Smokers, what does smoking give you?

[Maxemeister]

And for those who are gonna be concerned, I'm NOT gonna start smoking. Ever. Which brings me to the topic, what smoking gain? What can you possibly gain?

[ak666]

For me it ultimately just leads to regret.

I started smoking one time in Japan in bars, since everyone was smoking (women and men) and I felt kind of left out. At first I coughed, but I felt a kind of relaxed sensation and a little bit of a spinning feeling when I first tried. It was pleasant.

Then I started smoking but only when I went to bars, mixing smoking with drinking.

I still wasn't addicted yet, could go for weeks without doing it and no kind of cravings or anything.

Yet one time, I was getting stressed out from work. So I tried smoking at work, and suddenly I noticed a jolt where I was more calm, felt a bit more focused, and I was able to do longer hours and overnight shifts while working.

That's when I became addicted, and because of that temporarily jolt it gave me in my work. Yet that initial boost kind of started to lose effect, I just felt the need to smoke whenever, or else I would start getting nervous and antsy.

And since then, I've regretted it, trying to quit many times. It also diminished my health. I used to play a lot of sports and was in pretty peak physical condition. Now I find myself running out of breath if I just sprint a short distance (a few hundred meters, e. g.), and that decline where I started running out of breath sooner was really rapid after I began smoking.

It's mostly a horrible idea, and it's wise to never do it at all.

[Maxemeister]

I won't, ever. And hey I'm sorry that all happened to you. Feeling pressure will do that to ya

[meowcow]

Aside from a bit of stress relief, there's not much to gain from smoking.
It sounds like you'd rather be a man and deal with your problems instead of being a little wimp and drugging away your problems.

The cons with smoking are quite enormous. Most long-term smokers will smoke about 1-pack per day (20 cigarettes), which comes out to about $6/day, or over $1000/year. Then comes the damaged lungs, heart disease, possible cancer and shorted lifespan. One wonders why there are any smokers at all these days.

[Anonymous]

Most start when they're young and dumb and regret it later when they've grown up, know a bit more and are addicted.
What does it do? Calms nerves, calms anger, ice breaker amongst all other smokers, nice after sex, nice after a meal. Quite a lot actually. But none of it is really worth the black lungs, eventual smokers cough, weaker lungs and the fact that 1 out of every 2 smokers die of a really horrible slow smoking related illness. Sometimes when I'm with a smoker friend, I remember it and I remind them, then I ask so which of the two of us do you think it'll be?

[justbanANNAz]

good question.
for them i bet it's probably like anti stress, relaxation, getting 'high', not always literally but emotionally to escape from reality for a bit.

just a guess. no i have not smoked lol.

[Maxemeister]

I've heard from here that it helps them NOT make stupid decisions

Bit ironic isn't it xD

[justbanANNAz]

LOL seriously? it totally is.

[Phoenix98]

Well I only smoke cigars and pipe tobacco so I am not sure if you are referring to drugs, cigarettes or something else.

But for me I smoke simply because I enjoy it, I enjoy the history of it, the culture of it, the ritual of choosing a pipe and a complimenting tobacco to compliment each other and fit the mood I'm in, packing, lighting etc, the smell is nice and it just relaxes me and makes me contemplate things and actually think, not in the way you think when your high but actual and deeply think. I could go on and on but you get a small idea.

[Josht11]

People get addicted to drugs which is why they keep using them even though they want to quit they get withdrawal symptoms, this is what smoking gives them it stops the constant craving. Smoking can obviously also give you a good relaxing feeling and many people smoke when very stressed and they end up depending on it.

[Maxemeister]

As a release, I can see some people thinking that

[WhatTheHellAmy]

It's pretty relaxing, sometimes when I feel sad or bored... I smoke and I relax a lot, I can get kinda dizzy and I like it.
I have a smoke fetish, I love the smell of it, the flavor, I really really love it.
it helps me think... Every time I smoke I just sit somewhere and I meditate about what's going on with my life haha

I don't do it daily so that's why I worship it so much.

[VirginiaBeachBum]

The first time I smoked, it helped me deal with the stress of my wife being killed without losing my mind. The second time kept me from going to prison for killing the bastard who molested my daughter. Both times, once the stress abated, I put the cigarettes down and had no problem quitting.

[Maxemeister]

0_0 well that's impressive!

[Humping_Tornadoes]

Nothing. It just sort of "relieves" stress or anxiety for a good 15-30 min or so (because of the nicotine) then you will want to smoke again... and again, and again while basically killing yourself lol

I used to skate when I smoked some years ago so I never felt completely out of shape/breath as some people do. Still, ever since I stopped smoking I definitely feel more active, less lazy than before. Also, no more bad breathe or smelly shirt/hair.

[Humping_Tornadoes]

breath*

[Jack_S]

A smoke can refocus and shapen me during long drives when im at risk of dozing off at the wheel.

Also, being a "social smoker" grants a commen ground with other people who smoke, specifically at pubs clubs and etc.

[Chief16]

They find justification in faulty ads and fake literature.
velenophobe.files.wordpress.com/.../...science.jpg

[Svengodofman]

I am a former smoker, and I can tell you that there is a small high associated with the nicotine. For me it always gave me a calming effect.