Smoking and stress
Thursday, December 27, 2007 
The Forest/Boisdale CD, You Can't Do That (Songs For Swinging Smokers), has been a great success. Recorded earlier this year, it was released in advance of the smoking ban on July 1. Copies were duly dispatched to the usual suspects - MPs, peers, journalists and broadcasters.
Prior to Christmas, a handful of copies were sent - as gifts - to some of our favourite columnists. They included Philip Hensher who writes in today's Independent:
A charming CD arrives from Forest, the pro-choice in smoking organization. The Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band play a number of fag-related standards and new numbers, including "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "I'm Going Outside" and "Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette". If only the anti-smoking fanatics showed a tenth as much good humour. Anyway, it's all wasted on me, since I gave up in February, thinking that I'd probably smoked long enough.
I anticipated an immense increase in my personal well-being and health. I should have listened more to David Hockney, who points out that the decline of smoking has been accompanied by an immense rise in the consumption of anti-stress medication. I stopped having any craving for cigarettes within days of giving up, but my stress levels, previously under quiet control, just kept on rising.
Is it merely coincidence that Britain is getting shorter-tempered, dependent on anti-depressants and stressed out now that nobody's allowed to smoke?
Reader Comments (10)
I am so glad that someone in the media has raised this point. I have suffered from stress and depression for years, but being able to smoke openly and freely has helped dramatically to keep things under control. Since the announcement of the total smoking ban my stress and depression has got a lot worse, partly because of the actual and perceived persecution from anti smokers. I am now on a high dose of anti depressants, medication to help me sleep and am now, finally, half way through a cognitive behaviour therapy course. In order to attend the course I have had to reduce my working week by half a day and this has put a lot of financial strain on me, which, obviously doesn't help.
Since the ban I have only been out a couple of times and not enjoyed either experience. The problem however, for depressed and stressed people is that we are now becoming isolated, one of the worst possible scenarios for our illness.
I discovered at the first meeting with my psychiatrist how the pressure on them has increased since the announcement of the smoking ban and again since its enforcement, they feel that they are fighting a losing battle and can only keep dishing out pills as the government have left the mental health side of the NHS to be very poor relations and neglected those who need the help of psychiatrists and their support teams.
Travel becomes a big issue too. Use public transport, we are told; Why? when I can't smoke in bus shelters or on railway stations? I have to take strong sedatives to get me through the trauma of not being able to smoke any more once in the departure lounge at an airport. The biggest fear here for me being if the flight should be delayed. The thought of this happening (and it has, but fortunately in Spain and we were able to smoke as they are a lot more tolerant), terrifies me and leaves me with a claustrophobic feeling, because I am trapped in this area with no way out until our journey is complete. Not being able to smoke causes the stress levels to escalate to the point of normally rational people becoming totally irrational.
Both the mental and physical health of the country is being damaged far more by this draconian ban than it ever was prior to the ban.
You only have to look at the evidence which shows that countries that have a total ban have not reduced the number of smokers, in fact the sale of cigarettes has increased, whereas countries that offer choice have dramatically reduced the number of smokers and their sale of cigarettes is down too. Common sense should tell which is the better option to go for.
Happy New Year everyone and let us hope and pray for a little sanity to prevail amongst the powers that be during 2008, although I wouldn't hold my breath!
In reply to Lyn's comment "Not being able to smoke causes the stress levels to escalate to the point of normally rational people becoming totally irrational."
Lyn, this is all intended! Part of the "social engineering", that is. You NEED people becoming irrational, otherwise you wouldn't manage to bully a whole nation into accepting a more and more rigid legislation that increasingly denies civil liberties whatsoever.
Let's resist all this fascist stuff by remaining RATIONAL no matter what happens. And, by the way, stop popping all these pills. The only one who benefits from that will be the pharmaceutical industry anyway. There are better methods of stress reduction, such as Yoga, meditation etc. etc. Or go and hug a tree. Don't let them get to you, that's the only way, I believe.
Happy new year anyway!
Petra
Thanks Petra, if only it was that easy though! CBT is supposed to help get us off the pills, but it is not a 100% successful, in fact out of our group of 10 at least 3 have done previous CBT courses and are still in the same boat!
I would love to meditate, and used to when I was honing my psychic skills, but unfortunately the depression and stress tends to get in the way, for me, anyway and I have not found it possible to meditate to any benefit over the last year or so.
I guess they just need to provoke irrational behaviour in otherwise law abiding citizens so that they can fill the prisons with the likes of us and let out early the murderers and rapists, etc - I am sure that my smoking and smoking whilst driving is far more danger to the public than someone who is a convicted murderer or rapist!
Anyway, you have a good New Year.
