Depression and your pipe

[sack]

When you feel depressed, do you smoke more pipe? Depression is hitting me real hard. I work overnights it's tough to crawl out from under it.. Do you find comfort in your pipe?

 

[andrew]

I worked nights, it's not natural. Take alot of vitamin D and maybe get a therapy light. Was super tired all the time, did it for about 3 years maybe.

 

[sack]

That's some sound advice. Been working overnights now for 11 years at a nursing home. Add this bitter cold weather. Blaaaah.

 

[mayfair70]

Yes, the pipe helps. Andy is right. Vitamins are your friend. I buy Pre-natal vitamins because they are cheap and have everything you need, and then some. I take one every other day. Therapy lights help with the Seasonal Affective Disorder (right name?) Good Luck!

 

[johnbarleycorn]

I always find comfort in my pipe. Don't work nights but have a very stressful job. I always find myself looking forward to my next pipe.

 

[prairiedruid]

I find the ritual of packing the pipe and the controlled breathing while smoking quite helpful with my depression. My pipe is my meditation.

 

[ashdigger]

I don't work nights either but my pipe has been my salvation on more than one dark day.

 

[derfatdutchman]

I agree that a pipe can be a source of solace during times when things are stressful or I'm feeling depressed.

 

[shutterbugg]

There's a difference between stress and depression, but while the act of pipesmoking might mitigate the former, nicotine can exacerbate the latter. It can have either a stimulant or depressant effect and it's usually related to the smoker's condition at the time. In other words, if you're depressed it could depress you further. I'm talking about clinical, biochemically-moderated depression, not just the psychological state of feeling bummed.

 

[tuold]

The vitamin D might be good advice. I worked nights for many years. My doctor tested my vit D levels and found them very, very low. I can't tell you how much better I felt after a few weeks of taking vitamin D 50,000 u. It solved a multitude of problems I was having. Now I take 2000 u daily. It's probably a little worse up here in the Pac NW. I probably won't see the sun again until June or July =)

 

[sack]

<p>Thanks for the advice. My wife will be getting me the higher dosage of vitamin d. Will report back

 

[disinformatique]

I have been treated for depression long time back. I worked late nights for about a year till I broke down and quit the job so I can imagine your 12 years of night shifts. Vit D is a big helper, you can have a few work pipes and just relax with one all night long if you are allowed that, or come back home, have a glass of milk and smoke a pipe before going to bed (if youre going to bed may I suggest Old Dark Fired from Mac Baren, Nightcap by Dunhill)
Chris :puffpipe:

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I'm pissed off with my neighbors they dont give a damn of other people and are getting on my nerws(obviously they sure are immigrants)but somehow smoking my pipes it will cool me down, moreover I find myself always looking forward to my next possibility to smoke a full a bowl.

 

[pappymac]

I personally don't understand why more people in fast paced, stressful jobs that require you to function on adrenalin for days - sometimes weeks - at a time don't turn to pipes to slow down. I'm talking police, fire-fighters and all the military services. Work in those fields has a tendency to turn people into adrenalin junkies. During my time in the service I found that sitting back and smoking a pipe after a case slowed me down and relaxed me.
Then I remember we are now in a PC world was smoking is the great sin and is frowned upon by the anti-smoking nazis.

 

[tbradsim1]

Best thing after working the Dog is a Beer and a well loaded pipe. Story here. We moved early in my career at Exxon, in the what was country then, small subdivision of about 11 homes, 2 to 3 acres we had. One morning after working the dog I cranked up my rideing lawn mower, beer in holder, pipe in hand started cutting the grass, Neighbor later told me he was drinking coffee, saw me and told his wife Damn honey we got us a good neighbor, beer and pipe in hand at 7 in the morning. :laughat:

 

[mso489]

I resumed pipe smoking after some years when my wife was in rehab for hip surgery. I spent most of my time at the care facility. A drink at night made me too slow to get going in the morning, but a pipe was a way to slow down, take stock of myself and my own feelings, and gain some balance and listen to the night noises (nature). So I think pipe smoking helps boost morale. I would monitor your situation carefully and scout out a good professional before you need one, in case you need one. Most people deal with some form of depression, many without knowing it. Men tend to express depression first, not by sadness but by anger...rages, tantrums. Incidentally, older people tend to mask depression entirely and it comes out as physical problems, but they often don't express any sadness. If you can get exposure to daylight and sunshine at the beginning or end of your day, that will add to your vitamin D, hopefully prompt you to do some walking, and boost morale by giving you some alone time to check in with yourself. The last person we tend to consult is ourselves.

 

[voorhees]

Having been laid off the last two months, I had the opportunity to smoke as I wanted. However, being a bit down I found myself smoking less. I also have a tendency cut back on things when life throws a curve ball.

I smoke more when things are going the right direction.

 

[indianafrank]

Sack, sorry to hear. Only way to find out if the pipe will help, try it.