I am the only smoker in a family of non-smokers. I always feel judged for my habit when I am around my family, but I especially feel it during the holidays. I know my family loves me, but they certainly hate the part of me that feels compelled to light up a cigarette at least once an hour.
During family dinners, parties, etc., I always make it a point to politely remove myself from the group when I need to smoke. I'll go outside if we're hanging out in the house. If we're enjoying an afternoon outside, I'll excuse myself for a short walk. I do this out of respect for my family.
No matter how hard I try, however, it's never enough for my family. When I return to the group, someone always makes a comment about hating the smell of cigarettes. Inevitably, someone always starts coughing.
How can I approach my family about my addiction? Don't they understand that, at this point, I'm not in charge of my smoking? Rather, my smoking is in charge of me. It controls my life. How can you communicate that to someone who has never smoked a single cigarette?
