How long after you quit would you class yourself as a non smoker?

[MMoo]

I'm week 11 still on patches, am I still giving up or am I a non smoker?

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee]

I think that question is impossible to answer. What I did for the first few months was say I was an ex smoker. Then when I didnt need my inhalator I classed myself as a non smoker. Personal choice I suppose.

[MMoo]

That's a good way of looking at it.

I will say I'm giving up till I'm off patches, then an ex smoker until ummm, don't know lol. Maybe when I can get up the six flights of stairs to work without getting out of breath. Then I know I've completely rid myself of all those toxins. Then I'm a non smoker.

Thank jillygirl.

[Hidden]

Personally I would equate it with a recovering alcoholic. Never a non smoker, more an ex smoker. The memory of smoking and the comfort it brought when you were a smoker I don't think can ever leave you and it all depends how deeply ingrained that comfort is. I never really think about smoking very much at all now (nearly 12 months stopped) but the need for some kind of stress relief to replace the whole habit of smoking is very much still there as the merry month of December has clearly illustrated to me; stood in the Card Factory yesterday literally pulling my hair and scratching my face very hard because I am sick to death of Christmas shopping now.

I think what I'm trying to say is christmas shopping in the grand scheme of things isn't really something to get too worked up about so I couldn't say how I would cope if something seriously bad happened. I would never class myself as a non smoker. For me a non smoker is someone who has never, ever smoked.

[Kaprin]

Hi Morriemoo

I am nearly 7 weeks and on patches and say that I am an ex smoker and like you once I am off NRT will then say I am a non smoker but as jillygirl and sinfree say I think also that if you have never smoked then you can truly say you are a non smoker, difficult one this because being a smoker affects insurances too so when can you tell your insurance company that you no longer smoke to try and get your premiums reduced, anyone have any thoughts on this?

[MMoo]

Yeah you all make good points, I'm actually looking forward to somebody offering me a fag so I can say, I don't smoke! - that's going to be a wonderful feeling.

Kaprin,

Well done, 7 weeks on NRT, how you finding the patches? Are you finding you dream more?

Sinfree,

Did you try the relaxation links?

[EmJay Partner]

Morning Morriemoo,

This is a really good question that many folks often wonder about.

According to the Department of Health, 'a smoker is a person who smokes a smoked product. In adulthood this is defined in terms of daily use, whereas in adolescence (i.e. for those aged 16 or under) it is defined in terms of weekly use.'

So, if you were to go by the above, then you would now class yourself as a non-smoker as you no longer smoke a smoked product on a daily basis.

I haven't smoked for a number of years now and see myself as a non-smoker. I feel free enough to kind of pick and choose whether I am a non-smoker (which is most of the time) or an ex-smoker - in fact, now that I have written that I don't really think I have said that I am an ex-smoker for a long, long time now. If anybody asks me do I smoke, then I'll reply with a simple "no". If I'm asked by a hardened-not-interested-in quitting-kind-of-person, then I'm more likely to say "no, not any more".

As JillyGirl says, it is probably down to personal choice as to how you see yourself.

Sin also makes a point when equating being an ex-smoker with a recovering alcoholic - There is a danger of giving in at a weak moment and just thinking you can have 'just the one' or 'just a quick puff', then you'll be back to being a full on smoker having to set a quit date and having to go through everything all over again. So, best remembering the 'not a puff rule' and as our member Jonathan says NOPE - Not One Puff Ever

I also wonder that if by stating that you are a non-smoker, you may lead your mind into firmly believing that this is what you are - whereas by stating that you are an ex-smoker - you may subliminally be reminding yourself of and taking yourself back to a place where you once believed you loved. Thus putting yourself in a potentially weak spot.

Your mind is a very, very powerful thing and our characters are all made up in such a way that we are quite unique. Remembering that it's what we say when we talk to ourselves (and we all do it!) that influences a lot of how we feel.

Stay positive and choose the way you see yourself as to what suits you best

Gee whizz - you only asked a simple question I know, I think I went into 'chatting bubbles' moment - I hope you can make sense of it!

I better pop the kettle on!

[MMoo]

Thanks for the reply Emjay, really makes sense.

I know from experience that one puff is enough to get you hooked again, as this is my second quit attempt, so yes do not ever have that one puff!.

A good friend of mine once told me after he quit that "I never gave up smoking, I just stopped smoking". I guess when you really think about that it kind of makes sense...

[Kaprin]

Hi Morriemoo

No I use the twelve hour patches this time used the others on a previous attempt and failed partly due to hallucinations I think, these are fine using the 15 mg which will reduce to 10 mg next week and I take it off when I go to bed also chew the gum if desperate doing OK but we are all different that's what makes us unique x

[MMoo]

I'm on the 15 mg at the moment. I done the 25 mg for first 7 weeks. I've got another 2 weeks of 15 mg before I drop to 10mg. Doctor kept me on 15mg for a little longer cause of anxiety issues.

If I forget to take them off at night I have some very weird dreams! Its quite cool cause I never really dreamed before.

You had hallucinations that's nuts!

I've never tried the gum, does it help? When i get a craving I normally eat cake...or doritos and melted cheese mmmm. Not good on the belly thou

[Kaprin]

I find that the Nicorette gum does help me, it is 2 mg and I limit to 3 pieces a day although could have more but choose to have sugar free airwaves in between, will be coming off the gum in 2 weeks, for some reason the hospital started me off on 15 mg patches instead of the 25 mg patches maybe that is why I can also have the gum, who knows? Thankfully only ever had an odd chocolate bar, but then again don't eat much chocolate at the best of times but Doritos oh yes I could eat them, again willpower needed to resist those