Why is it hard to quit smoking, are cigarette sort of drugs? And can anyone tell me why smoking is considered cool

In my experience, the addiction is a combination of chemical addicition to nicotine and the habit that you get into, e.g a smoke after a cup of tea or with alcohol.

As for the cool factor, I'v never really understood that all!

Smoking initiates many processes in the body. As nicotine enters, the endorphin is released and you are actually becoming high. Yes these are sort of drugs which have obvious symptoms like becoming anxious, sweating and feeling of physical illness on removal. But you can easily give-up this habit. I found a good e-book on “Smoking Cessation” (www.stop-smoking-guru.com). Concerning cigarettes being cool, I don’t agree with you. What I feel is that some great personalities fall victim to this habit making it look cool which is surely a myth.

If it wasn't so tough we wouldn't be here, nor would the tobacco companies be in business.

When I first started 40 years ago the dangers to health weren't as widely known and smoking was portrayed as glamorous in films and in advertising.

Now smoking is only considered cool amongst those who are not old enough, because what is not allowed is a challenge to youngsters.

Why is it hard?

Firstly, it's hard because you think it's hard. Well, I'm not saying it's easy either but I want to point out here what you should be thinking all the time is "quitting smoking is doable and not impossible and I can quit " That's a mindset you want to have in your journey to quit smoking.

Secondly, it's hard because your system has developed what we call nicotine dependency which means if you can not inject your body with nicotine, there will be chemical imbalance (because nicotine is considered as part of your system at addiction stage) That's where craving starts. However this doesn't mean it is not reversible. It's reversible and needs some effort from the quitters.

I think the above are 2 major reasons why quitting becomes hard.

Yep quiting is hard, I've tried many times, although the longest was when I fell pregnant, gave up for 9 months !! But stupid me gave birth and started smoking again (my other half smokes too so was always going to be hard) The incentive to give up now is my 9 year old constantly telling me its bad for me, so when she see's me outside having a smoke in the freezing cold she makes me very aware of the dangers, including getting hyperthermia (is that how you spell that!!) anyway, I have a routine every day, I smoke around 7 cigs a day (roll ups) generally the pattern is one in the morning, then at 1030, then after lunch, when I get in, after tea then a couple before bedtime... I used to justify my smoking with, 'well i don't smoke that much'...my other half smokes why should I quit.... Then I'd fight with my mind as half of me was telling me 'you don't have to quite' and the other half was saying 'god dam it woman what are you doing and think of your family' so there you go the real Jekyl and Hyde story!! If I can give up then hopefully I can convince my husband too as well, our daughter will not let it go, so here I am yet again in the battle of wits, but hopefully this time my better half will win through and my daughter can be very proud of me So yes all in all, I wish I'd never started.... never set eyes on a packet of fags, or my parents smoking etc.... I can blame everyone except myself, but I think at the end of the day I only have myself to blame for starting!!!