Are You Addicted to Smoking?

Annette Nay, MS

Copyright © 2001

How do you deal with stress, despair, anger, boredom, sadness, or procrastination? Many people duck dealing with these things. Instead they choose others things to cover or comfort them so they don't have to deal with them at the time.

The trouble with this is that problems keep getting swept under the preverbal rug until there are mountains of unresolved problems continually tripping the person up. At this point it is difficult for the person to carry on a normal life.

The item that they have chosen for comfort to cover up life's problems usually becomes a problem too, because it is being used to an excess.

FOOD

There are three basic stages in any addictive process. First, there is a change in the thought process. Second, there is a change in how people deal with life's ups and downs and relationships with others. Third, their lives and their physical and mental well-being erodes to the point where there is no control. As a result suicide may become a viable way out of their problems.

Understanding The Addictive Cycle

First: The person feels the need for emotional and/or social comfort, and uses smoking to gain these needs.  Smoking becomes excessive as the smoker equates the act of smoking with comfort.

The person feels better for a time as smoking has filled the emotional need, but when the person gets in an uncomfortable situation, emotionally, socially, and/or physically, s/he automatically reaches for a cigarette to cope with the situation. 

Over time, the smoker becomes hooked.  S/He needs smoking to cope with  his/her emotions.  Even the very smell of smoke unconsciously reminds the smoker of comfort and becomes uncomfortable because they are not getting that comfort.

The smoker is hooked again because s/he has collected smokers as friends.  To fit in socially, s/he needs to smoke as it is what they do when they get together.  

Finally, smoking becomes a physical necessity as the body becomes addicted to the nicotine.  Over time the body gains a tolerance to the nicotine and need more and more to satisfy its cravings.  This is because the body becomes used to the smaller dosages and needs more nicotine to get the same relief from the cravings. 

The chain smoker feels emotional pain and guilt for smoking because s/he cannot control the continual need to smoke.  Plus, there is the physical pain that results from withdrawal symptoms, because of the lack of nicotine in the system.

Finally: The whole process begins again because the person seeks relief from the pain and guilt by smoking. 

Change in the Thought Process

• The individual finds that smoking makes them feel good.
• They substitute smoking instead of dealing with their problems.
• The addictive cycle begins.
• The addictive self takes over.
• S/He substitutes addictive logic to explain illogical actions.
• When the normal self tries to point out flaws in the addictive logic, the addictive self points out the pleasurable aspects of the addiction.

Change in Dealing with Life and Others

• Questions about the addict's logic is perceived as an attack on himself/herself.
• The addict practices objectification (The regarding or usage of others as objects to get the addict what s/he needs.) and can't understand why others get upset.
• The addict feels righteous indignation and withdrawals further from others.
• The normal self watches as loved ones are hurt and pushed away.
• The normal self feels ashamed. To cope, he/she blames others.
• The addicted person is labeled as a problem and becomes the scapegoat for most of the problems which takes place.
• The more the addict acts out (uses tobacco) the more isolated s/he becomes.
• The addict gains a tolerance to the chemicals now controlling mood. It takes more smoking to get the same high get or to be normal in mood otherwise s/he is depressed.
• The addict acts out more frequently and perhaps dangerously.  Often smoking leads the person into trying illegal drugs.
• Due to shame and denial of one's loss of control, the addict's becomes more secretive.
• The addictive self would rather tell a lie than the truth, even when there is no reason to lie.

Physical and Mental Breakdown

• The pain from loneliness, shame, and anger are almost continual.
• Smoking doesn't cover the pain, any more, it only adds more pain.
• When smoking no longer eases the pain, the addictive logic breaks down.
• The pressure of stored feelings mounts up. It causes emotional and/or physical breakdown.
• The normal self dreads each new day.
• Stopping the addictive cycle causes physical withdrawal and a grieving process for the lost relationship with smoking.
• There are only two ways out of this stage of the addiction - intervention or suicide.
• Most addicts are stopped though intervention of help from friends or loved ones.
• The chances of recovery are good even though it requires total commitment by the addict and a complete lifestyle change.
• Without intervention, the tormented normal self decides to put a stop to it all and commits suicide.

1. Admit you need help from your God and ask for His help.

2. Do your part to succeed.

• Make God your partner, through continual prayer.
• This may mean you will need the advice or care of a professional.
• You may need the help of a support group.

3. Realize changes takes time to made.

Nakken, C. (1988). The Addictive Personality. Hazelden Foundation: U.S.

Nay, A (1996) A Wholistic Approach to the Control of Addiction.

Sheppard, K. (1989). Food Addiction. Heath Communication, Inc.: FL.

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