There are lots of differences, but I will name just one.
I have a habit of reading in bed until I fall asleep.
I could decide not to do that anymore. Snap my fingers and decide.
I would miss it night after night, but eventually I would get out of the habit.
Then, I could decide to reward myself by reading in bed one night.
The next night I could decide not to read in bed. No problem.
No so with smoking.
If I EVER have another cigarette, I will want another, I will have another, and then another, and then sneak a few here and there, then bum one here or there, then buy a pack to just smoke one every once in awhile, then buy another pack deciding I can quit again next week, etc. etc. etc.
I was physically addicted to nicotine but I was also emotionally dependent on the smoking. I smoked when I was happy, sad, scared and mad, impatient, nervous, relaxing, celebrating. EVERY activity and emotion and situation was paired with smoking. [url=http://www.stopsmokingcenter.net/support/viewmessages.aspx?topic=23658&forum=1http://]my story[/url]
It took a full year for me to really start feeling like my old self.
A habit is a chosen custom, a routine, a pattern, a tradition.
An addiction is a lack of choice - a need, a dependence, a compulsion.
An addiction is a way of life. Breaking it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I will never risk returning to being in chains.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 475
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,875
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1662.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 66 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25
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Quit Meter
$801,342.50
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 6339
Hours: 13
Minutes: 54
Seconds: 12
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
45791
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
1,144,775
Cigarettes Not Smoked