I am planning to get to the bottom of this nicotine addiction, so I have decided to go down the scientific route this time. So here goes.
Dopamine.
Nicotine acts on the brain to produce a number of effects: It activates the Mesolimbic pathway which is otherwise known as the reward system. This regulates feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
So it is safe to assume that one of the reasons a person might smoke is because they are depressed, and could be the reason they begun in the first place. It has also been discovered that nicotine appears to improve symptoms of ADHA in adults. There we have it, two counts of self-medication.
Nicotine withdrawal causes down-regulation of the production of dopamine as the brain attempts to compensate for the artificial stimulation. Dopamine is a neuro transmitter which means a lack of it will cause drowsiness and lethargy. all of this makes perfect sense, but how to translate this info into a viable quitting plan?
Quitting should be gradual otherwise there will be a rapid emotional shift, which is connected up with the dopamine levels dropping. This is something I didn't know til I was told, and explains why previous 'cold turkey' escapades had failed. The trouble with cutting down slowly is you need to be extremely aware of what time it is at any point through the day. I tried buying a watch and found that I am allergic to the metal, also the strap broke on day two. I suddenly remembered the reason why I never wear a watch.
In simpler wording - quitting smoking makes you feel depressed if not done slowly. If you're already depressed, simple answer don't quit, or get dopamine suppliments. Now there's an idea...ugh.
A lot of people just decide to quit and do it. More power to them. That I can't do that is not going to stop me trying to stop, only i don't want it to be the sole focus of my life, which is why I am going to spend a few minutes once a day jotting down my mood and, if I can discipline myself, how many I smoked the previous day.
Current mood - reasonable with occasional gusts of energy.
Amount smoked yesterday, 18 g of Drum light (more than usual)
Feelings about it: It really isn't good.
Dopamine.
Nicotine acts on the brain to produce a number of effects: It activates the Mesolimbic pathway which is otherwise known as the reward system. This regulates feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
So it is safe to assume that one of the reasons a person might smoke is because they are depressed, and could be the reason they begun in the first place. It has also been discovered that nicotine appears to improve symptoms of ADHA in adults. There we have it, two counts of self-medication.
Nicotine withdrawal causes down-regulation of the production of dopamine as the brain attempts to compensate for the artificial stimulation. Dopamine is a neuro transmitter which means a lack of it will cause drowsiness and lethargy. all of this makes perfect sense, but how to translate this info into a viable quitting plan?
Quitting should be gradual otherwise there will be a rapid emotional shift, which is connected up with the dopamine levels dropping. This is something I didn't know til I was told, and explains why previous 'cold turkey' escapades had failed. The trouble with cutting down slowly is you need to be extremely aware of what time it is at any point through the day. I tried buying a watch and found that I am allergic to the metal, also the strap broke on day two. I suddenly remembered the reason why I never wear a watch.
In simpler wording - quitting smoking makes you feel depressed if not done slowly. If you're already depressed, simple answer don't quit, or get dopamine suppliments. Now there's an idea...ugh.
A lot of people just decide to quit and do it. More power to them. That I can't do that is not going to stop me trying to stop, only i don't want it to be the sole focus of my life, which is why I am going to spend a few minutes once a day jotting down my mood and, if I can discipline myself, how many I smoked the previous day.
Current mood - reasonable with occasional gusts of energy.
Amount smoked yesterday, 18 g of Drum light (more than usual)
Feelings about it: It really isn't good.
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