Caffeine, Nicotine and Mental Health
I'm no stranger to danger when it comes to caffeine, nicotine and mental health. A lot of individuals who are dealing with mental health situations tend to become close friends with these substances. The 'why' is pretty easy to understand. These stimulants are often used to counter the sedating affects from medications. They also appear to help people cope with anxiety from social interactions in any given moment.
Twenty years ago I was taking 21 prescribed pills a day. I was also drinking buckets of coffee and chain smoking like a mad man. Coffee and cigarettes seemed to help me fight the sedation from the barrel of meds I was taking. My attitude used to be whatever helped me cope and get through the day was acceptable. I want to be clear here and say I am not recommending that people should turn to street drugs or pick-up smoking. I am simply acknowledging why individuals turn to substances in periods of personal crisis or while coping with anxiety during their daily routine. Substances appear to work in the short term. I have now learned that these substances can actually work against an individual's recovery and increase anxiety and agitation in the long term.
I have cut down on the coffee these days but I still struggle with nicotine addiction. I find that I use nicotine less when my self-esteem is high and my anxiety is low. I keep reminding myself that life happens one moment at a time. In this moment I am nicotine free.