Nicotine is more addictive than most drugs, but....the withdrawals are far less than what you think. Have you done the reading? All of the reading? I promise it helps. Read on this site. Read on whyquit.com search the internet. The best recommendation I have is below and was given to me by the wise Elders on this site:
Read read read. Do the steps to PREPARE yourself to quit. Do the steps so you are PREPARED on quit day and for the days AFTER quit day. Keep this site close and keep posting and asking for help. You will get it. You will get things you like and things you don't like, but don't give up!!!
Personally, I think it's harder because we use nicotine as our comforter, our best friend. Drugs and/or alcohol we use as an escape from reality, a numbing factor.
We used nicotine EVERYWHERE and it was perfectly acceptable, many drugs are NOT acceptable and cannot be used publicly, crazymama_Lori is right. Nicotine was part of everything...when we first quit, it is all we think of, we wonder if it will always be like that and when we don't believe in taking it one minute at a time...that's when we fail. We have to stay in the moment, it WILL get easier but there are no shortcuts and the only way out is through. My favorite thing to say was NOPE, Not One Puff Ever...I said it over and over again AND I told everyone that I quit smoking...EVERYONE...even people who likely did not care. Why? Because I needed all of the support I could get and I got LOTS of it, some from really unlikely sources. You CAN do this, patience is not something nicotine addicts come by naturally but it can be taught.
I absolutely agree with crazymama_Lori . We used smoking as our "best friend," something to keep us company when we were happy, or sad, or lonesome, or bored; it gave us something to DO; we thought it helped with stress, we used it as a reward when we finished a task - or to get us ready to start one, after a meal. We used it to help us concentrate (although, in fact, all it did was relieve the background noise of our brain receptors jonesing for their next fix!).
Most did not use other drugs as often - and they weren't interwoven all through our everyday lives.
I never used drugs, but I would imagine quitting smoking IS more difficult because of its prevalence and repetition. It used to be socially acceptable - in bars, at parties, out with friends - too.
I hope you are working on doing the reading I can tell you that it made a world of difference in my quit to understand what smoking did to my mind and body. I think you will be better equipped if you do what we have provided to you, and if you do the separation and tracking exercises suggested on this site.
Quitting smoking isn't easy - but it IS doable.....but it takes effort on your part.
