[LiteraryLark]

This article says that smoking can be beneficial to people with bipolar (well, actually, it states depression but there are reasons why so many people with bipolar smoke too): http://www.psychologytoday.com/artic...moking-is-okay

So a few days ago I finished the last pack of cigarettes and decided I would only smoke with friends because I thought people would think badly of me if they knew I smoked, and certain jobs don't allow smoking.

To be honest, I rarely smoke. This past month has been SUPER stressful for me and my family: major financial issues (4 car accidents in one month, struggling to pay bills), my parents sat my brother and I down and told us that we need jobs or else we couldn't be sharing a car anymore, everyday my mom has been nagging me nonstop about getting a job, paying for my insurance, paying for my cellphone bill, moving out, going to school, etc...

Today, I had my first major interview, and after an hour wait they told me I didn't qualify because of my lack of experience. Then I had a job fair which was super stressful, super cramped, the heater was jacked up to 100 degrees (literally, they told me their heater wasn't working right and it was set to 100), and nothing seemed promising. I couldn't even say my 30 second shpeel I've been working on.

I've also been looking at apartments because my best friend and I want to move out together, and I can't see us moving out on a retail's salary, let alone a part-time salary.

It's been super stressful this past couple months and I've got a lot on my mind.

So (after my little rant), I read it over and decided that I will go out and smoke again, because I have tried to make myself feel better and it's not really helping (even after devouring over 4 oz of chocolate).

I don't want to feel guilty about smoking, but when do you think it is okay to smoke? Until this month I only smoked with my friends and it was only on occasion. I don't want to feel bad because of the hype of "smoking kills"....but then again, so do drunk drivers!

What do you think?

I smoke, I've been smoking since I was 12, am 33 now. Honestly I wish I never ever started. I have given up a lot of addictions, but smoking for me.... So much harder.

I do feel benefits from it, it clams me, helps when I am having psychosis. The thing is tho that it's a false calm. I'm calm until the drugs start to leave my body and then I am no longer calm. Obviously that's part of why it so addicting. I can't really say it's ever right or ok to smoke. But I understand why people do. I know stress, and my mental problem are a massive factor in why I smoke.

I wish wish wish tho that I never ever started. I wish I took up knitting or meditation instead.

Addiction to smoking isn't immediate for most. It takes time. The more you do it, the more you will crave it until you are doing it all the time. There are some people who do it ocasionally who don't get addicted. But not the majority.

So if you get addicted, you will have even less money for your own place, it's a really expensive habit. Not telling you what to do, but money is something to consider.

[LiteraryLark]

I know it's very addicting, and I've had former drug addicts who gave presentations at my school who said that compared to meth, smoking was the hardest thing to quit.

I just feel guilty, I don't know why. I heard that it's a bipolar thing to feel guilty for no reason, or perhaps because I know it's wrong. I just don't want to keep second-guessing myself every time I smoke. But I'm hoping that once all the chaos subsides, I will quit naturally. But then again, I may not move out and get settled for another year. So I don't know. I really don't want to go to a support group for it, I just want to keep smoking occasionally without feeling guilty about it, but I am worried that it may become a problem since I am smoking alone now and not just with others.

[Anneinside]

It is never good to smoke.

I was gonna say DrSkipper, that if your smoking is picking up, be on alert. I know you've said before that you are a very occasional smoker. So do be weary if you intend to keep it that way. If you noticed yourself saying more frequently " oh I feel like a smoke " or worse " I need a smoke" then time back off.

I started out with my friends, very occasional, then alone here and there, then more and more till I couldn't resist the urges.

What does suck is that a lot of the smoking cessation products are antidepressants. So if you are Bipolar and cannot handle antiD's, those are out of the picture. I have tried a few and got manic from them even with a stabilizer. I'm seriously considering hypnosis even tho the thought gives me the total creeps.

You probably feel guilty because you are aware of the negative health implications. Hard to ignore what you know is true. You are also helping pollute the environment. Not just the air, where do cigarette butts go when thrown on the ground? They get into our water systems, lakes ect. Plus smoking is not publicly tolerated anymore, for good reasons.

