Why Do People Smoke: What’s Your Payoff? [TEST]

Most people who smoke started smoking in their teens and developed a strong addiction to cigarettes by the time they became adults. Smoking is one of those habits that is notoriously hard to break because the reasons why you smoke can be psychological or physiological. Knowing precisely what it is you are looking for in cigarettes will help you develop a better strategy for quitting.

For example, if you discover that you smoke because cigarettes keep you alert and help you concentrate better, you could consider replacing tobacco with coffee and generally improving your diet. Greatist has a list of science-backed ways to boost energy. On the other hand, if you smoke because of anxiety, your strategy for quitting smoking should be completely different. The test below is designed to measure which of the six most common reasons for smoking affects you the most. You will find your results, an explanation of these six reasons, and suggested strategies after you complete the test.

I smoke because it helps me get through the day.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I simply enjoy the feeling of having a cigarette in my hand.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

Smoking helps me relax.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I smoke whenever I feel upset.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I feel uneasy when I run out of cigarettes.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

Smoking is an automatic habit for me; I don’t think much about why I smoke.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

Smoking helps me concentrate better.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I enjoy the process of smoking.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I like the smell of tobacco.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I smoke to deal with my worries.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

When I don’t smoke, I feel like I am missing out on something.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I am a chain smoker; I smoke several cigarettes in a row.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

Smoking gives me energy.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I like the sight of cigarette smoke drifting through the air.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I smoke when I am calm.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

I smoke when I am bored.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

It’s hard for me to go without smoking for a long time.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

Sometimes I light a cigarette without realizing what I am doing.
always
often
occasionally
rarely
never

GET RESULTS

Your results will appear here.

Stimulation: you smoke because you need a way to boost your performance and productivity, keep yourself more alert, and concentrate better. The good news is that working out, improving your diet, drinking more coffee, and even having some chocolate (be careful with this one) can help you not only perform better but also feel more energetic.

Process: you smoke because you enjoy the process of smoking. You enjoy handling cigarettes and other related objects, such as lighters and ashtrays. You like the sight of cigarette smoke. You might perceive smoking as something elegant and sophisticated or, at the very least, it helps you keep your hands busy. Whenever you attempt to quit smoking, you may realize that your hands feel empty and restless.

Relaxation: you smoke to relax. Fortunately, there are many healthier alternatives that can help you relax without the harmful side effects of smoking. From deep breathing to shiatsu self-massage and self-hypnosis relaxation techniques, you may be able to find something that works for you.

Anxiety: you smoke to cope with negative emotions and general life challenges. Interestingly, quitting smoking may help reduce anxiety, according to this study.

Psychological dependence: people often use “addiction” and “psychological dependence” as if they mean the same thing, but they’re not quite identical. Addiction is the bigger picture — it’s when you keep smoking even though you know it’s hurting you, and your brain has essentially rewired itself to crave it. Psychological dependence is more specific: it’s the mental and emotional side of that — the anxious, on-edge feeling that creeps in when you haven’t had a cigarette in a while, even before your body starts showing physical withdrawal symptoms.

Having said that, you can be both addicted and psychologically dependent. So what’s the benefit of knowing you’re psychologically dependent? You can now make a good plan to help yourself cope with these unpleasant feelings before they arise, increasing your chances of success and minimizing the likelihood of relapse. In addition, behavior therapy is often used to help individuals with psychological dependence.

Habit: you’ve been smoking for so long that smoking has become a habit. It may not serve any “meaningful” purpose for you and may be more of a reflex-like, unconscious activity that you perform every day.