Is smoking really an "addiction" and a "disease"?

I don't know if I'm in "denial" or something, but I've been smoking for 5 years and I don't find it that hard to "quit". I smoke a pack a week and when I got pregnant with my son I stopped cold turkey from my pregnancy through breast-feeding (11 months). I started smoking again after that, but only because I no longer felt "icky" about it. When my boy was inside me, I couldn't smoke. I felt like I was hurting him, which I couldn't do. Now it isn't that I feel I can't stop, it's that I like smoking and don't feel bad about it anymore... well sometimes I do,  but mostly know. Smoking doesn't do the same thing drugs and alcohol do. Drugs make you act different and alcohol (in high quantities, I'm not talking cocktails with your friend) also affects how you feel and act. When I smoke, I just calm down and reflect.... it doesn't make you violent or hung over. I'm not promoting smoking, I'm just saying that nothing has made me feel guilty enough about it to make me quit... but I already did once when I felt the need. Why is it so hard for other people?

[allaboutmary]

I have never been able to quit smoking. My brother died 2 yrs ago of lung cancer due to smoking. It was a horrible thing to watch. He was 52 yrs old.  I am still smoking, I don't think I have a brain in my head sometimes.  I am however 21 days clean of pain pills..  go figure....

If you feel you could quit now easily Please do it. You need to be around for your children. Get off them now while you can.

[tooklastdose]

yes, it is an addiction.  my mother in law has stage 4 lung cancer from smoking.
If you can quit, then quit.
second hand smoke is still harming your child.

Go to a cancer ward and ask some of those people your question.

[KC_Babygirl]

That's what bothers me... I feel like if I got pregnant today I would just *snaps fingers* quit. But I've convinced myself that I don't need to because I'm not putting smoke in anyone else... I like... don't want to quit. I mean I do, but I don't... I like smoking. Sometimes I wonder if me not wanting to quit (despite hating that I have to hide the smell from people) means that I'm addicted, but how CAN I be if I was able to quit as soon as I found out I was pregnant? I really don't know if I'm in denial or not... and I place myself above my BF (which is so bad to do) because I feel better for only smoking ciggarettes and not being a heavy drinker or drug abuser like he is... Is smoking really so bad? I want to quit... but I really DONT want to quit...

[tooklastdose]

if you have to hide it, I think it is an addiction.
You BF is an alcoholic and drug user?
You are "only smoking" , but all of this affects your child.

[KC_Babygirl]

My BF isn't really an alcoholic... maybe borderline. But he smokes a lot of weed. How can I convince myself that smoking ciggarettes is really something that needs to end? I like it...

[Curls]

It's killing your child.  Many lung cancers are in people exposed to SECOND hand smoke at some point in their lives, who don't smoke themselves.  Your kid is at risk for broncitous as a CHILD.  Call the the lung cancer association for the facts on what smoke is doing to your child.  You loved him enough to stop during pregnancy.  If you still love him, the news will shock you.  You'll want to stop - addicted or not.  Count yourself extremely lucky that you've got a choice, since some many go through great pain to quit.  The reason to stop isn't because it's addictive, which your question is leaning towards.  The reason to stop is because it will kill you and rob your child of his mother, and it will harm him every day of his life - even if you smoke "away" from him.  Good luck.  I hope it's as easy for you this time if you decide to.

[avisg]

well here is some guilt that trust me when i say you dont want to quit smoking this way...... I was a three pack a day smoker ...i did it for years  around my kids .......
I quit sept 17 2006 cold turkey.......
now i will tell you why my 8 year old ended up with cancer .......
trust me when I say you dont want to wait until then
avis
just quit

[KC_Babygirl]

I hat no idea... really NO idea. I always thought "I only smoke when I'm outside and he's not by me" so I figured I was safe and he was safe... I need to stop being selfish and think about my son. And it's hard... I don't like the idea of quitting... but it needs to be done.

Thank you.

[avisg]

I just dont ever want you to have to wonder if your smoking hurt your child..... I feel so uch better now that I have quit it has been over a year now i can breath .....I save so much money... You can do it ..... do it for the both of you :)
avis

[Curls]

Here's another reason to quit.  If you put the cigarette money aside, for instance your son's college education, you'll be able to give him quite a gift.  Or if you have education covered, then for down payment on his first house...  My BIW after a very hard withdrawal, now uses his cigarette money to buy toys, and boy what a nice expensive collection of electronics he has.  A top of the line home sterio, gps before they were cheaper, police scanner and ham radio equip, assorted computer stuff, his favorite childhood pin ball machine, a top of the line touring bike...  I've lost track.  Also it hasn't been that many years to accummulate these.  Sometimes a positive goal makes it easier to focus on the end point, so I'm mentioning this.  

He also always himself to go outside by himself for a "smoke" without the cigarette.  (He likes some quiet time away from the yaking people.)  In other words, he keeps up the other part of the smoking behavior that gave him something positive too.  So that giving up smoking wasn't giving up everything he liked.  It's so cute.  Now he and his little daughter stand outside together in the freezing cold and talk during his "breaks".  (We get a coat on her - he's hopeless on that.)