The Advertiser
March 17th 2015 Page 23
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SMOKERS, hands up
if you’ve ever found
yourself thinking, ‘I
really need a ciggie -
I’m so stressed!’
Sure, smoking might be
bad for your health in general. But it’s good for
stress-relief, for calming and soothing those nerves
after a tough day, right?
Actually, wrong.
It might feel like it’s helping, at the time, but
it’s not really doing anything beneficial for those
stress levels - in fact, it could even be making
things worse, in the longer run.
New research released by the British Heart
Foundation shows that despite the commonly held
idea that smoking’s a stress-reliever, smokers
actually have a 70% increased risk of anxiety and
depression, compared with non-smokers.
And crucially, there is no significant difference
between anxiety and depression rates in long-term
ex-smokers (who’ve managed to quit for over a
year) and people who’ve never smoked.
“Quitting smoking could be the key to improv-
ing not only your physical health, but your mental
health too,” notes lead researcher Professor Robert
West, professor of health psychology at UCL.
Previously, a review of 26 studies published in
the British Medical Journal in 2014 also found
that quitting smoking is associated with reduced
depression, anxiety and stress, as well as improved
positive mood and quality of life (in fact, stub-
bing out for good had the same, or stronger,
effect on treating mood and anxiety disorders as
antidepressants).
MASKING THE PROBLEM
“When smokers light up, the feeling of reduced
stress or relaxation is temporary and is soon
replaced by withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
While smoking temporarily reduces these crav-
ings and feelings of withdrawal - which are similar
to feeling anxious or stressed - it does not reduce
or treat the underlying causes of stress,” says Dr
Mike Knapton, BHF’s associate medical director.
This doesn’t just apply to smoking. It’s a pattern
that can exist in countless forms: binge-eating is a
common example, and drug and alcohol abuse will
also strike a chord with many.
Of course, not everybody who ever uses the
words, ‘We deserve this
slice of cake/glass of wine
after the day we’ve had’,
will have a problem.
But when these behav-
iours become a threat to
your physical health (which, in the case of alcohol
particularly, could happen far more quickly than
you’d imagine), as well as your mental health -
partly because they’re preventing you addressing
the root causes of your distress and seeking appro-
priate support - they can be cause for concern.
EMOTIONAL CRUTCH
Anybody who’s ever tried to give up an unhealthy
habit will know, it can be damn hard.
The issues of addiction has divided some sci-
entists and therapists in the past, which feeds
through to public perceptions (for instance, there is
generally still far more support for smokers being
addicts, than people who struggle with over-eat-
ing), but whether or not food, for example, is as
scientifically-measurable as addictive as a sub-
stance like nicotine, shouldn’t distract from the
fact that many people need help in combating their
unhealthy stress-soothing behaviours.
“I’d maintain that the reason we turn to ciga-
rettes, alcohol, and comfort eating is two-fold,” says
John Dicey, managing director and senior thera-
pist at Allen Carr’s Easyway which helps smokers
across the world to quit.
“One; we’re addicted to nicotine, alcohol and
sugar/processed carbs, so we suffer the illusion
that they relieve stress. And two; we’re brain-
washed into believing these behaviours help with
stress. From the image of a smoker or drinker
lighting a cigarette [or pouring a drink] after an
accident in movies and TV dramas, to Rachel and
Monica eating a tub of ice cream in Friends... We’re
predisposed to reach for these so-called crutches.”
BREAKING THE CYCLE
It might be tough to change an unhealthy stress-in-
duced behaviour pattern, but it can be done. The
process starts with recognising what it is you need
to change, and wanting to change it.
Remember, habits are only habits because they
became habits. And in time, those new healthier
behaviours - like eating well and looking after
yourself, doing something positive when you’re
stressed, like chatting to a friend, dancing, swim-
ming or reading - can become habits too.
IF you’re hankering for a new parfum to
partneryournewseasonwardrobe,you’re
inluck.Thisspring,therearedozensofnew-
bies to choose from - and for once, they’re
notallboringlyairyandelegant.
