Psychiatry and Society

Imagine if you have the freedom to wake up to a completely unstructured day, free from all constraints of time. To do whatever you want whenever you want all day long. This may sound like a dream; but try it for a few days and you will soon feel listless, dissatisfied and directionless. The feeling that life is passing you by and you have no control over it will overwhelm you, and you will long for the comfort of routine.  Such is the power of routine and structure in our lives! It anchors us to our lives, gives it meaning and purpose. It is, undeniably, one of the most important aspects of our physical and mental well-being. As exciting as an unplanned day may appear, it can be very harmful for mental health and can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and distress. Our lives involve constant interactions with our social and physical environment – at home, at work, in the neighbourhood and in the wider world around us. We have little or no control over most of these aspects of our live...

Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Quitting tobacco is the most important thing you can do to protect your health (AHRQ) Quitting by willpower only 40% of smokers try to quit each year . The success rate of those who quit on their own is about 5% and with self-help books it is about 10%. Most smokers make 5-10 attempts to quit. Unsuccessful attempts to quit are a sign of nicotine dependence. 85% of current daily smokers are nicotine dependent Signs of nicotine dependence Tolerance - Increasing the number of cigarettes smoked per day (Most smokers escalate to a pack) Withdrawal - Mood changes, irritation, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness when unable to smoke Loss of control - Most smokers do not intend to continue, but 5 years later 70% do Increased time spent using the drug - Leaving office/ work-site to smoke Continued use despite harm - cough, hypertension, heart disease Giving up important activities - air travel Are you nicotine dependent? Take the Fagerstrom Te...