Quitting smoking brings mental health benefits in just weeks

Every smoker experiences the harmful effects of smoking daily – whether by noticing their dry skin or coughing in the morning, CE Report quotes PAP.

After years of smoking, many nicotine-dependent individuals require treatment for cardiovascular, respiratory, or oncological diseases. Quitting the habit reduces the risk of these illnesses, and both appearance and lung health improve noticeably within just a week. It turns out that mood can also improve.

These are the findings of a review study conducted by Dr. Gemma Taylor and her team on addiction and mental health at the University of Bath, published in The Cochrane Library. The researchers showed that reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms among people who quit smoking are at least as significant as those seen in individuals taking antidepressant medication. They also found that social relationships of smokers are unlikely to suffer if they stop smoking.

“Smokers often believe cigarettes are a crutch they need when they feel weak, but there is good reason to think that smoking actually makes them feel worse. The daily cycle of waking up craving a cigarette, satisfying the craving only to return to it a few hours later, understandably affects people’s wellbeing. But overcome the craving that many smokers feel after quitting, and you will feel better,” says Dr. Gemma Taylor.

The review, which summarizes data from 102 observational studies involving nearly 170,000 people, found that individuals who quit smoking for at least six weeks experienced less depression, anxiety, and stress than those who continued to smoke. Those who quit also reported more positive emotions and better overall wellbeing. Quitting smoking had no negative impact on the quality of social relationships; in fact, it may even be associated with slight improvements in this area of life.