Smoke free insights: Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness about the causes and impact of stress, and promoting better mental health. While stress is a natural part of life, how we cope with it can make a significant difference in our overall well-being. One common but harmful coping mechanism is smoking.
For many people, smoking is perceived as a quick fix to relieve stress. Nicotine can create a temporary sense of relaxation as it alleviates withdrawal symptoms and releases dopamine. However, this relief is short-lived and can lead to a dangerous cycle of dependency. As the effects of nicotine wear off, withdrawal symptoms – such as irritability, anxiety, and cravings – provokes “feeling stressed”, urging the smoker to have another cigarette.
As smoking increases heart rate and blood pressure, contributes to poor physical health, and disrupts sleep patterns, smoking decreases the body’s resilience to stress rather than relieving it.
Stress Awareness Month offers an opportunity to reflect on healthier, more sustainable ways to manage stress. Practicing mindfulness, engaging in physical activity, talking to a friend or therapist, or even taking a few deep breaths can all help reduce stress levels naturally. For those trying to quit smoking, these techniques can be especially helpful in managing triggers and reducing the urge to smoke.
Understanding the connection between stress and smoking is the first step towards making positive changes.
If you work for the Trust or care for a SLaM patient and would like support, please email us at smokefreeready@slam.nhs.uk
To find your local, free stop smoking service, visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/find-your-local-stop-smoking-service/ or download the NHS Quit Smoking app.
