Source: ShutterStock

I’ve always heard that one of the biggest appeals of smoking cigarettes is because they supposedly help relieve stress. My smoker friends are constantly telling me that breathing in a steady stream of nicotine helps them calm down, relax and feel stress-free for at least a few minutes. In fact, one of the main reasons people start smoking to begin with is to help with anxiety. But guess what? Everyone is apparently wrong, according to a new study.

A recent British study on 500 smokers discovered that smoking doesn’t relieve stress – quitting smoking relieves stress. Researchers studied 500 smokers before and after they quit and found that the people who quit had less stress than those who tried to quit but failed. Bam – another reason you should never start smoking. Or, if you’re already a smoker, this is another reason why you should quit.

Look, I totally understand the idea that smoking helps you feel more relaxed. But I understand even more how quitting can actually help you feel more relaxed, not to mention better about yourself. I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but I was a big social smoker when I was in college. I was never addicted and I very rarely smoked a cigg on my own, by myself – it was mostly when I was out with friends and they were all puffing away. But after a while, I started to believe smoking cigarettes calmed me down, and I started smoking more often. Whenever I was upset, angry or feeling super anxious, I would reach for a cigarette because I thought they made me feel better.

Looking back, I realize that the cigarettes weren’t making me feel better. They were actually making me feel really light-headed and kind of out of it, which is never a good thing, and I associated that with feeling more relaxed. What was making me feel better? The few minutes of peace and quiet I got while smoking – not the cigarette itself.

When I made the decision to stop smoking entirely a few years ago, I instantly felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Not only are cigarettes extremely bad for your health, but they’re also really expensive! When I was smoking, I was constantly worried about what I was doing to my lungs or how much I was spending on packs of them. Also? I was always stressed over whether or not my parents were going to catch me. Once I stopped, I felt so much better about myself. So I can completely understand this study and I definitely believe that it’s true.

I know the idea of cigarettes can be alluring to some people, especially if you think of them as a stress reliever. But girls, trust me, there are so many other ways to get rid of stress that are fun and aren’t threatening to your health. The idea that smoking a cigarette is calming you down is all in your head. If you ever feel the urge to smoke a cigarette to deal with your anxiety, try something else instead: take a walk, scream into a pillow, do some yoga, play a video game. Anything but smoking. How many more times do we need to be told they aren’t doing us any good before we stop smoking them entirely?

Do you smoke cigarettes? Have you ever smoked them? Do you think they really do relieve stress? Tell me in the comments. 

10 ways to relieve stress that are actually fun

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Smoking’s gross. There are no two ways about it. We say avoid cigarettes any and every way you can. It’s nasty to be around someone when they’ve been smoking. But, when the dude you love is a smoker, it’s tough to avoid…and it can be tough to stay attracted to someone with such an icky habit. Sara’s here to give you some advice on how to deal with dating a smoker, asking him to quit and deciding if you stick around.

Do you know anyone who’s quit smoking? Would you date a smoker? Talk about it in the comments!

Is He Into You? Find Out For Sure!

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Not sexy, boys | Source: ShutterStock

Check out what’s new on our boards! Right now, girls are talking about what to do when your boyfriend smokes.

pr1nc355 said:

My boyfriend smokes.

How can I let him know that his smoking makes me really uncomfortable?

How do I tell him that I care about him a lot and he shouldn’t be smoking?

Got something to add to this convo? Then go for it, girl. Tell us what you think in the boards: How would you tell your boyfriend to quit smoking?

12 Anti-Drug Ads That Kind of Make Us Want To Do Drugs

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Is this what YOU did last weekend? | Source: Shutterstock

A new report says that a whole lot of teens get high on marijuana pretty often–it’s up a whopping 80 percent! That’s a pretty alarming statistic, considering that marijuana is illegal, so being caught with it is really dangerous to your future, especially if you live in places with a zero tolerance policy.

That said, we don’t condone anything illegal (hello, juvenile hall kind of majorly sucks!)–but we’re also no dummies and know that roughly one in ten of you are getting high anyway–despite all the warnings from your teachers, parents, and whomever else BLAHBLAHBLAHs at you about it. So, if you’re going to get high on marijuana, here are some things to keep in mind.

Most importantly, be safe. We know you’re too smart to ever drink and drive (right?!), so don’t smoke and drive, either. Marijuana can affect your alertness, reaction time, and concentration, which makes driving super dangerous. If you get high and drive, it can also screw up your perception of space and distance–making you more likely to rear end the car in front of you (or a lot worse).

Use common sense. Don’t get high before an exam, because marijuana can mess up not just your concentration, but also your short term memory, making all those facts you stayed up all night to drill into your head moot. And really, how pissed would you be to spend eight hours studying chemical formulas or Ulysses S. Grant just to fail?

If you’re planning to apply for a job anytime soon, we don’t recommend you get high at all. A lot of employers require a drug test before they’ll hire you, and marijuana use is detectable in hair follicle tests for about three months, sometimes even more than that.

