Quitting smoking can be challenging, but it can have real benefits for your mental health. You might feel more anxious or irritable at first, but these early symptoms are usually temporary.
Smokers often say that smoking reduces stress levels, but this isn’t necessarily the case. This anxiety is often part of nicotine withdrawal. Smoking causes the release of a feel-good chemical called dopamine. And when you don’t have a cigarette for a while, nicotine and dopamine levels drop, which can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety.
Having another cigarette then gives you temporary relief from these feelings – making it seem as if it’s helping when in fact it’s just starting the nicotine withdrawal cycle again. So although it can seem like smoking helps with stress, continuing to smoke does not address its underlying causes.
Although withdrawal symptoms can make you feel worse in the short term, quitting smoking can help reduce anxiety linked to nicotine dependence in the long run. It’s also a positive step toward improving your improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Does smoking cause depression and anxiety?
Everyone is different, but many studies have illustrated a link between smoking and mental health.1 Smoking rates among people with common mental health conditions are around 50% higher than in the general population.
Smoking causes the release of a feel-good chemical called dopamine, but when nicotine and dopamine levels drop, it can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety. This becomes a difficult cycle as, although nicotine can relieve symptoms of anxiety and low mood caused by nicotine withdrawal, it doesn’t address the underlying causes.
So, while there can be many contributing factors to how you are feeling, smoking itself could be adding to feelings of anxiety and cutting out smoking can help to improve mood. If you are taking medication for a mental health condition, speak to your doctor before quitting smoking.
If you do have concerns about your mental health, whether you’ve quit smoking or not, it’s always best to speak to your doctor.
Why does smoking feel relaxing at first?
Smoking may, temporarily, help you feel relaxed, but this is because smoking a cigarette relieves the symptoms of craving and nicotine withdrawal2. While you’re craving a cigarette, you may feel more irritable and anxious because the chemicals in cigarettes interfere with your brain chemistry2. So, when you smoke and those anxious feelings are relieved, it’s easy to associate your improved mood with smoking a cigarette.
However, quitting smoking can improve your mood in the long run and help to reduce symptoms of anxiety2. So, while you may feel more irritated and anxious initially, it’s worth it in the long run. If you do have concerns about your mental health, whether you’ve quit smoking or not, it’s always best to speak to your doctor.
Can smoking cause depression and anxiety?
Quitting smoking can temporarily cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is due to your body and brain experiencing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, which is a highly addictive substance1. Some of the symptoms you might experience include irritability and anger, anxiety, depression and insomnia3.
While it may be difficult when you first begin your quit journey, your body will eventually adapt to the absence of nicotine. There are also many ways to manage your mental health as you work towards getting over the addiction. As a first port of call, you should speak to your pharmacist or doctor. If you’re struggling, you may want to try:
Relaxation techniques, like meditation and mindfulness
Reducing your caffeine intake
Exercising regularly
Using nicotine replacement products to help manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Staying socially active and speaking to friends and family.
Tips for quitting smoking if you have anxiety
Smoking rates among people with common mental health conditions are around 50% higher than in the general population. People living with mental health conditions like anxiety are also more likely to smoke more heavily1. While it can be challenging to quit, there are plenty of support and resources available to help improve your chances of successfully quitting smoking1.
Here are some things you can do on your journey to a smoke-free life:
Get support
Professional support can help increase your chances of success when stopping smoking compared to trying to quit alone. Combined with stop smoking aids, trained support can provide the extra support you need, rather than relying on sheer willpower alone. The NHS can refer you to free stop smoking experts, who can help you find methods that work for you. You can also contact your local stop smoking service.
It’s important to speak to professionals, but there are additional ways of finding support when stopping smoking. For example, you can speak to your friends and family, or team up with a quit buddy who will better understand exactly what you’re going through, and provide personal support.
If you have any concerns about your mental health, you should speak to a healthcare provider for professional support. An appointment with your GP will help you better understand what resources are available to you and what methods might be best for your quit journey. You may also be referred for further support to stop smoking services, which can increase your chances of quitting compared to using willpower alone.
You can also speak to your pharmacist, who may be able to dispense advice and suggest over-the-counter aids.
If you are taking medication for a mental health condition, speak to your doctor before quitting smoking.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
If you need a helping hand to quit smoking, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products can help support you on your quitting journey, rather than going cold turkey. NICORETTE® products can help to relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms that you may experience while quitting, including anxiety as a result of nicotine withdrawal. They’re also available over the counter, which means you don’t need a prescription.
You can use our handy tool to help find the right NRT product for you.
UK-NIC-2025-157062
