Who are they?
Closet smokers are those who smoke in a way that others do not know they smoke. They do not smoke when they are around family, friends, colleagues and pretty much anyone even remotely known to them.
Are they different from other smokers?
Life for a closer smoker is not easy. For one, like other smokers, they are not proud of their habit. Every time they smoke, there is a sense of guilt that they are doing something they should not be doing. This feeling keeps growing as they continue with the habit.
Secondly, if and when they decide to quit, there is no one they can approach for help as almost no one would know that they are smoking addicts in the first place. They do not receive support and motivation from their near and dear ones when they want to or decide to quit. It, therefore, becomes quite difficult and stressful for them even to quit.
Reasons for being a closet smoker
One of the main reasons why people become closet smokers is fear; fear for a lot of reasons. They are fearful that if their close ones ever find out that they smoke, it may lead to a fight and tensions in relationships. There is also fear that if they smoke in front of their children, it may have a bad impact on them and encourage them to become smokers.
Another major reason is a sense of guilt and embarrassment. Many closet smokers are those who have promised to quit and are seen as non smokers by people they know. These smokers feel a sense of guilt every time they smoke as they get a feeling that they are deceiving those close to them. Many such smokers are embarrassed of letting others know of their habit as it has been hidden from everyone.
It is only the effect that nicotine has on them that they find it extremely difficult to let go and continue deceiving everyone around them.