“Spring risks being one big cliche for
perfumes, in which we are encour-
aged to get as dainty as Sandra
Dee and switch over to delicate
florals like lily of the valley,” says
fragrance expert Lizzie Ostrom aka
Odette Toilette
-
lette.com).
“There’snothingwrongwith these
kinds of perfumes, but there’s an
awful lot more to enjoy beyond the
usual suspects wheeled out at this
timeoftheyear.”
Break the rules, Ostrom says:
“Personalpreferenceismuchmore
important. Spicy scents often
only get attention in the winter,
but they can as much convey the
energyof spring, as thecrackling
firesofwinter.”
So shake off those eau de toi-
letteassumptionsandtakeyour
pick from spring’s most potent
perfumes...
THEBRITISHBLOOM
In spite of the name, the rose
accord doesn’t dominate in Jo
Malone’s Tudor Rose & Amber, but
that’s no bad thing at all. Lovers of
sister scent Pomegranate Noir will be
equally enamoured with this juicy
Tudorian tonic, one of a quartet of
British history-inspired new offerings.
Peppered with spicy clove and ginger
notes, it’sas richandsumptuousas the
red velvet band that rings the bottle
top.
THEANGELINDISGUISE
The latest addition to the Ange ou
Demon family is undoubtedly on
the demonic side. Le Parfum is a
feline mix of sambac jasmine and
musk, while the tiny black vial of
powerful Accord Illicite enhances
the patchouli and leather notes of
its paramour, expertly marrying
the angelic and the illicit.
THECOOLCONCOCTION
Inspiredby a visit to thewilds of Alaska,
the latest publication from the kooky
Library Of Fragrance is as clean, green
and icy as the Mountain Air after which
it’s named.That doesn’tmean it’s barely
detectable, though - this unisex scent
hassurprisingstayingpower.
THESORBETSELECTION
If sugary ‘gourmand’ scents excite your
senses, you’ll want to collect all three of
the ice cream-inspired limited edition
scoops from DKNY. Fruity Rooty and
Dreamsicle are so sweet they’ll make
you want to brush your teeth, but
Cool Swirl, a tantalisingly tropical
pistachio and coconut cocktail, has
widerappeal.
THECREAMOFTHECROP
Also falling firmly in the gourmand
camp is Philosophy’s new dairy
delight, Fresh Cream. The recipe
infuses thearomaofwhippedcream
with almond blossom, vanilla and
carob-like tonka bean, resulting in a
toffee-sweet but slightly floral scent
that those in possession of a sweet
toothwillcrave.
THEDEATH-DEFIER
A perfume range inspired by
death and decay? Sounds pretty
icky, doesn’t it? But fear not,
Lush’s new collection doesn’t
actually smell like that. In fact,
Stayin’ Alive is a heady frankin-
cense, vanilla and caramel blend
that encourages you to disco
danceinthefaceofmortality.
THELUSHMUSK
Don’t bedeceivedby its cool alabaster
exterior, Clinique’s Aromatics inWhite
is an intensely warm and enveloping
fragrance. Crisp top notes of Sichuan
pepper and violet leaf make way for
an orange flower and patchouli heart,
before the addictive amber and musk
finish.
THERELIGIOUSEXPERIENCE
Like stepping into a church (but with-
out the associated guilt), the holier
than thou aroma of La Religieuse
conjures visions of burning candles,
stained glass windows and a haze
of incense. Photographer-turned-
perfumer Lutens is famed for his cere-
bral scents and this muskymeeting of
light anddark is no exception.
THEEASTERNADVENTURE
Rooted in the 19th century Moroccan
seaport of Ess-aoiura, As Sawira deliv-
ers more exotic ingredient notes than a
colonial shipping merchant. Bergamot,
saffron, absinthe, sandalwood and
patchouli mingle over a dense base of
oud andmyrrh, the result is an intense,
spicybrewthatlastsandlasts.
Advertiser
HEALTH & BEAUTY
IS STRESS MAKING
YOU UNHEALTHY?
Many smokers light up in a bid
to combat stress - but, as new
research shows, it doesn’t help
PERFUMES THAT
PACK A PUNCH
