From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Mon Jan 21 2002 - 10:57:14 MST
On Mon, Jan 21, 2002 at 04:19:35PM -0000, Alex Ramonsky wrote:
>
> My second question: some years ago I met a young woman in research who was
> bright, cheerful, fit and smoked about twenty a day. Encouraged by the
> efforts of others, she decided to quit. Within two weeks she was a depressed
> nervous wreck who couldn't handle socialising at all. Once bright, she now
> seemed to find it difficult to think, could not concentrate, and developed
> nervous habits.She remained like this, often suicidal and visiting her
> doctor for medication. Then she started smoking again. The symptoms
> disappeared, and she returned to her old 'normal' self. Intrigued, we asked
> if she would be willing to have tests relating to this. It turned out she
> was permanently deficient in acetylcholine and various other
> neurotransmitters unless she smoked.
> What I am asking is: How many other people suffer from this to a lesser
> degree, and, are they the ones who have the greatest difficulty giving up
> smoking?
Self-medication is likely more common than most people think.
I have heard anecdotal evidence that schizophrenics are far more often
smokers than nonsmokers. This seem to be a kind of self-medication where
they adjust their brain chemistry in some way that makes them feel
better. I guess plenty of other people self-medicate both with caffeine,
sugars and nicotine.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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