[CloserToTheMid]

I quit smoking in February. I checked my blog and I started getting manic in February as well. I don't want to start again. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow, but to get a little relief, I bought a pack. I've been cooler than I've been in months. Not my long term solution. But is this BS? Just a calming trigger? Anybody?

[wildflowerchild25]

I quit a month ago. Before that cigarettes were a welcome distraction from depression. I haven't been manic in a long time but I remember when manic I would smoke like a chimney just out of boredom.

[Moose72]

Do you mean is it physical or psychological? Maybe a bit of both. Would it be the same if you took it back up and weren't bipolar?

[raspberrytorte]

I know cigarettes make me feel better.

I want to quit though.

[CloserToTheMid]

I guess either. I read that like 70% of BP smoke. There must be a reason

[dillpickle1983]

I know that cigs really help distract from the daily BS that goes on in my life. I REALLY want to quit, but it seems after a day or two I go right back to them. I also vape, trying to completely stop cigs and only vape.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by CloserToTheMid

I guess either. I read that like 70% of BP smoke. There must be a reason

It calms you?

[Rabbity9]

There could be some biological basis. There is strong evidence that nicotine has protective effects and can alleviate symptoms for people with schizophrenia. Something like 60-90 percent of people with schizophrenia smoke.

There've also been some recent studies that found significant genetic overlap between bipolar and schizophrenia, which probably comes as no surprise to the many people who were misdiagnosed as schizophrenic due to psychotic features during a manic or depressed episode. Less research has been done on bipolar and nicotine than has been done on schizophrenia and nicotine, but nicotine does effect dopamine transmission and could likely have an effect on the symptoms of both.

Personally, nicotine is reeeeeally stimulating for me so I love it when I'm manic but have little to no interest in smoking at all the rest of the time.

[CloserToTheMid]

Originally Posted by Moose72

It calms you?

Yes. My rough period every day for months has been between 3 and 6 before my evening dose of seroquel hits me. Well last night, I never calmed down so I went and bought a pack and it calmed me down. So I smoked a couple in the afternoon and same thing.

I do NOT want to start again, but this is interesting.

[leejosepho]

Many years ago (late '70s) during my first trips to the psych ward, we could smoke right there in the hospital. We could not have matches, of course, but there was a glow lighter on the wall. Around the time when smoking was later being banned in hospitals, public (aka government) buildings and so on, I read an article by a psychiatrist saying he believed smoking should be available for psych patients...and I have remained in agreement ever since. I do not know how or why it makes a difference, but I am just not my best "me" without the nicotine. I no longer smoke even close to three packs per day and I now make my own by injecting finer-cut pipe tobacco into pre-made tubes with filters, but I have been smoking tobacco for 40 years with no ill effect ever.

[21stCenturySM]

I am schizophrenic, and smoke because it alleviates my symptoms for a few minutes after a smoke.

[CloserToTheMid]

Incidentally, I tested moderately for schizophrenia on the sanity test. I don't think I am, but unexplainable weird ***** has happened to me. I'm going to mention to my pdoc tomorrow.

I started smoking when the mania hit for the first time. Hadn't ever smoked. I was 37 or so. It's always been related to mania for me.

[dillpickle1983]

Originally Posted by 21stCenturySM

I am schizophrenic, and smoke because it alleviates my symptoms for a few minutes after a smoke.

I'm schizoaffective and know exactly what you mean.

[Icare dixit]

Also schizoaffective (there's (indeed) really/basically no discontinuity in psychoticism between BP-1 and SZ, only the dynamics change a bit, but still quite gradually; only a different severity separates BP from SZ; basically all (functional) psychoses are schizoaffective ).

Nicotine helps. It's neuroprotective and acts (basically) as a stimulant and "stabiliser" (not just improves focus but also slows you down). The effects are like those of an antipsychotic, in many ways. It (also) reduces the activity of an overactive immune system.

What's more: we (BP/SZ) are less likely to develop cancer, even though (which too is already mentioned) we are far more likely to smoke.