By Anuska Roy
We are all aware of the benefits of quitting smoking for physical health. However, it has also been shown to benefit mental health and wellbeing. It can improve mood and help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
Smoking has depressive effects while nicotine dependence is still active and when you're trying to recuperate from quitting.
Do some people smoke because they think they could have depression, or does smoking actually induce depression? Evidence points to both possibilities, depending on the person.
Nicotine is a stimulant that can be found in cigarettes and vaping products. Its effects can temporarily improve mood, but they can also hide symptoms of underlying mental health issues that are already present.
The prevalence of depressive disorders among smokers is around 50%. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who are depressed may smoke at higher rates, smoke more often and be less likely to quit.
Mood swings might occur after you quit smoking and begin to experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms. You might also think that quitting smoking makes your anxiety and sadness worse, although this is a widespread fallacy.