Smoking is a Powerful Addiction

Smoking is one of the most powerful addictions there is. It kills more people than all other addictions combined. And yet, the path to recovery, from smoking or any addiction, does not begin with shame, willpower, or self-attack.

It begins with honest questions:

“What did the addiction do for me? What did I like about it? What emotional or positive experience did it give me?”

These questions shift the conversation away from judgment and toward compassion and understanding. They invite us to look at the function of the addiction, not just the behavior.

Because addiction doesn’t appear randomly. It emerges to serve a purpose. The real work is uncovering the emotional pain the addiction was trying to soothe.

For many people, addiction temporarily provides:

Peace of mind

Connection with others

A sense of love or belonging

Calmness

Control

sense of Power

Relief from fear

A moment of inner quiet

When we answer these questions honestly, something profound becomes clear: Addiction was never the problem. It was an attempt to solve one. And healing begins when we turn toward that truth with compassion, not condemnation.

By the way, I learned this approach from Gabor Mate 4 years ago.

Paul Noiles