The attitude towards smoking has changed significantly over time, once being labelled as a fashion accessory in the 1920s and even coined healthy by doctors in the 1950s.

In the 21st century, smoking is widely considered to be a harmful habit, with the World Health Organisation even referring to it as an epidemic.

Just like any drug, too much nicotine can be dangerous.

You can overdose by smoking or chewing too much nicotine gum.

Combine these with nicotine patches, and this can lead to confusion, breathlessness, and in extreme cases, even seizures.

From cancer and heart disease to strokes and chronic bronchitis, there’s a long list of illnesses caused by smoking that can be detrimental to our health.

However, it’s important to be aware of how smoking can damage your mental well-being, too.

How Smoking Can Damage Your Mental Health And Well-Being

After reading this guide, you’ll be able to understand how smoking damages your mental health and how to best quit the habit for good.

Smoking Statistics

The number of smokers in the UK has declined over the last several years, perhaps due to the changes in laws, restrictions on indoor smoking and improved smoking cessation methods.

This could also be due to younger generations leading a healthier lifestyle.

In the UK in 2019, 14.1% of people aged 18 and above-smoked cigarettes, equating to around 6.9 million people.

Compared to 20% in 2011, it’s clear that there are fewer people smoking nowadays.

How Smoking Affects Your Mental Health

The chemicals within cigarettes aren’t the safest of ingredients to put into your body by any means.

These chemicals can cause a number of reactions that specifically affect your mind and body as a result.

Each time you light a cigarette, you’re putting yourself at risk for a number of problems, including:

Stress And Depression

Stress and depression are two well-known mental health issues that can do some serious damage to your mind and body.

If they’re not addressed properly, it can impact other areas of your overall health and affect the quality of your life.

Studies have found that smoking causes a 127% higher risk of developing schizophrenia and can even double your risk for depression.

Cigarettes are most often used as a stress-reliever, however, they in fact have the complete opposite effect, creating an endless cycle of unhealthy emotional triggers.

Drastic Appearance Changes

Cigarettes cause unpleasant changes in the skin’s complexion, with bad breath alongside yellow fingernails and teeth, also a direct effect after years of smoking.

Over time, these can cause confidence issues, putting you at risk for low self-esteem and even increasing your risk of depression.

Your personal well-being spans across all areas of life, including the relationships you have with others.

Due to the risks that come with second-hand smoking, it’s safe to say that not everyone enjoys being around those who smoke.

Smoking can put a huge strain on relationships, causing a number of social and financial issues, such as break-ups and damaged furniture.

Tips to Quit Smoking

When it comes to quitting smoking, going cold turkey is never recommended.

If you’re looking for a more effective, long-term solution to quit, vaping should be your first option to try.

Elf Bar Vapes in particular are a great way to reduce and control your intake, all while replicating the sensation of smoking.

Elf Bar disposables are inhale-activated devices that contain pre-filled flavours, built-in batteries and set puff counts, meaning you can simply discard the device and repeat whenever you’re ready.

Remember, stay positive and surround yourself with supportive people who can encourage you and celebrate your milestones.

It also helps to establish your triggers, for example, you could tell people not to smoke around you.

Many people also recommend mindfulness as a way to counteract cravings – try yoga, meditation, or even simple breathing exercises to distract your thoughts away from cigarettes.