The answer seems simple, does it not? Smoking is never good for you. Never. Anyone who tries to say that the benefits of smoking outweigh the negatives...is highly incorrect.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Sorry, I think starting to smoke is always a dumb idea. Addiction to nicotine is really hard to break for most people, and smoking is associated with almost every disease out there. Seriously. Like, they don't know the cause of ALS, but they know it's associated with smoking. That's how bad smoking is -- it causes EVERYTHING. Cancer (all kinds, not just lung cancer), heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, COPD, impotence...the list goes on and on...

Smoking shaves an average of 13.2 years OFF your life if you're a man and 14.5 years off your life if you're a woman. If you're okay with potentially losing over a decade of your life, then by all means start smoking.

Not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Originally Posted by Anika

What does suck is that a lot of the smoking cessation products are antidepressants. So if you are Bipolar and cannot handle antiD's, those are out of the picture. I have tried a few and got manic from them even with a stabilizer. I'm seriously considering hypnosis even tho the thought gives me the total creeps.

You can try nicotine replacement therapies (i.e. the patch) or varenicline (chantix).

Plus if you know that smoking is as addictive as Meth, which I believe it probably is. Would you try to use meth occasionally? No that would not be smart at all, smoking really isn't any different except that it's legal, and should illegal in my opinion.

If you feel guilty now, wait till you're addicted, you will probably always feel guilty. I do, I feel constant guilt about it, shame, ect.

I hate feeling like a hypocrite because I am a smoker, but I think that also means I know what I am talking about. No one tried to talk me out of smoking. I wish someone had, we were a bit educated, but not like today. People still smoked in restaurants when I was a kid. My unckle died of lung cancer last month, you think that would be a wake up call. It was, but I'm still smoking... The addiction is that strong!!

I tried the patch, nightmares anxiety, shakes, sweats, zero eating. Even after I cut them in half. I tried gum, I am looking at the e- cigarette maybe in combination with hypnosis. Plus the will power. I have been feeling rather disgusted lately, then I fight with myself to feel disgust or to not feel it. Because I am so afraid to quit I talk myself into not to feeling the disgust and fear. This is pathetic. Living proof that smoking is horrible.

Fear of quitting outweighs the fear of death, this is pure ridiculous disgusting addiction.

[LiteraryLark]

Trigger:

Maybe smoking goes hand-in-hand with self-destructive behavior, but up till my dx, I had problems with self-harm. I used to cut, but I hated the pain and I felt like a poser when I felt like I couldn't cut deep enough. I was also violent. I threw dishes and punched holes in the wall when I felt out of control and I came seconds from punching my brother and slapping my mom for stupid reasons. Today I was so mad from not finding a job that I seriously considerded slathering my mom's chicken salad all over the freshly painted walls. I didn't do it but would have made a statement.

So when I smoke, it calms me down from feelings of rage and helplessness. And I do practice relaxation, but some things just feel like it won't help and I don't know what else to subsitute that kind of calming. I just don't know what to do anymore.

I just bought a pack of cigarettes and I felt better for a while, now I feel like crying because now I don't know what to do. I am usually the one who gives advice and be strong for other people. What do I do? Obviously I am old enough to buy cigarettes, how do I stop myself from not buying them anymore?

[bipolarmedstudent]

drskipper....why don't you ask your doctor for benzos to help you with the anger/violence/self-harm issues? When your temper gets out of control, take a benzo - it should calm you down.

In the long term, I believe risperdal is good for anger issues.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Other good drugs for aggression/anger: pheytoin, tegretol, depakote, topamax.

[LiteraryLark]

benzos sound really dangerous and they are highly addictive.

I don't want to mess with my meds and I'm trying to get off my meds and my doctor is not aware that I get angry, and my anger is not frequent either.

[Confusedinomicon]

Benzo's are also highly addictive and should be used with caution. Are you able to see a therapist to work out the anger/violence/self-harm issues? The problem with them is they are quick fixes, and don't attack the underlying problem causing you to behave a certain way in the situation.

More serotonin in the blood is said to reduce violent tendencies in general. Wellbutrin is actually prescribed off label to help people stop smoking and could potentially help with the violence etc. Honestly, though, talking to your pdoc about a med change is probably best...perhaps using suggestions from the board.

[LiteraryLark]

bipolar and addiction is a bad mix...

[LiteraryLark]

I think if the doctor wanted me on certain meds, he would put me on them.