Lyn
i really think that England has simply got TOO far or Rather the do gooders. Many pubs are loosing customers as people continue to smoke. But many people this New year will stay at home instead of going out. Why oh why cant the government allow the pubs to have a say in whether they choose to allow people to smoke? Whats wrong with GOOD Ventilation? No wonder there are so many stinking colds this year as us poor smokers have no choice but to behave like good children. Happy New Year. Lets continue this FIGHT . The French still allow smokers. What about any hotel that allows smokers in their room to speak up? regards amandah
Yesterday, I had to go to Bath, a journey of about 60 miles. Realising I'd save a fiver by going by train and considering a journey-time of 50 minutes, I subjected myself, a former enthusiast for and proponent of rail-travel, to the care of First Great Western for the first time since they removed the smoking-carriage. Times are tough. A fiver's a fiver.
I wasn't the only one ignoring the platform smoking-ban on Didcot Station. No-one approached me with a "you can't do that" [which I was slightly disappointed by]. In short, I don't believe anyone respects this "no smoking on our property even if it's outside" diktat. The lie which has been accepted is the one about SHS in enclosed spaces. Extensions of the ban beyond enclosed spaces bring the law into disrepute even amongst the most credulous believers.
But the trip was awful. A twenty minute signal-stop plus other delays meant the journey took an hour and a quarter. I was standing all the way, as the train was packed. Mobile phones, squalking kids running around unchecked, beeping laptops, the list of potential-irritants are legion, but made all the worse for the sense of unfairness: that provision could not be made for the 20% of adults who choose to smoke. The stink from the overflowing no-smoking toilet made me nauseous. Had it not been for the toilet-water slopping all over the floor, I would have performed the public-service of releasing some relaxing and antiseptic tobacco-smoke into the cubicle.
Finishing my business in a wet and windswept Bath, I had 45 minutes to kill before the next train home. Thanks to the pub smoking-ban, I didn't even consider that as an option. Instead, I trudged the streets past empty pubs with desperate-looking promotions advertised in every bit of window-space; in a black mood and chain-smoking [something I don't normally do] in anticipation of the FGW ordeal to come.
The "Train Manager" [nuspeak for "Guard"]'s corporate-automaton tones were driving me to barely-suppressed shouting-rage within two stops. "Customers are reminded..." many, many times over, including "... to take care when alighting, as the platform may be slippery due to the adverse weather-conditions". Aaaaarghhh! Cupping my hands to the window in the hideously overlit carriage, I was just about able to see the traffic-jam on the M4. Wished I was there.
On the subject of stress, I work in the city in computer recruitment it is a 60 hour week spent at 100 mph. I probably speak to over 50 people a day, write over 100 emails and once a week I am out till late drinking with clients. Much of my work involves investment banking. I say without hubris that I have had 1.5 days sick in he last 7 years and with the new employment laws I am TOLD to take my holidays up. Quite honestly popping out for a cigarette (mobile in hand)every hour or two I think reduces stress immeasureably and greatly contributes to my effectiveness. A 5 minute break thinking about something else or organising your next hour, I believe makes me a better employee.
Lyn, have you tried the herbal remedy St John's Wort? A relative of mine was plagued by stress and depression for years and tried all the doctor's suggestions to no avail. St John's Wort proved to be the answer for him - and in Germany I believe it is routinely prescribed by doctors in preference to Prozac. He is actually cured of his old problems now, and no longer has to take St John's Wort. I'm not sure if it is sold in a variety of strengths or not.
You also get the pleasure of not feeding the parmaceutical companies in the process.
Hi Struggling Spirit and thanks for the suggestion, however I have tried St Johns Wort and, unfortunately, it has not worked for me. I think it has during phases of really mild depression, but when you get to that 'last straw' stage, for me it does not have any effect.
CBT does seem to be helping and I had my medical this morning so that I can apply for my provisional HGV licence. My doctor was very encouraged by this and felt that the new direction and challenge would be of great benefit. I know, legally, you are not supposed to smoke in works vehicles, but many people still do and are a damn site safer because of it! With any luck I will pass first time and soon have a job on the 'open' road, preferably in a really big lorry where I can get much better views and will not be scrutinised every minute of the day.
Thanks again for your suggestion, but hopefully, if all goes well, then I will be able to reduce my medication over the next 6 to 12 months and finally come off it.
Have a good New Year.
Lyn
I'm just glad to hear that you're making good progress Lyn. I've only ever heard good things about CBT also, so I really wish you well with that. Once your mind is totally on your side, I'm sure it (your mind) will prove many times more powerful than any pharmaceutical drug :)
Wishing you all the best for your goals and plans in 2008! :)
Thanks for your support Struggling Spirit. Hope you have a great New Year.
Lyn