Quitting Smoking Is Better Than All Anxiety Medications — A Detailed Look at Causes and Solutions

Anxiety is becoming more common in today’s busy, competitive, and stressful lives. Its causes can be many, including physical illnesses, hormonal changes, mental trauma, social pressure, and drug or alcohol abuse. Alcohol and smoking in particular have been recognized as major contributing factors in the development of anxiety.

According to medical experts, people with anxiety often include those who have been using drugs, especially alcohol or cigarettes, for a long time. A study found that many people who drink alcohol regularly, even in small amounts, gradually develop severe anxiety. Although its negative effects begin to decrease after quitting alcohol, the intensity of anxiety may temporarily increase after that, which in some cases persists for up to two years.

A recent research review found that anxiety disorders were found in about 50 percent of people who quit drinking, and the largest number of them were people affected by social phobia or various phobias.

Similarly, another major cause of anxiety is physical illnesses, especially problems related to hormonal disorders such as thyroid dysfunction. Hormonal imbalance can increase anxiety by directly affecting the chemicals in the human brain.

In addition, in today's era, economic problems, job instability, debt pressure, and daily financial problems have caused a large number of people to suffer from anxiety. A major cause of anxiety in the young generation is also considered to be lack of self-confidence, criticism of people's body shape or complexion, and the pressure of unrealistic standards on social media.

Anxiety in the elderly can often be caused by memory loss or amnesia (such as dementia), as they become stressed when they are unable to remember even the simplest things in life.

During an anxiety disorder, stress levels increase, resulting in physical and mental symptoms. These include headaches, sweating, rapid heartbeat, muscle spasms, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, and panic. These symptoms can make the patient feel extremely tired and unwell.

According to medical experts, a formal diagnosis of anxiety occurs when these symptoms persist for at least six months, as the disease cannot be directly detected by laboratory tests.

As far as treatment is concerned, the most important thing for anxiety patients is lifestyle changes. This includes exercising regularly, regulating sleep hours, reducing caffeine (tea, coffee) consumption, and above all, quitting smoking. According to expert research, quitting smoking may be more effective than all medications for anxiety patients, because the nicotine in cigarettes, despite providing temporary relief, affects the chemicals in the brain that increase anxiety, which in the long run makes anxiety more severe.

Keep in mind that immediately after quitting smoking, some people may experience temporary irritability, nervousness, or mood swings, but after a few weeks, when the body is free of nicotine, brain chemicals are rebalanced and help reduce the severity of anxiety.

In addition to cigarettes, alcohol consumption is also a major risk, because the constant use of alcohol disrupts the balance of chemicals that keep the brain calm, and its deficiency increases anxiety. If the patient stops drinking, the harms will gradually begin to disappear, although symptoms of anxiety may persist for some time at first, which requires the supervision and support of a doctor.

Finally, experts say that lifestyle changes, along with medications, play a very important role in the treatment of anxiety. Daily light exercise, a healthy diet, positive thinking, adequate sleep, and above all, avoiding things like cigarettes and alcohol, can be a huge step in controlling anxiety.

Remember that your body and mind can function much better without cigarettes and drugs, and this is what will be most helpful in giving you freedom from anxiety. If you want, I can also provide more in-depth guidance on this topic — just let me know.

Important tips for quitting smoking:

Make a firm decision: Make the decision to quit smoking with full faith and strong determination. Keep in mind that this is the greatest gift for your health.

Get support: Tell your family and friends about your decision so that they can encourage you and support you through the difficult times.

Set small goals: If quitting smoking all at once is difficult, gradually reduce the number of cigarettes per day to give your body and mind time to break the habit.

Stay busy: When you feel the urge to smoke, keep yourself busy with an activity, such as exercising, walking, or taking up a new hobby.

Avoid stimulants: Reduce the amount of tea, coffee, or alcohol you drink, as these things increase the urge to smoke.

Practice mental relaxation techniques: Breathe deeply, do yoga, or meditate to reduce stress and anxiety and reduce the urge to smoke.

Eat a healthy diet: Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and make you feel better.

Use healthy alternatives to cigarettes: Chew gum, drink water, or have lemon water to keep your mouth occupied.

Seek professional help: If you are having serious problems quitting, talk to a doctor or psychologist who can provide you with the right treatment or advice.

Celebrate your success: Recognize each day, week, or month you spend without a cigarette as a success and reward yourself.