy choice. If you need to calm down, why not take a few deep cleansing breaths, read some short inspirational piece, or take a short walk?

You can also practice recognizing your stress triggers, and avoid them, head them off at the pass, or learn to deal with the stressors in other ways.

All of those choices are healthier in the long and short term than reaching for a roll of deadly chemicals.

M.S. (Graduate counseling student, USA)

Answer 3

Dear Harry, I am 54 years old. I started smoking at the age of 13! My cigarette count per day was finally 70. Two months ago, I felt a bit uneasy and got myself admitted into the hospital.It was a false alarm.But a blood test showed that my HDL was very low(good cholesterol).This was attributed to my heavy smoking. I was advised to at least reduce my smoking, if I could not stop. I realized that it is very difficult to reduce the habit.So I just stopped smoking. To stop smoking it does not require any tobacco substitute or counseling. You just need the desire to quit and something to take you mind off that next cigarette.If you can succeed doing this for 24 hours, you have won the battle of your life. In my case, I took two days leave and stayed at home.Every time I had a craving for a puff, I climbed into bed and went to sleep.While asleep you don't need a cigarette.Right? When I woke up, if I felt like a smoke again, it was back to bed and another nap. By evening the craving had come down dramatically. The next day I woke up as a new person, since I did not miss the cigarette at all! Just that first day was all it took, and I have been 'clean' ever since! Several times, people have blown puffs of smoke into my face, I have not felt any fresh craving for a cigarette. I now personally know one thing. Nicotine was not addictive, tobacco was not addictive. It was only that habit of putting that cigarette in my mouth, lighting it up and puffing away, that was addictive. So, if at 54, after more than 40 years, I can do it so easily, for a young guy like you who is only 20, it should not be a problem at all. Quit while you can.Do not try to reduce, just quit. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I am not a smoker but my dad is in a huge way. He smokes six packs a day. You heard me right --- 6 PACKS a day!!
He is characterized, since a kid, as a person that gets very tense at anything -- deadlines, problems, etc.

He tells me that a cigarette does not relax him towards these problems but, the cigarette relaxes him because he knows that he can enjoy doing something that he can control. He also says that it helps him with the "deep breathing" that he does when he inhales.

He says that he knows that his problems will not go away and that every single one of them will still be there when he finishes smoking. He tried to quit before but has not been able to do it.

I never started smoking for the health issues. That's all!!

Answer 5

Yes and NO
Smoking will give you a nicotine fix and relax you in the sense that you will not have that craving for a temporary time. On the other hand it raises your blood pressure and heart rate. So it makes a smoker feel balanced wear as a non smoker who uses a cigarette to relax may feel the adverse affect.

Answer 6

Did you know that when you smoke for the first time it won't help you from stress? It just makes your lungs dirty and gets your body addicted to nicotine. when you don't have a cigarette for a while you become more upset at things because one, something or some one has upset you, and two, your body wants the nicotine. So really, smoking doesn't help you become more relief in stressful situations. It just makes the situation even more stressful.

Answer 7

Just taking a few long deep breaths without a cigarette would relax you more effectively and it's much healthier. The "relaxation" smokers think they get from nicotine is an illusion. It's nothing more than relief from withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine is a stimulant that actually makes people more nervous and irritable, so "relaxation" is a relative term for smokers. Try the deep breathing; it really works. It helped me overcome stage fright when I was majoring in music in college.

Answer 8

If you associate smoking as a way to "relieve stress" then you body will depending on the action of smoking, as a way to relieve or relax oneself.

I do not smoke regularly, however I've smoked many times (when drinking or when I'm at a bar) and let me tell you, it does not "relax" me. But like I said before, if you train yourself to smoke when you're stressed, your body will grow somewhat dependant on this "stress reliever"

Answer 9

I partake in the occasional smoke and my doctor and I have actually talked about me quitting. He told me that it's not the nicotine that makes you relax. In fact in has the opposite effect on me, nicotine makes my heart race! It's the fact that you're stepping away from your desk at work, or the stressful situation when you're having a ciggy. It's like taking a mental break when you're smoking and it has nothing to do with the physical effects smoking has on your body.

Answer 10

Actually, not really true at first. Only after the addiction- you feel calmer, more relaxed when lighting up. Smoking increases the blood flow to the brain, therefore making you more anxious.

Answer 11

DON'T SMOKE BUT SMOKING IS AN ADDICTION so people think it is helping them or they need it when they are stressed out, I hear this all the time, but they could try another source to get the stress reduced.