I have no idea. To me, a chemical addition sounds like it'd be harder to break. My addiction is biting my nails. I've been doing it ever since middle school. I've been able to stop for short periods of time, because I really want to and the habit makes my hands look hideous, but when I'm stressed, hideous hands and potential of permanantly damaging my nails is the last thing that is on my mind. I've never smoked, but when I hear about people who have quit for good, I think that is a tremendous feat.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the difference between a habit and an addiction. I have no addictions. I don't get them. I don't get why you just can't stop. I honest to god don't.

I understand there is such a thing as addiction, and it's complicated, and it means it's not as simple as saying stop doing that to an alcoholic, or drug addict, or smoker, or what have you. I say the politically correct, polite things. But I flat out do not understand, and perhaps secretly inside I think people could just quit if they really wanted to. I kind of feel badly about this, btu if you don't have any addictions, it is impossible to truly understand it, I think.

+1. Well said. I don't get it either.

I understand it's hard to quit. I just don't have much sympathy because nobody is born addicted to nicotine or cigarettes. You chose to start smoking, knowing it was bad for you, knowing people get addicted to nicotine, so I really just don't feel sorry when people come to find out, hey, it's bad for me and it's hard to quit because I'm addicted! No shit, Sherlock.

I don't understand the difference between a habit and an addiction. I have no addictions. I don't get them. I don't get why you just can't stop. I honest to god don't.

I understand there is such a thing as addiction, and it's complicated, and it means it's not as simple as saying stop doing that to an alcoholic, or drug addict, or smoker, or what have you. I say the politically correct, polite things. But I flat out do not understand, and perhaps secretly inside I think people could just quit if they really wanted to. I kind of feel badly about this, btu if you don't have any addictions, it is impossible to truly understand it, I think.

I think it varies greatly person to person. My parents quit together and it was super easy for my dad, but very difficult for my mom (which caused a lot of tension between the two).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an ex-smoker, it isn't as hard as some people claim. They just do not want to stop.

I know my Dad tried and tried to quit - on one occasion he managed to quit for almost 2 years but went back to it. Perhaps length of time is a factor - he began smoking as a young teen. He died of Pancreatic Cancer in 2010. I WISH he had managed to quit all those years ago. The question for me is more why do people start these days. I get why people like my Dad started back when they did not fully know the consequences but now we know, I am absolutely baffled when people start the habit with that knowledge.

I am sorry for your loss. I don't mean to sound so harsh. It is a difficult process but many get through it. Maybe I don't have an addictive personality though.

I started smoking at 16. Quit cold turkey at 34. It isn't easy but it can be done. I think many people just do not want to stop. I tried stopping many times. Once I started thinking about having kids, I quit cold turkey. In my opinion smoking around your children is child abuse. (The last statement is harsh and meant to be! Given all we know about second hand smoke no one should smoke around kids.)

I know many people that have just decided one day that they were done and have quit. Some because of pregnancy, others when a child is born etc...

It is seems it is hard until there is enough incentive then it gets easier.

I really believe that certain people are more prone to addiction and it's harder for them to quit. If it were that easy, I think majority of the people would have quit a long time ago. I didn't find it that hard, but I find other things (like losing weight) to be extremely hard. WE are all built differently.

Quitting is probably easy for some people. I've always liked a cigarette when I'm drunk or stressed, but have never had problems giving it up when I needed to. So it would be easy for me to think quitting was easy for everyone. EXCEPT: I understand addiction. I don't have a problem with cigarettes, alcohol, etc. but ask me to give up sweets and I would probably break out in a cold sweat. I imagine it's like that for addicted smokers who have to quit smoking.

To those who don't understand people who start a habit - a lot of people also like a beer at the end of the day, or like dessert after a meal, and those things can hurt us too, if done too much. People probably think, "oh no big deal, i'll have a cigarette here and there" and for some it becomes an addiction. I think a lot of people will roll the dice on things that *could* kill us but might not.

Anonymous wrote:As an ex-smoker, it isn't as hard as some people claim. They just do not want to stop.

I know my Dad tried and tried to quit - on one occasion he managed to quit for almost 2 years but went back to it. Perhaps length of time is a factor - he began smoking as a young teen. He died of Pancreatic Cancer in 2010. I WISH he had managed to quit all those years ago. The question for me is more why do people start these days. I get why people like my Dad started back when they did not fully know the consequences but now we know, I am absolutely baffled when people start the habit with that knowledge.

I just get aggravated with my husband who can quit for literally years and then, one day out of the blue, he buys a pack at the 7-11 and the whole vicious cycle starts all over again. I honestly don't get why it is so hard to AVOID buying the pack - Just don't freaking buy it. Quitting is one thing...starting back up again after several years? Yeah, don't understand and never will.

I have asked him if there is some trigger, and he honestly cannot tell me what possesses him at that times. If there was some stressor we could pinpoint, it would be so much easier.

Speaking from personal experience, quitting can be relatively painless, but it varies between the person and how they try to quit. Some methods work better for some people than others. Also, the timing can have a big influence on the outcome as well. If you try to quit, which can be a big stress inducer, at the same time other factors are contributing to your stress(Life, work, kids, etc.), then it can be much harder. And even though quitting wasn't that hard for me, it was a long time after I actually quit before the cravings went away, particularly when I was stressed.

I think too many people just assume that if it was easy for them to quit something, it must be easy for everyone else.

Because they've never smoked.

As an ex-smoker, it isn't as hard as some people claim. They just do not want to stop.

Not a smoker but many in my family back home do.

Have we forgotten that smoking is an addiction? Yes some smokers are rude and need to be reminded that they need to smoke in an appropriate place.