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Everyday Mental Health

Smoking and Mental Health

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Quitting smoking 

The process of quitting smoking can directly affect mental health. Experiencing withdrawal of nicotine, of which the body has become dependent on, can often produce stress and unpleasant symptoms. These unpleasant symptoms and their duration may vary between people. Whilst most symptoms will typically last from two to four weeks, cravings may last longer. Nonetheless, it is important to note that withdrawal and cravings will eventually pass and quitting will benefit you in the long term.

Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

  • Craving to smoke
  • Restlessness 
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability and restlessness
  • Increase in hunger
  • Anxiety and/or depression 
  • Other emotions such as anger and sadness

Less common nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

  • Feeling light headed
  • Cold symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and sneezing
  • Constipation, diarrhoea or nausea 
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Dizziness


Smoking and mental health

Quitting and changes in mood 

During cigarette withdrawal, the brain releases certain chemicals that cause anxiety and stress, which are both powerful incentives to smoke again. It is important to understand that this is the way the body responds to the absence of nicotine after prolonged exposure. Soon enough, your body will start adjusting to function without nicotine and withdrawal symptoms will disappear.

Smoking as a coping mechanism

As smoking can cause temporary elevation in mood, individuals with depression or other mental health illnesses may turn to smoking as a way to cope.

Although smoking may make you feel good; smoking is a temporary, short-term fix to coping with mental illness, and leads to a wide range of health problems. Studies have also suggested that smoking leads to an increase in symptoms of depression as well as risk of depression.

Further help in Indonesia

Call for a free consultation to stop smoking: 0-800-177-6565

‘Batuk Perokok’ is a campaign by the Ministry of Health that informs the public on the dangers of smoking, especially its respiratory consequences; this campaign includes a quitline that aims to help assist motivated quitters in their journey to quitting.


The Tobacco Atlas. (2016). Tobacco Atlas, Fifth Edition, Indonesia.Atlanta: American Cancer Society.

The Tobacco Atlas. (2018). The Tobacco Atlas, Sixth Edition, Indonesia.Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from The Tobacco Atlas: https://tobaccoatlas.org/country/indonesia/

2 World Health Organization . (2018). The fatal link between tobacco and cardiovascular diseases in the WHO South-East Asia Region, May 2018. Retrieved from NCD and Tobacco Surveillance : http://www.searo.who.int/entity/ncd_tobacco_surveillance/documents/wntd_18/en/

Hecht, S. S. (2011). Research Opportunities Related to Establishing Standards for Tobacco Products Under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 14(1), 18-28.

Hughes, J. R., & Hatsukami, D. (1986). Signs and Symptoms of Tobacco Withdrawal. Arch Gen Psychiatry , 43(3), 289-94.

Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2017, 09 05). Batuk Perokok Tanda Awal Kerusakan Tubuh. Retrieved from Department Kesehatan: http://www.depkes.go.id/article/view/17090600001/batuk-perokok-tanda-awal-kerusakan-tubuh.html

Kenneth S. Kendler, M., Michael C. Neale, P., Charles J. MacLean, P., Andrew C. Heath, D., Lindon J. Eaves, P. D., & Ronald C. Kessler, P. (1993). Smoking and Major Depression: A Casual Analysis. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 50, 36-43.

Khaled, S. M., Bulloch, A. G., Williams, J. V., Hill, J. C., Lavorato, D. H., & Patten, S. B. (2012). Persistent heavy smoking as risk factor for major depression (MD) incidence – Evidence from a longitudinal Canadian cohort of the National Population Health Survey. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 46(4), 436-443.

World Health Organization. (2018). Tobacco Free Initiative. Retrieved from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/tobacco/quitting/en/

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