Some people find it hard to concentrate at work without smoking. What causes this?

The short answer:

Immediately after quitting smoking withdrawal symptoms can disrupt concentration and lead some people to feel more stressed. But this is only temporarily: Everything indicates that people who quit smoking eventually becomes less stressed and better able to concentrate.

The long answer:

There is no reliable evidence that smoking improves concentration and reduces stress. On the contrary, it stresses the organism to be dependent and to be continuously craving to a particular drug (nicotine) in order not to experience withdrawal symptoms.

The stress-dampening effects of smoking are therefore more subject to the fact that the smoker, when he or she has not smoked for some time, gets nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This makes the smoker uneasy and restless and gives poor concentration - and when you then smoke again, you can concentrate.

Several studies have shown that nonsmokers have a generally lower stress levels than smokers.

Ex-smokers also find that they are less stressed and have more energy in daily life.

But all this can not remove the personal perception that smoking helps you in stress situations. You just need to remember that the nicotine and the dependence have played you a trick.