When developing an addiction to nicotine, there are some symptoms that can alert you to seek help.
Some of these include
Intense cravings, or an overwhelming feeling that you need to take nicotine
Doing anything to get nicotine. Addiction can cause you to do the unthinkable just to get what your brain craves.
Feeling paranoid, irritable, or anxious that you can't take nicotine but can't.
Continuing using nicotine despite knowing all the health risks that result from it.
Addiction is when the brain becomes reliant on nicotine to provide the feeling of dopamine because the brain can no longer produce it. Nicotine activated the receptors in our brain, which causes the receptors to release dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that acts as a pleasure response. Over time, the use of nicotine causes your brain to create more nicotine receptors. "Addicted smokers have billions more of these receptors than nonsmokers do. But not all smokers have such a high level of receptors. That is why some regular smokers can stop smoking without much difficulty." (Mayo Clinic.org) Over time, the addiction can worsen where you only feel good or pleasure when nicotine is present in your body.