It is no surprise today to see a teen smoking, despite all the warnings about health hazards, tobacco use is still popular with our culture. What may be surprising is that through a recent study in Canada, there is evidence pointing to long term tobacco use contributing to depression / depressive symptoms in teens. Even more alarming is with teens and how they lie to themselves about why they are smoking.
The study was mentioned in the recent article “Teen Smoking Increases Depressive Symptoms” by Rick Nauert, PhD, where Dr. Nauert highlights the various factors the study used when determining its conclusions. Of interest to me was the association between teens smoking and depression. The teens that appear to be susceptible to increased depression through smoking are teens that view smoking as an anti-depressant.
I will admit that I have not used tobacco in any form in roughly 10 years but I do not recall smoking ever making me feel better. In truth smoking made me ill and I used alternative forms to get my nicotine. I do know that nicotine withdrawal will create mood swings similar to most drug use / withdrawal; I had a very difficult time when it came to not using nicotine; and it is the mood swings that create difficulty when attempting to stop using tobacco products. I never thought of tobacco as an anti-depressant though and using cigarettes to “feel” better is a little alarming.
Teens call it for what it is, an addictive substance that is difficult to stop due to nicotine withdrawal, and it is the nicotine withdrawal you are counteracting when it “appears” to brighten your mood. If you want to smoke, at the very least be honest with yourself – lie to others if you feel you must by why lie to yourself? Admit that smoking has an addictive component that keeps you using tobacco products – nicotine. Please do not shield it under false pretenses of an anti-depressant needed to “feel” better, especially since the Canadian study points to long-term use having the opposite effect.
During my research I stumbled upon a website titled radical parenting and was a little skeptical about the topic of this site. In short it is a website from a teen’s point of view giving advice to parents about how to parent. After searching through this website and the topic I realized that the concept of getting help from our teens is not uncommon.
The Family Foundation School offers the opportunity for students to Become part of the Solution by offering an environment that is peer based. This environment asks our more mature students to engage in the school culture, to help our new student’s transition at school, and asks that students keep each other accountable to the rules at school. Through this interaction, our students have an active part in their own success here at The Family Foundation School. The parenting website, asks teens to engage with parents on a healthy level and help out by explaining some of their own actions / thoughts. This method also allows teens to become part of their own success through sharing their thoughts about various parenting topics.
One of our greatest difficulties we face when dealing with teens, or any family member, is that we are often too close to the situation emotionally. The Family Foundation School offers a way of having a neutral party involved in situations that fit our services, and helps eliminate some of the emotional stress. The parenting website introduces a teen’s perspective to parents from sources other than their own teen. This method helps because it eliminates some of the emotional ties we have with our own family while still having access to what motivates our children: thoughts on issues, the latest trends, TV shows etc…
Both the Family Foundation Schools and the parenting websites method involve teen interaction and added responsibility on the teen’s part. Both places ask teens to be consciously involved in the choices and decisions they make in their lives. In addition, what I found truly fascinating were the items written by the teens themselves. To have the ability to write about their actions and thoughts in such an open way is truly impressive.
