How do I know if I'm addicted to cigarettes?

Question

I limit myself to one light cigarette a day. I can go a couple of days without smoking and I think I can go even more days without doing it since I do not feel any withdrawal.

Over the past 2 weeks, I smoked probably just half a pack.

I do it because it gives me a buzz to start the day off since I have classes early in the morning. Caffeine has no affect on me so I turn to cigarettes.

What are the signs that you are addicted?

Answer 1

When you NEED to do it, you are addicted.

Answer 2

There are no signs that I remember apart from not being able to stop. Even the one a day can be addiction, especially if you like the buzz(which wears off after a while)
I'd try to stop altogether now because it's only a matter of time before it creeps up to 10 then 20 a day and possibly even more.
By the way I didn't find giving up very difficult and I was a smoker for nearly 20 years on 20-30 a day. I last had a cigarette 3 years ago and suggest you stop before you get to 20 years of smoking!!

Answer 3

You are addicted when you can't do without any substance... liquor, drug, cigarettes, sex, and you can't relax without it, or you would put priority on it in your life. It comes to a point where this is the first thing you think as you wake up in the morning, and the last thing you do before going to bed. You let your addiction run your life, any excuse is good. Not a pretty picture, right ?... If you can stop it, the better it will be for your health. All right, you haven't smoked much in the last two weeks, but more and more you will pick the habit when you're nervous, when you're tired, when you're driving, when you go to a party, with a beer or drink in the summer when it's very warm, with coffee in the winter or as you are relaxing...

I stopped 6 years ago and I feel so much better. Food tastes better, the house doesn't stink and my clothes don't smell like an old ashtray anymore. What a relief !

All smokers started with one occasionnally... Ask those who have cancer of the lungs. Sorry to draw you such a negative picture but I'm being honest. I lost friends because of that.

Answer 4

The short term effects of smoking are a shortage of oxygen in the blood making you slightly dizzy. The longer you smoke the less you will notice it, like the buzz you get from caffeine.

The best thing would be to abstain from caffeinated drinks for 24 hours. Smoking makes you feel different, because your still healthy.

Smoking is Psychologically addicting, meaning that besides the Cancer causing chemicals that your dumping into your body, your brain has this picture of the future and it doesn't see you stopping.

If you don't believe me, don't smoke another cigarette and see how you feel. If you feel like you can quit, then see how long you feel that way.

If you miraculously manage to stop, where you don't find yourself looking for the cigarettes at the time you normally light up of patting your pockets trying to find your pack, (which are signs of cigarett addiction) then why go back?

Answer 5

Hi Mor, You already are addicted.You have a cigarette in the morning to get a buzz.Like a cup of coffee to others
to start the day,yours is a cigarette.It doesn't matter that you smoke a half a pack in 2 weeks.You still need a smoke in the mornings before school.

Clowmy

Answer 6

You just gave the early signs, see if you can quit completely. I am an old guy and I know you have been told to quit often enough, and know better. So do I. But I have been unable to quit and stay quit, and when I look at the dollar cost you can bet that I would like to quit. If you can quit you are not addicted, at that point. The addiction is both physical (that boost you feel) and mental (media and social) but you have a good chance of dropping the habit if you do it now because you are still at such an early stage. Caffeine is more subtle. It is absorbed through the stomach, not directly into the blood through the lungs and rushed directly to the brain.

Answer 7

If you can't give it up when you know its bad for you, I think you're addicted. Try going a little longer but if you feel cranky or shaky without a smoke that's a sign of withdrawal. No matter if the cigarette is light or a full flavor there are lots of nasty things in them like cyanide and pesticides. There are other ways to get buzzed like exercise or great sex to start the day off with a bang. LOL

Answer 8

I started out the same way, kept a pack in my glove box and it would last for a month. Before I knew it i was smoking a pack a day and was totally addicted. Your best bet would be to start off your day with a double shot of latte or something strong instead of a cigarette. I finally was able to quit last December after smoking for almost 9 years....

Answer 9

Well if you can go a long period of time without spazzing out, u are probably not addicted, but it becomes a problem if u rely on it to give you a jump start to your day, maybe try getting up and going for a jog or something like that, or just being a little more active earlier

Answer 10

When you're addicted you will want one (sorta how I want one right now), and not just a mental want but you can actually feel your body wanting the nicotine. I'd say you're not addicted since you smoke a very little amount but you could very well get addicted especially if you start smoking when you drink. Don't worry if you're addicted or not just enjoy the cancer sticks.

Answer 11

If you cant face the idea of never having even one more cigarette for as long as you live, you're addicted. Smoking fewer cigarettes than others doesnt mean you're less addicted. You may prize your one cigarette a day more than a twenty-year habitual smoker prizes his or her pack a day. If you can never smoke again, then ta-da! you're not addicted.