[Confusedinomicon]

Smoking is a crutch and the nicotine does have a temporary calming effect. That's why it's so easy to get addicted to. It's damn near impossible to quit unless you have absolute resolve. I've watched my friend try and quit a few times and failed each time. (She's been smoking for 2-3 years now)

Most medication that helps with aggression tend to "blunt" your feelings to a degree. I had a "cloud" effect with depakote but I know it's not the same for everyone. Honestly, a good therapist would probably do you a lot of help.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

I think if the doctor wanted me on certain meds, he would put me on them.

well, the problem is that you aren't telling him everything. how can he put you on something for anger, if he doesn't know you get angry?

[bipolarmedstudent]

Originally Posted by Confusedinomicon

Smoking is a crutch and the nicotine does have a temporary calming effect. That's why it's so easy to get addicted to. It's damn near impossible to quit unless you have absolute resolve. I've watched my friend try and quit a few times and failed each time. (She's been smoking for 2-3 years now)

Most medication that helps with aggression tend to "blunt" your feelings to a degree. I had a "cloud" effect with depakote but I know it's not the same for everyone. Honestly, a good therapist would probably do you a lot of help.

Yeah, I feel super calm on depakote, and not spacey at all. It really depends on the person and the dose of the drug.

Anyway, I would say that benzos are a lot safer than cigarettes, and less addictive, too. Plus, you would only have to take them when you get rage symptoms, which you said is not that often. If you take the benzos only once in a while, it's pretty unlikely you would develop an addiction to them.

[LiteraryLark]

yeah but they go away so fast it doesn't even matter, I don't want to surpress my feelings, I'd rather just feel them and deal with them.

[2bme]

I smoke for 25 yrs. Only time I felt guilty was when I quit for 3 mnths and started again. Yes, it's bad for you, but everybody needs a vice. Mine is smoking (plus the coctail of meds!) I feel it calms me when I feel super irritated or so angry I want to explode.

[tcmoon52]

I know that cigarettes have saved my life. During all the years that I went undiagnosed, the fifteen years I went misdiagnosed, smoking was all I had. I have quit 4 times for a total of 5 years over the last 30 years, and each time ended up in a HORRIBLE suicidal depression. Smoking will cause you health problems and possiblly shorten your life, but nowhere near as short as my Grandmother who committed suicide at 50. Each of us should make our own treatment decisions with our Healthcare Professionals. As far as meth, I never robbed or shot anyone because I smoked too many cigarettes. In the recovery community they say a person's last addiction is the hardest to overcome.

[ManicDad]

Originally Posted by tcmoon52

As far as meth, I never robbed or shot anyone because I smoked too many cigarettes. In the recovery community they say a person's last addiction is the hardest to overcome.

This. Absolutely this.

Smoking is the only vice I have left. Some have suggested that if I was able to quit huffing blow, quit popping pills and quit drinking, then quitting smoking shouldn't be an issue. But to me, I just don't want to stop. I enjoy it. I realize there are health risks. I know they're ungodly expensive. I don't care. I want to smoke so I continue to smoke.

As far as whether they make my BP worse or better, I haven't noticed any real difference. It does calm me at times, but that could be just habit. I've been smoking for most of my life, so a learned response to stress is smoke. It could be all in my head, in other words.

Edit: to answer the question in the title of your post, whenever you want it to be. If you want to have a smoke now and then with your friends, that's well within your rights to do so. If you wanna quit altogether, that's great also. Remember, though, that the addiction is a really hard one to break and forgive yourself if you mess up.

Best to you.

[bowhunt72]

My smoking is a little different than most. I was raised in a totally anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol home. I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, I hate the litter they leave everywhere, and I know they are ungodly hard to quit despite all the health risks.

I started smoking a pipe in my late 30's. Pipe tobacco is much better quality, smells nice, and doesn't have all the nasty chemical crap added to it that big cigarette companies do. Since pipe smoke is not inhaled, the lung cancer risk is nearly eliminated. Since pipe smokers are such a minority, there is a feeling of solidarity and brotherhood among us. Smoking for me is a relaxing habit, one which I am careful not to let grow into an addiction. I smoke low-nicotene blends, I smoke only when I feel like it, no more than 2-3 times a day, and can go for days without smoking at all if the urge doesn't strike me. I enjoy collecting pipes and choosing new tobacco blends. For me it's a form of relaxation. It has some risks, but I figure after all the nasty toxic smoke and chemicals I was exposed to during my career in firefighting, it's hardly the biggest of my worries.