Don't get high around people who are going to make it public. Based on this serious side eye, we bet Miley learned her lesson! | Source: Shutterstock

Speaking of applying for a job–or college!–be smart about who’s around when you get high. Remember how Miley Cyrus was humiliated when a friend sold her out to the tabs for smoking salvia (which is legal) and then later calling herself a stoner on video? Imagine how you’d feel if your pals tagged you toking up on Facebook or Instagram-ed you inhaling marijuana. Even if your info is set to private, you can’t control what your friends post and who sees those. A “no camera/no camera phone” policy would be pretty wise to put in place if you plan to get high.

Lastly, don’t assume that just because marijuana is relatively common that you won’t get arrested if you choose to get high. Again: Like it or not, marijuana is still illegal, and the troubles that come with it are a clear risk whenever you buy it, use it, or have it on you. So if you want to try marijuana, be sure to think twice–preferably three or four times–before you get high.

Do you ever get high on marijuana? Do you know anybody who does get high? Do you think marijuana should be legal? Tell us in the comments!

Want To Know About Smoking Weed? Here You Go!

That's a whole lot of farming for something illegal! | Source: futurepocket.com

Pot. Grass. Weed. Mary Jane. Ganja.

You’ve probably heard a ton about marijuana, not only recently, but in general. Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Kristen Stewart and a slew more celebs (oh, hey Snoop Dogg) are pretty open with their appreciation of the drug. These famous faces, plus movies like Pineapple Express, can make it seem like everyone is smoking it. Truth is, a lot of people use marijuana–though more people don’t use marijuana.

We’re not here to scare you here or run your life, but you deserve to make informed decisions about what and whether you inhale. Know the risks before you do anything!

*Smoking pot without a medical prescription is illegal in the U.S.–you and your friends could get in mega trouble if you get caught.

Rihanna got caught smoking marijuana in Hawaii. | Source: fashionindie.com

*You already know cigarettes are terrible for you. Turns out, smoking weed is too — maybe even worse. It can contain 50% to 70% more carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) than tobacco smoke does.

*Smoking marijuana can pose a lot of the same health risks as cigarette smokers, including coughing, wheezing, and sometimes more chest colds.

*Heavy use of marijuana can mess with your menstrual cycle and make your period irregular. Yikes!

*Medical marijuana has proven beneficial for some ailments, but it can have lots of negative side effects on the developing brain–and if you’re reading this, chances are your brain is still developing! It doesn’t finish completely til you’re 25. Using marijuana at a young age can lead you to develop weakened verbal and communication skills, a shorter attention span, and lower learning capabilities.

*Marijuana use can negatively impact your short-term memory (making you forget your homework or accidentally flake on your pals).

Miley Cyrus came under fire for calling herself a stoner. She said she was joking, then was captured here on film! Maybe it DOES make you forgetful. | Source: igossip.com

*Marijuana can make driving more dangerous. It can affect your alertness, reaction time, and concentration, all of which you need in tip top shape to be behind the wheel. Smoking weed can also make your perception of space and distances skewed, which is really dangerous on the road.

*Traces of marijuana can linger in your body for close to three months after you use it–something to keep in mind since a lot of jobs require a drug test before they’ll hire you.

*The high users experience from marijuana use is a result of the drug releasing dopamine, a feel-good chemical in your brain. It can lead some users to want that feeling again and again, resulting in a psychological dependency on the drug.

*While smoking weed can make some users feel relaxed, it affects everyone differently. Some users experience anxiety, panic attacks, and depression when they use the drug.

*While opponents of marijuana refer to it as a gateway drug and claim that trying it can lead people to try other drugs, that may not be entirely true. Most people who try marijuana don’t use other drugs. However, most people who do use other drugs did try marijuana first.

Have you or a friend ever tried marijuana? Do you ever feel pressured to smoke pot? Let us know in the comments–and if you or a friend want help quitting marijuana, click here to find help near you.

What About Drinking? Get The 411 Here.

Drugs are bad, mmkay?

A drug is a substance — other than food — that, when taken, has some effect on your body and/or your mood. Drugs affect everyone differently and the effects of many drugs can be unpredictable and catch people completely off guard. Many drugs, such as speed and heroin, can have very dangerous effects, even on the first try. It is far too easy to take too much of a drug, which can have seriously bad effects. Over consumption is always a bad idea. Be aware of the effects and risks of every drug and keep in mind that drugs are illegal.

Too many gURLs don’t know important information about drugs. We’ve put together an easy guide to learn more about almost every kind of drug you can think of. So click on to read about the crazy side effects, the scary risks of using them, how addictive each drug can be, and more.

Your lungs

The number one cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke. Even if you are not a smoker, you could still be at risk for lung cancer because of secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking. Secondhand smoke is dangerous because it comes from two sources: the end of a lit cigarette and the smoke blown out of a smoker’s mouth.

Don't light up. Period.

lindsay quit just days before having to go to court

Props to Lindsay Lohan, who has reportedly quit smoking! Could LiLo really be turning her life around? Here’s hoping.

|What’s up with that wacky tobacky and why is it so addictive? Get the fast facts now!|

Says TMZ, “We’re told Lindsay quit about a week ago and now works out with a trainer every morning.” While there’s speculation that Linds is only kicking the habit because the rehab center she might get sent to (again) for allegedly stealing that necklace is a non-smoking facility, we’re still happy for the gURL.

Do you smoke? Have you ever tried to quit? Discuss below!

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