Stress management techniques

Ask any smoker about stress management and you will hear that smoking is the best remedy that s/he knows about for reducing stress. Smokers report that cigarette smoking leads to sharpness, alertness and promotes a feeling of relaxation. The fact is that nicotine that is delivered by smoking a cigarette is at the same time a stimulant and relaxant. Within seven seconds of smoking a cigarette the nicotine in the blood passes from the lungs to the brain and causes the release of many neurotransmitter than convey these signals to the liver and the adrenal gland. It first causes release of glucose and adrenaline that act as relaxants. The relaxation effects are mainly due to this release of hormones and neurotransmitters triggered by nicotine. When you see smokers taking quick short puffs they are actually, although unconsciously, trying to produce reduce blood nicotine, which stimulates nerve transmission. Deep long puffs lead to high level of nicotine in the blood, which produces a mild sedative affect by depressing nerve impulses.

Out of all the stress management techniques this is the most harmful way of reducing stress. Nicotine on its own is not addictive. It is an antidepressant, Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), found in tobacco that is released along with that leads to addiction due to the behavioral sensitization similar to amphetamine that MAOIs are prone to cause. A similar effect is produced by nicotine replacement products like nicotine patches, nicotine gum as well as other smokeless nicotine products but without the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. In as far as management of stress is concerned there are other healthy techniques that you can use. If you are a smoker then use these nicotine replacement therapies for quitting smoking but not for stress relief.

To manage stress it is better to resort natural techniques like dietary modifications, change in lifestyle, yoga, meditation and exercise. Intense exercise, for example, releases endorphins, a neurochemical that occurs naturally in the brain and has analgesic properties. Endorphins are related to what is commonly known as a ‘runner’s high.’

Managing stress depends entirely on your commitment to avoid daily stress presented by daily modern life. It is impossible to avoid stress in modern life that is marked by a race to succeed. Adopting a positive attitude is another natural way of avoiding stress.

Management and stress are inseparable from each other. The more you try to avoid stress the more it rebounds with increased intensity. Stress relief provided by smoking is temporary. Eventually, smoking causes retardation in the production of dopamine and other neurotransmitters to compensate artificial stimulation provided by nicotine.

Smoking, although effective in relieving stress is extremely harmful. The major harm is caused by cigarette smoke that contains carbon monoxide and tars. Stress management is better done with natural ways as smoking is one of the primary causes of throat, lung, larynx and other types of cancers.