DepressionIndiaOnline Forums

[Kumar]

How much do they really effect anxiety and depression? I smoke and find it either helps or makes it worse. Opinions?

[LALUprasad_YADAV]

My opinion isn't going to be popular among the people with anxiety or the psychiatric profession, but oh well:

I suffer horribly from anxiety at times. I also smoke, drink coffee, and every once in a while, I crave chocolate. Well, that's more like every other day.

I had these same habits before I ever became anxious. I grew up drinking coffee. I've been smoking for years. Eating chocolate since I could walk, probably. These habits didn't bother me before anxiety waltzed into my life, so I don't see how they contribute to it now.

I do need to quit smoking for other reasons; but give up my coffee and chocolate? NEVER, I SAY!!

I have to learn how to control my reaction to things that upset me.....and I have a chemical imbalance that doesn't help matters.

I think it depends on the individual. If caffeine and nicotine make you feel anxious, then don't use products with caffeine or smoke. Coffee makes some people jittery. It doesn't do that to me. We're all different.