Snus and Anxiety/Depression

[sth]

I started smoking when I was like 15 years old, due to depression as it gave me something to do, gave me an outlet of sorts. I had quit smoking for about a year, but when I got to college, and started drinking more the occasional cigarette while drinking turned into my smoking more and more.. that's when I turned to snus. I like snus, I don't have to spit, I can still get the pleasing nicotine high that I like from cigs, I can do it in my apartment (my roomate doesn't smoke, so smoking at my desk would be sort of rude imo).

I use it because I have never been able to stay away from nicotine once I started, and I find that snus is the best way to get that nicotine. Actually what led me to discover snus was the stop smoking lozenges (commit). I really enjoyed those, and I actually have fond memories of them. But, they are ridiculously expensive and what not, snus provides everything I liked about them at a cheaper cost with i'm sure a slightly increased risk.

[Premium Parrots]

dam this thread is depressing.........

[jnkyo07]

Reply

I have anxiety and depression brought on by anxiety. When I'm snusing, I'm happy. I have the nicotine buzz, I smile, and whatever. But it doesn't cure the anxiety/depression constantly, only when I have the snus in.

[Starcadia]

I've always been an anxious person tending towards depression. I've had some serious bouts with it in the past. I think I'm largely out of that cycle now, because I've been doing a lot of what I would call "focused inner work" the past few years. For some reason I gravitated towards nicotine, even at a very young age. My first experience was when I was 7, when I ran across my street to puff the lit butt of a cigarette some dude had tossed in the gutter.

Cigarettes always symbolized for me my active expression of individuality, probably like tattoos and piercings do for others, which to me was thrilling, bordering on erotic. But all of these things ultimately also represent insecurity, lack of confidence, and needing to fit in somehow or be accepted, even if it had to be a rogue among rogues in my head. But that was at the best of times smoking. At the worst times it was just a filthy addiction that had me standing stinking in the cold rain, scowled at by pretty girls, wishing I'd never started.

I've always loved nicotine, even as a dependency. I've convinced myself that now that's it's healthy, it's good for me. It helps me. And it's true. Cigarettes as a best friend - and they were - were like the wrong crowd your mother warns you about, that was always lots of fun but at a price. Snus for me is like the good crowd, that scores well on tests and does something with itself. That's why I still smoke a couple of cigarettes most days, I guess, because the good crowd gets boring. Nevertheless, I feel I've grown up a bit, and thrown out a lot of old, crusty, dusty baggage, which has helped a great deal with inner security and feeling optimistic.

[Doc]

Answering a few questions.

First of all WOW, I had no idea the discussion I was starting. I really, deeply, am touched by the level of honesty that I have seen in the posts. By the way, I have continued to research snus and other tobacco related stuff for the last few months and am still absolutely convinced that everyone who switches to snus from smoking is doing themselves a huge favor. I have been recommending snus to my clients and enjoy seeing them feel better and be able to get more exercise. Exercise is a huge deal to those of us who suffer from anxiety and especially depression. (Depression almost always follows anxiety after enough time.)
BTW the latest studies are showing anxiety disorder to be genetic thing. That may seem like a no-brainer to all of you (myself included) who have this all over your families.
To the questions about stimulants and anxiety, and the seemingly paradoxical reaction that some of you have had. This is not a true paradoxical reaction, it actually make sense and is a common thing amongst anxiety sufferers. Remember that your body only gives you that fist shot of anxiety (epinephrine, norepineperine, and cortisol). It is what your mind/brain does in response to this that creates a true "panic" moment. Many of us find that if we are mentally "up" via a stimulant we feel empowered, and are not prone to the catastrophic thinking of anxiety.
My Grandfather took this to a bit of an extreme with diet pills in the 70's. By his own admission these were the best years of his life. He was in real estate and kicked ass those years, all thanks to good ol' speed.
His body however could not take the abuse and he was smart enough to stop before his kidneys failed.
Nicotine is most closely associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine. In men the lack of this chemical seems to be the source of a lack of drive, especially later in the day. This chemical is also most closely linked to psychological addiction. My best guess is that the physical consequences of snusing, low as they are, might justify the benefits. I am not at all convinced that long-term use of prescription antidepressants has no consequences.
Again I want to thank all of you for you honesty in your posts. If you ever have a question for me you can go to www.anxietymentor.com and post a question in the contact page. All topics are allowed. (Don't push it)

[texasmade]

Doc

I smked for two to three years...started when i was 15-16
it wasnt peer pressure or anything i just wanted to see what it was like..
and i liked it so i stuck with it..after i smoked i could concentarate so much more and get things done(this was back when i was prescribed adderall)..but afterwards i would smoke to calm down as i have severe anger problems..
i get mad like that..and most times i go so mad i wouldnt remember anything i said it just seemed like a dream...alot of things would iritate and upset me...so i basically said **** the world and did what i wanted...i was a MAJOR asshole to everybody except for a few people...i stopped smoking about 6 or so months ago when i discovered snus and im calm as ever happy alot more..and i can focus and do what i need to do..but when i dont have snus for an extended period of time(which is quite rare now a days) i find myself getting irritated so much easier...i hated being that way and as long as snus helps me stay away from that i will continue to use it and not smoke(except for the occasional hookah)

[harpdog]

I always started smoking whenever my depression got worse but then quit when I felt a bit better. Last time I quit I used snus as a replacement, but recently I've become extremely depressed again and have been having a few cigarettes here and there as I need a big boost of nicotine I can't get from snus. I think I'm going to get an e-cigarette for when I need that kick.

But yes nicotine definitely does has a beneficial impact on my mood.

I tried an e-cigarette and put the nicotine capsule in the wrong way round. I took a draw on the e-cigarette and it delivered the entire contents into my mouth in 1 squirt, That is equivalent to 20 cigs at once.

So beware dont make the mistake I did.

Oh for the record when used properly they don't fix you like a real cigarette does. Snus is way better. And I don't understand why you dont' get the big boost you want when your depressed just from snus.

If you do loose, and take a pinch and just stick it up there without bakeing the nicotine hit is very intense and way surpassed the hit of a cigarette, at least that is my experience and I have only been snusing for a week.

[bearcat87]

I can relate to the whole wanting a smoke when depressed. For me its not about a big nicotine kick its just a self destruction type of thing. Thankfully I rarely am that depressed and when I am its not for long, just a day or so.