I am having a little debate with other hypnotherapist colleagues about this age old question. What exactly is smoking as far as its hold on a smoker is concerned.
Is smoking an addiction or is it a habit?
Some smokers who I have helped to quit will be adamant that smoking for them is an addiction and therefore they can't stop by themselves and hence the reason for attending my quit smoking hypnosis session. Others will say it is a habit which they want some extra help to break.
Interestingly the number of cigarettes smoked by someone doesn't seem to make a clear distinction between the habit and addiction quandry. I have heard social smokers describe smoking as an addiction and chain smokers refer to it as a habit but this is never consistent.
In my view, how a person thinks about smoking can make a difference about how difficult or how easy they think they will be able to quit smoking. For most people a habit is perceived to be easier to change than an addiction.
I would love to hear your comments (whether you are a smoker, an ex-smoker or have lived with a smoker) here and on my Squidoo lens at http://www.squidoo.com/quitsmokinglondon
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Comments: 4
I understand that the nicotine leaves the body within 24 to 48 hours of the last cigarette. I think your point about being ready or not ready to stop is vital to successfully stopping permanently. I always emphasise to anyone who comes along to see me that they must have made up their own mind that they want to quit smoking and are not doing it because someone else has persuaded, cajoled or pressurised them into stopping.