On Smoking

Smoking is one of the few things that changes your status by simply doing it: from being a John Doe you become a smoker.

«The smoker simultaneously injects and excuses idleness in his life with every cigarette»

«Many idlers love to smoke. It gives us something to do when we’re not doing anything.»

As a smoker who quit several times over the past 20 years and went from few cigarettes a week to 20 a day, back to 1 or 2 and then 20 again after the lockdown, I think the real threat is not the physical need, that is really easy to overcome, a few days and it's gone.

It's the idea of losing your status and missing the habit of being that kind of person that is really, really hard to win.

But it really sucks, we all know it, it's probably the most stupid thing a person can do, but we still fall for it.

I quit something myself and have felt much the same way, but I eventually had a string of very stressful events in my life that resulted in me seeking comfort in my old addiction.

My grandfather lived for a few more years as his health declined further. About two years after his last cigarette he confided in me that not a day goes past where he doesn't crave a cigarette. But he never asked for one. He never caved.

My grandmother had a fairly strong physical reaction to quitting initially. She was shocked when her doctor told her the shaking was due to physical withdrawal. She said she felt no different to a heroin addict. But after this physical shock subsided, that was it. She never craved a cigarette again. What's more, she became disgusted by the smell of cigarette smoke encountered in public. It was simply gone from her life.

The difference here is in the psychologically addictive element of cigarettes. Both grandparents had the same physical addiction, but that's nothing. Anyone can overcome that. But the psychological element seemingly ranges from non-existent to unstoppable.

I have experienced the psychologically addictive nature of cigarettes myself, even though I've never smoked. A friend bought some cheap disposable, nicotine-free, e-cigarettes and gave me one. Initially I was going to take it apart and see how it worked. But I tried it, of course. Then I tried it again. And again. There's something about it. Suck through the little pipe. Fill your lungs. See it glow. Exhale the vapour/smoke. My usage was exponential, until it ran out. I immediately considered buying another one. Then I caught myself. I had become addicted to this thing. It's that easy.

I immediately lost interest, it's a terrible habit, I never smoked in the morning, rarely during the day, only at night when I'm out with other people, but I keep going back because... I don't even know why.

One thing is sure, if I have something meaningful to do I don't even think about cigarettes.

So in my case boredom is probably the main drive.

Other people might have other reasons to do it.

But it's absolutely something that every smoker should fight as hard as they can, because nothing good can come out of it.

One thing that really helped me to reduce my addiction to just 1 or 2 cigarettes a day has been avoiding "the bad ones".

Those cigarettes that you smoke knowing you won't even enjoy them.

I smoked one after dinner and one after a drink and that was enough.

If you start associating the habit of lighting up one after everyday activities - a coffee, waiting for someone or something, watching a movie, drinking a beer - that's when you are screwed and should understand you're smoking too much. Easier said than done, I know, but it worked on me until I let it win again.

I don't think I've ever heard a cigarette smoker comment on the taste of their cigarette (cigars are the exception here) and the high, especially for regular smokers, is near non-existent. So for cigarettes the initial appeal is much less obvious.

I'd assume most people start smoking due to social pressure/trying to fit in.