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frumnotyeshivish said “The assumption the OP started with is flawed. EVERYTHING is muttar, unless G-d says otherwise. Therefore, a logical (albeit wrong) way to frame the topic is: Smoking is assur because of xyz, or stupid because of xyz. The assumptions that people leap to, especially regarding highly enjoyable acts that they clearly dislike, shouldn’t be confused with Halachah.”
Anyone vaguely familiar with Halacha is aware of the extreme and unparalleled severity of sakanah and ending life in Jewish law. That’s probably why everyone other than frumnotyeshivish wasn’t bothered by his question.
“Although smoking may not scientifically reduce stress, mentally it does; whenever a smoker is stressed out, they go outside for a smoke and the cig removes them from their surroundings.”
If smoking reduces stress mentally, then why do all studies show that smokers report higher stress levels? Why do former smokers report lower levels of stress than when they smoked?
The answer is that nicotine is related to the brain neurotransmitter called acetyl-choline. At first smoking first overdoses the brain’s nicotinic acetyl-choline receptors, manifesting as “head rush.” Subsequently, those receptors are temporarily desensitized causing a low in the smoker’s mood.
If at this point the smoker takes another cigarette, his mood state will return to normal. Ironically, nicotine will be attributed only with removing the negative state it has induced.
Over time a psychological affinity develops for the formerly repulsive sensory stimuli (taste and smell) associated with nicotine administration. This psychological affinity eventually replaces mood control as the primary reinforcer of the addiction.
Why do people where neckties or black hats? It’s called style!
Show me one smoker who actually decided to become a smoker! The decisions usually is about “should I smoke THIS cigarette NOW?”.
Furthermore there’s a widespread illusion that smokers get pleasure from smoking. Most people are unaware that the illusory pleasure is actually the reversal of nicotine’s withdrawal symptoms. Smokers can only experience a non-smoker’s normal state of mind with a certain level of nicotine in his blood.