Okay, when will I really be a non-smoker?

[Mizmoon]

I know, you're all sweetie-pies and want to tell me I was a non-smoker as soon as I stopped. But I need a more hard-ass answer than that.

When do you think I can consider myself safely recovered from smoking and an official non-smoker? A month? three? A year?

Right now I've only got about 60 hours smoke-free under my belt. And I still want to gnaw my own foot off.

[LynzM]

1. I don't have a good answer,

Since I'm not an ex-smoker, and they're probably in the best place to give you an answer. But I wanted to send you a :hug: and a congrats on a good start!

[short bus president]

2. never

yer stuck with "ex smoker."

Unless you can talk jeebus into restoring yer lungs' virginity. ;-)

[Frogtutor]

13. I have to agree...anyway, "ex-smoker" is a badge of honor

I've been quit for over a year and a half now. I don't think we can ever correctly be called non-smokers; we'll always be ex-smokers. Also, I think "ex-smoker" carries a different feeling; it's kind of like a badge of honor. It means you have wrestled the monster and won. Also, it means we can truly sympathize with smokers, unlike many non-smokers.
Now, to answer what I think you really want to know: Like I said, it's been almost 2 years for me, and I still REALLY want to smoke sometimes. Not so much a physical craving anymore, just a psychological/physiological desire. I don't care what anyone says, that's the toughest part of the addiction, not the nicotine cravings. I started dreaming about smoking almost as soon as I quit, and I still do occasionally. The dreams were so vivid, I would wake up feeling guilty! What keeps me from giving in to these urges is that I know how hard it was to quit, and I never want to go through it again, my family would be crushed if I started again, I enjoy my freedom from cigarettes (not worrying about whether or not I can smoke in a certain place, fret about going to movies, or sitting in non-smoking sections, not having to go outside every hour or so, etc.) I realize now how much I STANK when I smoked because I'm sensitive to the smell now, My house and car don't stink anymore, and they're easier to clean. The pluses are really too numerous to mention them all, and they really do outweigh any pleasure I would get from smoking again.
I won't kid you; it IS hard to quit; but you're already well on your way. Keep it up!
Frogtutor

[Wilber_Stool]

3. When you leave the store

without thinking to buy smokes.

[CO Liberal]

4. When You Stop Thinking About It

I quit for good 12 years ago, after smoking on and off for 25 years. When you get to the point when you stop thinking "I wish I had a cigarette", you're a non-smoker, IMHO.

Congrats on your first 60 hours. Just like our friends in AA, just take it one day at a time.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. When You See Yourself As an Ex-Smoker

instead of somebody who to is trying to quit smoking. I think it has to be one of the hardest habits of all to break. Kudos to you for the effort. Sending good vibes your way. And hoping that you are telling yourself good things.

[Dora]

6. I quit July '03

and I think it was probably November or December before I truly felt I had the upper hand.

However, my parents visited in March '04, and I smoked their cigarettes for the entire week they were here. I probably smoked anywhere from 3-10 a day for their visit, and after they left I felt that familiar craving for the first day or two, but it was nothing like quitting all over again.

Give it six months. There will come a day when you'll see somebody light up and you'll be thankful that you don't feel like you have to have a smoke too.

You're doing great!

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. You know the old joke -- quitting is easy, I've done it a million times.

I succumbed to temptation after being quit for 9 years, and it took me another 8 years of on-again, off-again to be quit again. I'm currently tobacco free since July of last year, and am beginning to feel pretty safe. Just spent the last six months sharing a place with two heavy smokers and was not tempted.

Of course, the fact that if I do smoke my lungs completely crap out on me is extra incentive.

But it varies with the person and the smoking history. I started at 14, in '67.

good luck

[one_true_leroy]

8. Go to the dentist...

Splurge on a bleaching for your teeeth and a good cleaning. You can use the money you saved by not smoking. When your teeth are shining and your breath smells minty fresh, you're a non-smoker.

[TX-RAT]

9. Takes about 3 weeks

Then you'll realize you just don't crave or even think about them.

[eataTREE]

10. After 21 days you will not experience any regular cravings.

Might still hit in moments of stress though, for as much as a few years afterwards.

Needless to say, if you want to *stay* a non-smoker, you can't smoke. Not even one, no matter how long you've been quit, or you'll quickly be right back at it.

[signmike]

11. It took me 10 years

I started at age 11 and smoked for the next 17. Every time I tried to taper off I wound up smoking more - I was at 4 packs a day in 1972. I substituted sunflower seeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, pistachio nuts - anything to occupy my hands and mouth. That only lasted a couple weeks - damn, but I got tired of eating seeds! In boot camp in 1966 we were not allowed to smoke the first 4 days - that was my record. In '72 I knew once I made the 4 days I would not want to break that, and I haven't. But every once in a while I would catch a whiff of smoke and REALLY wanted some. It's easy now, no cravings.
Smoke free now for 32 years and when the V.A. hospital checked my lungs they found damage! I hope any of this helps somebody get/stay off the stuff.

[plcdude]

12. it may take some time

it is different for everyone. How much did you smoke before and how long have you smoked?

[Mizmoon]

14. 17 years between 1 and 1 1/2 packs per day

but they were *lights* :crazy:

[plcdude]

19. okay

it will take some time say 3 months to lose the urges and another 6 months not to have olfactory induced urges. After I quit I used to walk through areas where people were smoking and that prolonged the recovery. So avoid those places too.

[tjwash]

15. After you put on ten pounds.

Hell I put on twenty after I quit, then started jogging, and biking to keep in shape.:P

[MARALE]

16. When you go a day or two

And don't even think about smoking. trust me it will happen. Then you realize you don't miss it and you will feel great. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for this to happen. It takes 2 weeks to mentally get over the habit. After that you will need to fight the "I could have just one, I know I wouldn't start again" feeling. That is what got me after a year. Good luck. You can do this I know, stay strong! Thanks for the comment about my kitten, he is a sweetie and I feel really bad for him.

[One_Life_To_Give]

17. Legally, for Insurance of Addiction wise

For Life Insurance I think you have to be somke free for two years. Legally I don't know, any Lawyers?
As for the addiction, I am a addict for Life. No matter how many years since my last smoke I am still just;
A Puff away from a Pack a Day

ANd there are many other ex-smokers like me. Not that we have to work at statying smoke free after all these years. But we always have to remember that a single puff will bring the addiction back as though we had never stopped.

[BiggJawn]

18. when you go through an "Election" like we did without lighting up..

I made it. I consider myself "cured".