This subject is hard for me to give much insight from a smoker's perspective as I and my family never smoked. So, I have questions for smokers or for those who have knowledge about this topic and addictions, and so what I say is just my opinions on this matter from being an outside observer and from having a father who was an alcoholic.
If addictions are mostly physical caused, as many suggest or state, then why can many sleep through addictions? I mean if they can go 8-10 hours without nicotine, alcohol and food, does this not imply that these addictions can be dragged out more during the day, or even be more mentally caused? Also, if nicotine passes through the system in several days or so, and they were not using nicotine for awhile after that, it seems like this too suggests these relapses and addictions can be stopped long term or more permanently than believed, as they stopped for a period of time, often for long periods before and as any physical addictive nature was too far away to be seen as the source of the relapse.
So, this brings me to the questions then.. What are some mental reasons people smoke? Some daily routine? Reduce stress? Need to use your hands for something? They think it is cool? Peer pressure? Desire (conscious or subconscious) to push the other away? Have no belief they can succeed long term? No reasonable step by step goal? Lack of trust that smoking is the main cause of their ailments, denial, or because they like the smell, feel or taste of it, lack of will power or energy, etc? Would not it seem thus we cannot lump all persons together and assume physical addition, genetics involved, etc.,as the reasons why each person smokes, or keeps returning back to it differs, and as some overcome such additions. Thus, it seems like unique solutions for each case could be needed.
And how do we know if such addictions are through birth or learned, unless there was certain science data and testing to confirm such. Often it is easier to have black and white thinking coming from members of society, like for them to say either it must be just physically addictive and that is why they cannot stop long term, or others may say those users just do not care about others around them and just lack some motivation. I think each case is different, and if one does not get to the root of the situation, such addictions or habits will be more difficult to stop for long term, if wrong assumptions are being made and society enables their ways by not digging deeper and by not finding out the likely mental causes too that if bettered could make not returning to that addiction easier.
I am not saying smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and overeating for instance may not have physical or genetic addictive components that either initiates or prolongs that addiction. Of course typical solutions offered there can be tried and addressed. What I am saying is if nicotine patches do not work for necessarily most to stop that smoking need, and many sleep many hours without that extra nicotine need those hours anyway, something else likely is often contributing to that need to smoke more excessive times during the day. So, as one or more of many unique causes could be involved, we cannot assume that if the causes were found, then dire outcomes in not being able to quit long term would occur. Too often people want simple solutions for why things occur or not, what will happen or not or be the end result, or they may have quick excuses for why they do or cannot do things without really examining things further or without admitting something else could be contributing. Wanting easy answers will cause more failures. If the addiction was long term, it is reasonable to expect it may take some reasonable time to figure things out, but that may mainly require competent psychological breakdown and assistance, to see what psychological factors could be involved and to try different approaches.
I will give another example. Let's say there is a very overweight person. A few quick general assumptions may come to the mind for those who notice such persons. 'Oh, they are addicted to food and are just overeating. They do not care about their health. They must sit all day and get no exercise, etc'. What if the reasons were not that at all, or even just partly that. Would it not help to look into possible other specific causes? Are they depressed or bored? Are they not aware of what they are eating or how fast they eat as attention is elsewhere? Maybe they mistakenly think they are eating the same amounts as thinner others. Are there some other physical condition(s), imbalances, slower metabolism, or some medication causing this? Are they stressed or hungry all the time, and why? Do they not look at or care about nutritional labels? Do they subconsciously eat to get more attention sympathy, or to keep others away? Are there sensory issues such that they need certain tastes, feel and smell, in their mouth etc? Do they lack a plan or reasonable goal? Not enough energy, motivation or belief to achieve that? Regardless of the reason or reasons, being general for the causes and outcomes, or assuming things, rarely works. Figuring out possible other causes and trial by error is often needed. There is hope for all if they want to prioritize that by getting to the bottom of things.
But, what I do agree with is things will not be necessarily easy with many with an addiction, as often more than one cause seems involved, physical and mental. and long term usage and relapses often meant many things were likely tried without success or that the user finds that item hard to resist because of seeing more benefits with that substance than not, which may show some distorted reality. However, I just think more users can be doing more for themselves, if they really wanted to be off that, or to be in the best of health. Many may convince themselves it is just some physical addiction thing, but that I feel often is at most a small part. I think many are deluding themselves into thinking there are not other things they could do to better stop relapses. Once one finds possible causes, then it is easier to come up with solutions that target those. Too often ones want a quick solution that works indefinitely or they may give up. That is not reasonable. It often requires a whole new way of thinking about smoking, and diversion to other things, only after finding the causes and helping better those. Further information, support, intervention, and resources are often needed to breaking addictive rigid habits.
The purpose of my post here is not to offend any here who are addicted, or their family members, but to give a different point of view which often is needed to make the best informed decisions.
