The common misconception of cigarettes being stress busters has been shot down by a recent study that claims that it actually increases stress levels. This conclusion is not surprising to Dr Suresh Shottam, who runs seminars that helps people kick the habit for good, “Nicotine is a quick acting drug and the high experienced by the smoker decreases every minute. Eventually, the need for a cigarette becomes unbearable for the smoker so it actually induces stress,” adding, “There are so many illusions around smoking that it can be very hard to convince someone that they can actually live a better life without it.”
As someone who recently decided to quit, lawyer Ajay Rao agrees, “When I was at the peak of my addiction, I used to get really irritable if I couldn’t smoke. My colleagues would stay away from me till I had a cigarette and this disappointed me. I hated being so dependent on something. That is what pushed me to quit in the end.” Rohit Chaturvedi, a musician who smokes regularly adds, “It’s such an anti-social habit. I always have to leave my friends to go and smoke. I also become moody when I can’t.”
Ajay says that after just a few days of quitting, he noticed changes in his personality, “I am a lot more positive because I feel a sense of achievement. I also used to feel depressed after my first cigarette and now I wake up and breathe in a lungful of air and it’s fantastic!”
Dr Shottam says that a lot of people who quit report feeling energised, “The nicotine itch is a low grade but permanent distraction and it reaches different levels throughout the day, depending on additional stress factors. So, if you can remove this need, you have less stress overall.”
Dr Shottam advices, “It can be done. Once you realise all the illusions you have about smoking and its so-called benefits, then it is very easy to give up. Rahul adds, “My mouth feels fuzzy, the ash gets under my nails and the smell in my car is awful. I’ve tried to quit often because even the high of the first puff is tinged with the knowledge that it is only an excuse. Dr Shottam offers hope, “It is like a magic trick — Once you realise how it works, it no longer has a hold over you.”