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Smoking may worsen symptoms of PTSD
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Smoking elevates awareness of Trauma
New studies have been seeking volunteers suffering from PTSD from New England and North Carolina based clinics that treat PTSD to study, among other things, the effect of smoking on patients with trauma. What they’ve discovered is that smoking, in the long run, may make the flashbacks worse. Over half of sufferers of PTSD smoke, however, or they self medicate in other ways making this problem endemic.
Nicotine temporarily enhances attention when it hits the brain. Although many who suffer from PTSD say that smoking can briefly alleviate these symptoms during a flashback, studies now seem to point to the fact that this extra attention may actually be reinforcing bad memories.
These studies also show that people who smoke are more likely to suffer from panic disorders and PTSD symptoms when confronted with a traumatic event.
The correlation between the two is not immediately known to researchers, except to note that the occurrence is very high. been found that people who have experienced traumatic events are more likely to smoke than people who have not had traumatic experiences (rates among adults ranging from 32% to 58%). Elevated smoking rates have been found across different types of traumatic events.
There are no known treatments at this time, however many are in the works along with many other dual diagnosis therapies that have just now been found to be helpful with treating those who suffer from PTSD. Looking into methods of quitting smoking is a place to start.
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