I'm curious about how people think about this - when you stop smoking, do you see yourself as an EX smoker or a NON smoker or something else?
I don't think there's one right answer, and I'm not going to try to persuade someone to think differently, but for me, the answer is that I'm actually STILL a smoker, who is choosing not to smoke, and planning on not smoking for the rest of my life.
That makes me pretty close to being an EX smoker, but I don't think I'll be one of those until the day comes when I'm pushing up daisies. There's always the possibility I'll pick up "just one" again and I know where that leads. To me, the term EX means it's iron-clad guaranteed that I will never smoke again.
And I don't think I'm a NON smoker, even though I'm not smoking. I think the only people who are NON smokers are those who have never smoked at all.
At the end of the day, this is probably all semantics, but as I said, I'm curious what others think of these terms.
Both, I used to smoke therefore I am an Ex-smoker but I don't smoke so I am also a non smoker. As time goes on you stop identifying yourself with smokers, it simply becomes something that you used to do.
I'm with Nic - both. I'm an ex smoker in an inward-looking sense, because I know that it would only take one puff etc, and I don't actually want to forget that. But I'm a non smoker in the way I think about my outward life - in places I can go, things I can do, the way I live day-to-day. So yeah...both.
I was asked yesterday if i smoked, i said no and it felt good ..i was quickly slapped down by my mother though who chirped in with..shes only just quit and is on her soapbox!
-.- oh well i enjoyed the moment..for about half a second
I was asked yesterday if i smoked, i said no and it felt good ..i was quickly slapped down by my mother though who chirped in with..shes only just quit and is on her soapbox!
-.- oh well i enjoyed the moment..for about half a second
It feels great though doesn't it?
I still get a buzz out of saying "I don't smoke" when people ask, or ask if I'm going out for one!!
Great answers - love the individuality and the community happening at the same time.
Great answers - love the individuality and the community happening at the same time.
Any more?
Yep, this is great because I find myself actively not caring a jot in the right way, which for me is healthy. No desire to shout from the rooftops, if no-one asks then I'm not going to volunteer it, none of their business unless they're a health practitioner or insurance company.
But if they do, then:
"No, I don't smoke"
"Yes, I used to smoke"
That makes me both a non smoker and a former smoker... and that'll do just nicely for me thanks, use whatever term you feel comfortable with and sums up the real you, that's all that matters. Right now I feel comfortable with just not doing it any more. Happyhappyhappy
I was asked yesterday if i smoked, i said no and it felt good ..i was quickly slapped down by my mother though who chirped in with..shes only just quit and is on her soapbox!
-.- oh well i enjoyed the moment..for about half a second
Both I guess, if people ask I say "I'm not smoking at the moment but it might go wrong tomorrow!". I don't believe it will at all, don't get me wrong, but I am so afraid of sounding like a smug g*t!
Both I guess, if people ask I say "I'm not smoking at the moment but it might go wrong tomorrow!". I don't believe it will at all, don't get me wrong, but I am so afraid of sounding like a smug g*t!
I know the forum censors what it considers bad language, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what g*t is. Care to enlighten me somehow?
im only on day 4 , and would call my self an ex smoker , after 10 years or so i would say a non smoker , hope i can say that one day
Hello Net,
I'm on day 4 also. I have a same day quit buddy! HAHAHA. I'm unsure as to what I call myself at the moment....today it could be a miserable ex smoker who would like one at the moment but not craving one, just with the boredom of work!! Lol.
hi babs , i had my miserable day on tuesday , luckily no one was home so just the dogs got shouted at , feeling good today , hopefully this time next year we can celebrate our first anniversary lol
I know the forum censors what it considers bad language, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what g*t is. Care to enlighten me somehow?
Haha... the word is git. British slang. It's not especially polite but it's not dreadfully rude. It means idiot, fool. More specifically, the loudmouth oafish variety of idiot.
Haha... the word is git. British slang. It's not especially polite but it's not dreadfully rude. It means idiot, fool. More specifically, the loudmouth oafish variety of idiot.
When did we meet Helen, you describe me so well ha ha thanks for answering that, I missed it....
Haha... the word is git. British slang. It's not especially polite but it's not dreadfully rude. It means idiot, fool. More specifically, the loudmouth oafish variety of idiot.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Learn to be the non smoking YOU.
do you know whats best?
Calling all asthmatic ex-smokers
