Can smoking be a stim?

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Before I get replies saying ''NTs never stim, what are you talking about?!'' but hear me out first. At my last job, it used to be really stressful there, and the two managers (who were pressurized the most) were always going out the back to smoke, and sometimes they smoked two or three at a time. Then one of them left her job, and now I sometimes see her, and she said she doesn't smoke half as much as she used to when she was working there. Then I saw the other manager who still works there, and she said the workplace has improved so she's cut back a bit on smoking but she said she only smokes more when she's stressed about something.

This may not apply to everybody, but some NTs who I know actually smoke because they are stressed, and it ''calms them down''. Not sure if it really works since I'm not a smoker myself, but smokers seem to think it works.

Isn't that a form of stimming? Smoking can be quite repetitive too, especially if you smoke almost one after the other. It just seems similar to a stim. Some people just do it for fun or addictive habit, but some smoke to calm their nerves.

I actually think that yes.

The key difference being that smoking actually introduces chemicals/drugs into the body whereas stimming is purely a physical motion. People may smoke and stim for similar reasons, but I wouldn't say smoking is a stim.

But if I do it to hold the cigarette or occupy my mouth? And also, the reason I only take one cigarette occasionally is because I can't hold a cigarette and do something else at the same time. So a person might take it as stimulating.

I smoke regularly, and more often when stressed. I stim less when I can smoke, and never feel the need to stim during or shortly after smoking.

I think yes. Although I do not recommend this as a stim replacement, as it is incredibly unhealthy.

No, because habitual smokers only smoke to alleviate withdrawal symptoms of their nicotine addiction. After a cigarette the nicotine level drops continuously. Furthermore, smoking releases stress hormones. In other words, it causes stress in the same way coffee causes fatigue after an initial energy boost.

They smoke for the nicotine and don't have much choice since they are addicted.

If it were for the activity, they could replace the cigarette with a lollipop or candy or take a knitting break instead of a cig break.

This statement is false.

Quite, I am an ex-smoker (and 90% probable aspie).. Very few smokers are in it for the nicotine. In the workplace described smoking provided an escape outside. Don't underestimate that, many workplaces will not allow breaks, but will tolerate a quick smoke break

I found smoking a great way to meet people 1 to 1. Smoking gives you small talk and the chance to meet people. It was (no longer) a socially acceptable way to escape a stressful situation. Many smokers claim to need a cigarette when stressed, but really they want the escape, not the drug.

Jason

The smokers do not get in for the nicotine, and most of them don't even know why they are smoking. I'm absolutely sure you do believe that you want the escape, that's part of the brainwashing the drug dealers use very successfully to obscure the truth.

In your country things might be different, i can't judge other cultures.

Small talk and meeting people has nothing to do with spreading fug and toxins. An employer may tolerate a cig break because he is aware that otherwise the withdrawal stress will lower the performance of his employees.

The brainwashing says, take a cigarette, it's good for you. But the truth is, in the beginning of their addiction people must force themselves to smoke because the taste is disgusting, let alone the stench.

But we're off topic ... stimming is a repetitive activity with or without stuff, like pacing, flapping and so on. From this pov i don't think smoking, eating, drinking, even masturbating, meet the criteria because stimming is not means to an end (as an activity, that is.)

As to the nicotine addiction,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine_addiction#Dependence_and_withdrawal

I say they smoke it while stressed because nicotine helps relieve stress temporarily, rather than because the 'stimming' of smoking.

I have seen people on nicotine withdrawal. They are super cranky and get angry at little things. It is almost humourous, as long as they aren't angry at you . Anyway the withdrawal symptoms I think take about 1-2 days to really start getting nasty but a heavy smoker will need to smoke more often and sooner than a light smoker.

That is not why a smoker will smoke a lot when stressed. Nicotine is a mild stimulant and also relieves stress. So being particularly stressed a smoker may feel they need more than 1 cigarette to calm down. Of course this is offset by withdrawal symptoms, among other things, make you stressed out. No doubt it is partly due to withdrawal symptoms but that isn't the only reason. Smokers may delude themselves and conjure up reasons for needing a smoke when stressed. Thing is the addiction is strong but passive. The [stressed + smoke = calmer] gets reinforced over years, they do it just like you go to the toilet, usually you don't think about why, you just go.

It is not stimming, NT's may stim in some way when stressed. Things like tapping a pen, "face-palming", doodling, complaining/mumbling to themselves, etc.

Yes, I think it could be a sort of stim.

I've always felt that smoking addiction was much more psychological than physical. I started smoking at age 11 (a terrible babysitter got me started), and I continued smoking until age 14, until I decided it was gross and I didn't care to do it anymore, and I stopped right then and there. Have never picked one up since. However, during the time after I quite smoking, I found myself constantly chewing on things like pens, sticks, toothpicks, etc. and 'drawing' on them like one would do a cigarette. I didn't care about the nicotine...nor did my body. I just missed the feeling, and would repeat it when bored or anxious, just as I do with my stims.

I also think that it could be a stim. My mum used to smoke a lot and she seemed to enjoy it.

Stimming behavoirs are maintained by the consequence generated by engaging in them ie not by an external consiquence. Eg i rub my ear because it feels neat. Adiction on the other hand are maintained by escaping an unpleasrnt experince ie withdrawl ( i know that smoking is killing me, and i resent the companies that profit on my slow suicide, however my resolve is good for a few hours at best). Now, as a smoker i smoke a great deal more than what is nec to mearly stave off withdrawl. I would argue that most of the 2or more packs i smoke a day are stimming. I can get by on 4-5 in a day, it is the physiological experince of smoking that i smoke the rest for( and as a habitual action, but thats getting way ddwper into behavoirism than i ment to here). Is smoking a cigarette because it feels neat or provides an escape from environmental stressors any different from any other action you could carry out for te same purpose?

I miss it so much.

Healthy lungs be damned! lol

And yes, I think it is a stim.

Good topic, I think a lot of my weirdities went into the background when I started smoking cigarettes at 17. Reason I even started was being wrongly blamed for smoking on campus. After I had to take it underground I can't get the chemical right when I crave it, so if I can't sneak away the sensory stuff multiplies 10fold. Actually for the last 3 years I've being doing it with cheap cigars, and am rather repulsed now by imagining the tactile of a cigarette filter in my mouth, and olfactory-wise I can tell if someone is smoking a cigarette nearby versus cigar or a pipe