| Many current and ex smokers are wondering about | | | | our brains and the balance of neurotransmitters within |
| depression when they quit. More and more, modern | | | | them. It will improve your mood. |
| research is finding that depression and cigarette | | | | 3. Engage in physical activity. This can be work, |
| smoking are co-existing factors. Fortunately, they don't | | | | exercise, fun, anything that gets you moving. Like |
| have to be. Although depression usually precedes | | | | sunlight, it will improve your mood tremendously with |
| cigarette smoking, there are ways to beat both at the | | | | the added benefit of acting as a distraction from |
| same time. | | | | tobacco. |
| Smoking is More Common Among Depression | | | | 4. Seek council from a therapist or doctor if your not |
| Patients | | | | shy and consider taking medication temporarily to |
| Several recent studies have indicated that those of us | | | | relieve symptoms. Some medications work both for |
| who smoke tend to suffer from depression more | | | | reducing nicotine cravings and depression, like Zybana. |
| frequently than the general population. Chemicals in the | | | | 5. Develop a support network. With modern |
| cigarettes, including nicotine, tend to alleviate the feeling | | | | technology, this can either be in real life or on the |
| of depression both by acting as anti-depressants and | | | | Internet! You can develop an entire social support |
| stimulating the nervous system. | | | | group online. What's important is to have people you |
| Although current medical research does not indicate | | | | can talk to when your lonely and thinking about |
| such, cigarettes also cause damage in the pre-frontal | | | | smoking, or any other time. A good social network will |
| cortex which may be similar to that of depression. This | | | | help you focus on other things which are much more |
| makes quitting all the more important. Unfortunately, | | | | positive. |
| depression patients are only about half as likely to | | | | Take the First Step in Helping Yourself During |
| succeed in quitting as non-depressives. | | | | Depression |
| How to Cope with Depression When Quitting | | | | It is important to understand there are steps you can |
| The first choice of action then for a depressive | | | | take when dealing with depression as a side effect of |
| attempting to quit smoking is to alleviate your | | | | quitting. Usually the hardest part is taking the first action. |
| depression. This can be done in several ways. | | | | Once you're able to get out and move around |
| 1. Consider the fact that you are quitting – and all | | | | addressing it with one of the previous options |
| the positive benefits this has to offer you. Your health | | | | becomes much easier. This is where a social support |
| will improve. Your appearance will improve, you will | | | | network can really help – when you don't feel like |
| have more time with friends and family, you will have | | | | moving, someone else can get you up. Failing that – |
| more money to do things with. Track your progress | | | | simply set alarms and reminders for yourself, and chart |
| and make it visible every day. | | | | your progress in a big, obvious way. |
| 2. Go outside in the sun. Sunlight has proven effects on | | | | |