There's no such thing as an
addictive personality:
"Recognition of high levels of psychiatric comorbidity in the substance abusing and substance dependent populations has fueled a search for an "addictive personality." Personality traits often thought to accompany alcoholism and other dependencies include impulsiveness, narcissism, dependency, anxiety, hypochondria and ambivalence. However, prospective studies have established no specific personality profile that predisposes individuals to alcoholism or other drug dependencies."
There were quite a few proponents of the personality model of addiction in the early 90's but it has since been abandoned as hogwash, hanging on in pop-psychology and self-help books.
Some of the myths about smoking have been tackled directly and
have been discounted:
"It is evident that smokers perceive that smoking helps alleviate negative mood states, but the available evidence suggests that the only negative mood state so alleviated is that resulting directly from the nicotine dependence itself."
Also from that study:
"Markers of nicotine consumption indicate that smokers maintain a relatively consistent nicotine intake, and that failure to maintain that intake results in symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Studies of mood effects indicate that the major psychological motivation to smoke is the avoidance of negative mood states caused by withdrawal of nicotine". This is what I experienced. Consicous recognition of the true value of these withdrawal symptoms gives you a sense of accomplishment that more than compensates for the momentary niggling in your subconscious.
Having said that, help is always good. Just make sure you're getting the right kind of help. Some of your friends who've quit had a nightmare doing so, and will naturally assume it'll be the same for you, will even try to convince you that you're miserable.
I heard "it must be hell" about once a day. I'm sure it is if you're convinced it will be.
