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A question occurred to me while ready RoseH's blog on Hell week this morning. When do you start to feel like a non-smoker rather than smoker that is depriving ones self of nicotine? Probably a gradual thing, but any insight would be helpful as I would like to see a glimpse of that life.
-George (Day 12)
Once I read Allen Carr's book and understood that most of the stress I felt when I smoked was CAUSED by the last cigarette I smoked, I no longer felt deprived of one thing.
I think I felt like a true ex-smoker when I went on my first airplane trip. Being able to sit and relax in the airport for hours, and then be on a plane for hours and NEVER jones for a fix? EX-SMOKER!
TBH, it took a while before I went from "quitting" (actively avoiding smoking) to "quit" (passively just didn't do it, no effort involved). That's when I felt and thought of myself as a nonsmoker. As you said, it is gradual. Some folks do have that "aha' click moment, but for me it snuck up and one day it was what it was. Maybe about six months for me. But I smoked for over 50 years, it may be less for shorter-term smokers.
For the first few weeks I consoled myself with a fantasy that if I ever knew I was going to die soon I'd smoke again. Feels weird now, but it helped then. I think it was around 30 days that I started to rethink that. And by 90 days I was firmly a non-smoker forever.
I am sure everyone is different, but I finally felt it somewhere after day 75 ish...you are so early in the quit journey...tyndallgw ... it takes times and much healing until you truly get that “aha” moment of Freedom...it does happen, but you have to hang on for a much longer time. Congratulations on 12 days of Freedom...super job...
Happy Saturday ~ Colleen 635 DOF
But why the question? I know you are uncomfortable, but there is only one way through to that point where you know you are free from the addiction---and that is to not smoke one day at a time. This is your work for today. I can't tell you how important it is for you to accept that your only job is to not smoke, behavior modification comes first, your heart and mind wake up the more you unlearn associations to smoking. This is where all your hard work will pay off (Most smokers don't want to let go and almost pine for a lost love--it's addiction). So keep building on each day. You've won 12, fantastic. Keep going. Each day matters.
This is exactly where I am Mary. Day 83 and my job today is to get to day 84. Day 82 was easier than day 22, and day 22 was easier than day 2. I can't say this definitively, but I think it is not an item that will ever be off my checklist. It is forever in progress.
Congratulations on 83 and working on 84!!! It is a crazy, amazing journey.
Great post....probably exactly what I needed to hear.
Thanks, George
Glad you found it useful. This whole quitting thing is a learning process. When you see it that way, take it as a positive challenge rather than an onerous task, it almost becomes fun! lol One of the times I quit in the past I put a note on my door going outside that read: "What am I supposed to learn today?" It helped me change the way I approached the day psychologically. It's also a great way to change your mindset from a negative experience of an event into a positive one. "What am I supposed to learn from this experience?" What are the "powers that be" trying to teach me?
I can't remember exactly when it happened but I started to notice that I did not think of smoking when things happened that would have sent me running for a smoke. The first time it happened, it stunned me and then it started happening more and more. I really think I knew I would not smoke again because my quit was based on how sick I was, I still deal every day with the damage I did by smoking. I used to say I am an EX smoker because I did not think I could be a NON smoker if I had ever smoked...now, after more than 6 1/2 years smoke free, I don't think about it unless I am specifically asked if I ever smoked...like at a doctor's appointment.
It takes time but it is worth every minute of that time and then some.
Ellen
I understand 'Non-smoker' is one who never smoked.
If your question is about to feel comfortable when smoke free... not missing cigarette, and you are really really back to normal... would be as the days are gone (without smoking), you gain more confidence, and feel that you have become independent of nicotine. No slavery. and that would be winning time.
As far as myself goes when I made thru what some call No Mans Land and the strong urges stopped and were becoming farther apart I felt good to tell you exactly I really don't know as it is all a process. I can promises this
If you take it a day at a time you will get there in no time