Smoking cravings... But I hate cigarettes?

Question

I hate smoking so much, I think it's selfish and a waste of money. My Dad's smoking caused my Nana's cancer.

This may sound really weird but when I'm angry or sad or stressed out I get cravings for cigarettes.

I use to smoke when I was 14ish because I was naive and 'thought it was cool' blah blah blah! I quit about 6months later because I changed friends and I saw it wasn't cool.

I remember how calm it use to make me feel. I'd never actually go and smoke now, but I'm just wondering why I'm getting these cravings when I hate smoking so much?

I'm not looking for attention. No one else knows this, and if I was looking for attention I'd be telling the whole world, not strangers who don't even know me.

I'm not going to smoke. I hate smoking, its killing my Nana and I have asthma. I don't think it's the cigarettes that I want. I just don't understand..

Answer 1

OK, I can tell you.

It is usually habit and the association it gives you with calmness and so on. This is known as psychological addictions.
There may be some physical addiction too, but this should be almost gone soon.

Doctors can talk to you and give you help for things like this,

It is a very good thing to be around people that do not take part in activities that people pressure you into doing, this is 'peer pressure', Your being manipulated into smocking because people tell you that it is cool, and you were falling for it.

However, they and you only done this because adults were setting a bad example to the younger generation (that being you and your friends) into doing it; just like a child playing with a toy vacuum cleaner pretends to be like an adult.

You should be what you want to be, not what they want.

Answer 2

I quit maybe 15 years ago, and I still sometimes feel like I'd whack my mother in the head with a shovel for a cigarette when I'm stressed out. It's weird how much of a hold some things have isn't it?

I don't have a fix, but I know exactly what you mean.

Answer 3

You're probably wanting the feelings more than the cigarettes. Maybe it's time to find a different way to feel better when you're stressed, so that you don't consider cigarettes again. What that would be for you, I don't really know - maybe it would be a particular food (in moderation), a walk outdoors, watching a movie, or something else entirely, but whatever helps you along and doesn't HURT you is what you should do.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Oddly enough, some people are more addicted to the "hand to mouth" motion than the cigarettes themselves. I quit smoking about a year ago and one thing that always would work for me during long car drives were sun flower seeds in their shells. That made me have to put my hand to my mouth to get the shells and throw them out.

Might sound yuckie but it's not as yuckie as smoking!

Answer 5

Yea this happens when you smoked in the past...when you leave it you still get cravings...and maybe if you get the smell or see the box you get tempted....but don't do it!! look away...or start running lol....because obviously you found out it is bad...and if you start again it will be even worse for you and the people around you...why this happen?? it is because your body got use to this way of getting relaxed...but don't let your body or brain fool you...

Answer 6

I urge you to take control of those cravings, and never ever start again.
If I could change any one thing in my life, it would be to have never started to smoke.
By the time I was your age I was already addicted.

Answer 7

Hi Wabby. Don't smoke!

I hate it! I can't stand the smell of it. I went out to dinner last night and some idoits were smoking in the restaurant which is illigal here in nz, so I told them and they just laughed!

Then I told the restaurant owner and he cleared them out.

Do not smoke! It is really bad for your health

Answer 8

hey we all have our addictions..mine is food..i'm on medication to help with mine, and its not as easy as saying oh well just don't eat so much..but what might help is try to find something else to concentrate on..maybe you can try exercising, or if you like reading get some books, or if you like animals volunteer at a shelter to help with the animals..find someone to help take your mind off of whatever is truely bothering you..try pilates or yoga, they are supposed to be relaxing and freeing of the mind..or just find a relaxing disc, a dark room and find a compfortable position and just relax with your eyes closed for about 10 min..sometimes when we get too stressed our mind reverts to the thing it knows is our weakness. you don't want to smoke but your mind somehow goes to it when you get overly stressed, i don't want to eat, but when i get stressed or sad thats all i can think about..good luck!

Answer 9

Don't blame your Dad's smoking on your Nana's condition.
My Mum died of cancer at a young age, and she never smoked, her father never smoked.

Answer 10

Your mind, has not forgotten the past pleasure, of servicing your past addiction.