It's this addiction that causes withdrawal symptoms like irritability when people stop smoking. But it's not the only thing that makes it hard to quit. The other problem is that smokers often connect habits or feelings with having a cigarette. If you've developed the habit of lighting up a cigarette each time you finish eating, drink a cup of coffee, have a glass of wine or pick up the phone for instance, then you've trained yourself to think you can't do these things without a cigarette. The same goes for feelings.
Some people smoke for pleasure when they feel good, or smoke for comfort when they feel bad.
Feeling angry, anxious, stressed, tired, bored, or even relaxed are other reasons why some of us light up a cigarette. The next time you reach for a cigarette, try and work out which habit or feeling is behind the urge to smoke. Once you've identified these 'triggers' try and find other ways of coping with them. If drinking coffee or alcohol makes you want to smoke, try a glass of juice or water instead. This doesn't mean you can never have another cup of coffee or glass of wine ever again - you just need to break the habit of having these drinks with a cigarette first.