Is smoking a way to control stress or way to become controlled by an addictive habit?
The question of control arises from comments made by teens in a Sunday News Tribune story: "Survey: Third of Capital City's teenagers have used tobacco."
Responses from teens who smoke included:
• "There was a lot of stress on me. And that's the reason I kept on doing it."
• "It helped me relieve my anger and depression. It helped me calm down."
• "When I get made or frustrated, it calms me down."
We don't disagree with any of those statements.
What we would suggest, however, is a healthier, less expensive and, therefore, preferable, alternative.
The alternative derives from a psychological principle, called "Locus of Control," originated by Julian Rotter in 1954. The web site, changingminds.org, describes the basic principle as "the tendency of people to believe that control resides internally within them, or externally, with others or the situation." It adds: "Some people have a wholly internal or external locus of control, but many will have some balance both views, perhaps varying with situation."
The emotions and sensations - stress, anger, frustration - described by the teens frequently are internal responses to external situations.
For smokers, however, the remedy comes not from within, but from something external - a cigarette.
And the problem is that cigarettes are habit forming and contain an addictive substance. Consequently, even if frustration, stress, depression, etc., dissipate, the harmful habit continues.
Stress management tips and techniques for both mind and body are widely available.
They require some practice, but so does smoking. One teen described his first cigarette by saying: "It was gross. I puked and coughed for a whole day."
The human body has a natural aversion to inhaling smoke. Any person who can overcome that aversion can tap a healthy balance of internal and external sources to cope with life without resorting to cigarettes or, for that matter, other addictive substances.
Why let habits and addictions control you, when you have the capability to make wise decisions and control your own life?