how can i work up the courage to buy cigarettes?

If you are 19, then you should have ID of some kind that proves that you're 19. If not a driver's license, then wherever you live, there should be some kind of ID card available. Look up "(insert city/town here) ID card" on google, and see what comes up. Aside from the issue of cigarettes, you are going to want to have some way of proving that you're over 18, at least for the next few years.

So... when you have that.... just go and buy some cigarettes if you want to. I smoke, and I wish I didn't... curiously, I started with smoking pot, and from there I went to tobacco. At a young age, I got into the music scene, where everyone was stoned all of the time. Loved that time in my live, have no regrets. As the years dragged on, and I had to consider a real career, I left the pot behind, because I couldn't function in the world of employable people whilst being stoned. I replaced it with tobacco. I don't smoke all that much compared to some... but I've never shaken it off completely. I can't recommend it... but... if you have ID, then just buy some ciggies if you want to, you are completely legally covered.

If you live in states, any form of legal ID you own will allow you to buy cigarettes. Simple as that.

As far as using cigarettes as a coping mechanism, you're doing just as much self harm. Smoking is helping you relax for the time being, but in the long run you will be suffering more self harm than you think you have. My advice is to re-consider your approach towards cigarettes. Smoking and / or self harm both have the same outcome.

Otherwise, if you live in the states and you're 19 years old, you shouldn't have a problem with purchasing cigarettes.

Just show ID. Proof of name/address should suffice or your passport.

And you shouldn't smoke. J/s.

As all these other folks said, show ID.

And by the way, smoking *is* self-harm. (which is basically what versionv2000)

You said "don't judge me" but you judged every single one of us.

Smoking*

1. Every smoker/dipper/tobacco chewer/hookah user----- should be aware of Any Cancer, lupus, HIV/AIDS, Kaposi’s Sarcoma, etc., —Common Symptoms:

Sudden loss of weight/stamina, anemia, unbearable pains in any organ despite medication, neuralgia, FATIGUE-getting extremely tired for a little or no work, loss of appetite, unhealed wound in any part of the body for years together, chronic constipation, chronic hemorrhages, hemoptysis, etc. Cancer may affect from any organ to any organ[s]/system[s].

2. Smoking makes you 5 years older

Men have a greater chance of dying then women, and smoking increases any adult’s risk of

death just as if five years were suddenly added to their age.

For men who have never smoked, heart disease presents their greatest risk for death at•

any age, exceeding the odds of dying from lung, colon and prostate cancer combined.

Male smokers face a lung cancer risk that is greater than the odds of heart disease•

taking their lives after age 60, and is ten–fold higher than the chance of dying from

prostate and colon cancer combined.

The chance of dying from heart disease and breast cancer are similar for nonsmoking•

women until age 60, when heart disease becomes a greater risk.

For female smokers, dying from lung cancer or heart disease is more likely than dying•

from breast cancer after age 40.

Diabetics who smoke are more likely to have severe hypoglycemia

People with diabetes who smoke are more than twice as likely to have an episode of severe

hypoglycemia, or very low blood sugar, as those who have never smoked, Loss of sugar can

cause mental confusion, or even coma or seizures in severe instances. Smoking, through its

effect on hormone regulation and insulin clearance, has been hypothesized to result in severe

hypoglycemia. According to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care, after taking

account of other factors, smoking conferred a 2.6–fold increased risk of having severe

hypoglycemia. Furthermore, smoking was associated with similarly increased odds of having

diabetes–related nerve damage, impaired kidney function, and sight–threatening retinal

defects.

Along with making your blood thicker and more likely to clot, smoking raises your blood pressure. You can also reduce your risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.

--Dr KK Aggarwal Padma Shri & Dr B C Roy National Awardee.

Early Signs of mouth cancer

Often, signs and symptoms of mouth cancer are not painful. The most common signs are:

• an ulcer or sore in your mouth or on your tongue

• a red or white patch in your mouth

• an unexplained pain in your mouth or ear.

Other signs to look out for are:

• an unexplained lump in your neck

• a sore or painful throat

• a croaky voice or difficulty swallowing.

3.Smoking habit— To remove craving!"or tobacco—Glon 30-1 pill twice daily. CP 3x alone or mixture of CP 3x or 12x and NM 3x, in a tumbler of luke warm water to be sipped every 10 minutes removes it in a few hours. If this fails give CP 200 once or twice a week for 3 or 4 weeks Nux Vom 6-4 or 5 times daily; if this fails after two or three days give China 6-4 or 5 times daily. Smoking is very harmful. It even causes cancer—See under cancer. For craving for chewing tobacco. See Tobacco habit.

Dosage*: 2 grains t.d.s.

• All these biochemic salts/homeo medicines available @ local Homoeo shops, are safe and with side benefits. Don’t swallow medicine. The medicine to be dissolved on/under the tongue. Don’t take any thing 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after medication. You can take water.