Do Cigarettes Calm You Down?

Whenever smokers get stressed or feel anxious, one of the things they often do is find a place where they can light up a cigarette. They often do this to relieve stress and alleviate anxiety symptoms that may occur whenever they are at work or deal with stressful situations.

But do cigarettes calm you down?

This argument has been debated by many, with some saying that these tobacco products can actually calm one down. However, there might be some things about cigarettes that smokers should know, especially if they rely on these things to relieve stress and anxiety. Continue reading below to unpack the truth behind the connection between cigarettes and stress management.

Do Cigarettes Actually Calm You Down?

Believe it or not, cigarettes have been dominating the tobacco industry for centuries, providing adults with their primary way of getting nicotine. This highly addictive chemical or substance has been the key reason why many smokers continue smoking despite the health risks that have been recently linked to cigarette smoking.

As we all know, cigarettes are made from tobacco leaves. These leaves naturally produce nicotine, which is considered a psychoactive or mood-altering drug that can reach one’s brain as fast as 10 seconds. Whenever you light a cigarette, it burns the tobacco leaves as well as other cigarette ingredients, releasing smoke that contains nicotine as well as thousands of chemicals.

You can buy cigarettes online in Canada at NativeSmokes4Less. They come in many brands, accommodating the varying preferred hits and flavours of cigarette smokers like you.

Now, every time you puff a cigarette, smoke particles carry nicotine into your lungs, where it’s absorbed into your bloodstream and eventually reaches your brain. Upon reaching the brain, it talks to the reward centres of your brain, regulating how you reinforce and feel pleasure. It then triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical that can make you feel good, which perpetuates your nicotine addiction. Why do people smoke cigarettes? Many people smoke cigarettes as a way to cope with stress, enjoy social situations, or simply due to addiction, with nicotine acting as a powerful reinforcement for continued use.

Since nicotine aids in making you feel good, it somehow hooks you to smoke cigarettes whenever you feel negative emotions. So, whenever you feel sad, anxious, or stressed, the very first thing that comes into mind is to light up a cigarette. 

Cigarettes, this way, may calm you down. However, this effect is only temporary.

As time passes, your body gets used to nicotine and its associated relieving effects. Additionally, your dopamine release every time you puff a cigarette reduces. This then triggers nicotine cravings, urging you to smoke more cigarettes. Unfortunately, doing so not only increases your dependence on nicotine but also puts you at risk of developing serious illnesses in your lungs, heart, and other body parts.

Why Do Cigarettes Calm You Down?

There are many negative emotions that humans naturally feel in their day-to-day lives. 

Some people can be sad due to different reasons: having trouble at home, at school, or work, moving home, losing a loved one or a friend, being ill, or experiencing changes in one’s body. The scope of why people get sad varies from one individual to another.

This negative emotion, however, may become too intense, which leads to depression. Depression is a mental state of low mood, affecting one’s thoughts, behaviour, feelings, and sense of well-being.

Being anxious is also a negative emotion that humans deal with on a day-to-day basis, especially for those who may have to face stressful situations regularly. Many people become anxious due to stress at work, ongoing worry about finances or a loved one’s health, and so on. Those who have encountered traumas in the past or who are currently facing physical health issues may likewise become anxious.

To avoid sadness from ruining one’s day, a number of people turn to cigarettes. The same thing is done by those who want to reduce their stress levels. Others who are experiencing negative emotions or battling mental health issues likewise light up cigarettes to keep themselves calm and relaxed.

So, why do cigarettes calm you down? It’s all because of nicotine.

As mentioned earlier, nicotine is a substance that tobacco plants naturally release, especially if they are consumed through smoking. Since cigarettes take advantage of these ingredients, they can easily produce nicotine whenever you puff one.

The nicotine then travels to your brain, interacting with key parts that can help you feel good. This soothing sensation helps reduce anxiety and eliminate negative emotions you’re currently experiencing. Although these effects are short-lived, they’re already sufficient for those seeking to overcome a sad or stressful day.

Why Do So Many Tobacco Users Think That Nicotine Alleviates Stress?

Whenever you smoke a cigarette, you may feel the nicotine hitting your mind and senses. It may somehow help you think more clearly, concentrate better, and become more alert. This beneficial effect has been helpful for those who are and will be working for long hours, making sure they can complete their tasks within the given work duration without feeling sleepy or grumpy.

Additionally, as the nicotine hits your brain, it somehow replaces your negative feelings with positive ones. Most smokers would even agree that whenever they smoke a cigarette, their stress levels somehow reduce, allowing them to relax a little bit after a long time of dealing with problems, panic attacks, and other effects related to negative emotions.

The sad truth behind the effects of nicotine is they are only good in the short term.

In the long term, the nicotine content from cigarettes and other tobacco products won’t be able to help them alleviate stress and other negative feelings. Instead, it will only trap users to get hooked on the substance until they become addicted. If they haven’t smoked for a while, they will become irritable, anxious, or depressed. The only way to get rid of these emotions is to light up a cigarette.

This becomes a cycle, pushing an individual to smoke cigarettes over and over again.

Manufacturers of tobacco products, especially cigarettes, doubled down on their marketing strategies, advertising these products as a way to relieve stress and promote relaxation. This is another probable reason why tobacco users think that nicotine alleviates stress. There might be some truth behind these campaigns, but they cannot completely relieve stress and other negative emotions.

For health professionals, the best way to alleviate stress is to slowly decrease the number of cigarettes you puff until you don’t smoke anymore. Quitting smoking has been linked with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It also helps in promoting positive mood and boosting quality of life.

The same benefits are seen if you are quitting e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered devices that are known to deliver nicotine without the tobacco. E-cigarettes are also available at NativeSmokes4Less, which come in many brands like Geek Bar, Elf Bar, and Lost Mary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do cigarettes calm you?

Cigarettes can calm you due to their nicotine content. As it enters your bloodstream, it triggers the release of dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and relaxation. Once the dopamine is released, you gain a temporary sense of stress relief. Nicotine also stimulates your brain’s reward system, creating a feeling of relaxation.

Does smoking a cigarette calm me down?

Smoking a cigarette does calm you down. Every time you puff a cigarette, its smoke delivers nicotine to your system. This particular chemical then pushes your brain to release dopamine, making you feel somehow less stressed and anxious. This effect, however, is short-lived, which means you need to puff more cigarettes until you feel satisfied. It then leads to nicotine dependence. 

Summary

Smoking cigarettes may be able to calm you down, especially if you’re feeling sad or anxious lately. However, relying on these tobacco products and their nicotine content won’t be able to relieve your negative emotions for a long time. After all, the nicotine that cigarettes provide to your body is only effective for a short time. If you want to reduce your stress levels in the long term, you should quit smoking.

Quitting smoking helps reduce your stress levels, which then helps you carry out tasks and daily activities without any unexpected surge of negative feelings. When quitting cigarette smoking, you can turn to nicotine replacement therapy tools to somehow smoothen your transition. 

You can even rely on nicotine pouches as a replacement for cigarettes, especially if you’ve been depending on nicotine for too long.