2006-10-24 22:57:01 · 20 answers · asked by duke 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
You are a non-smoker - congratulations.
Here's some help to keep it up.
Quitting smoking is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves, as you have already observed.
Congratulate yourself on having the desire to stop - then you are over the worst, but still need to maintain your resolve. It's just so easy to start thinking that just one won't hurt, but it does. Just one achieves nothing except feeling the need for another. Whatever you do, don't have just one. Beware - alcohol will weaken your resolve.
Here's a few home-brewed tips that might be useful.
It's not just nicotine addiction - there are 50+ chemicals in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something', which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!
We will have a few bouts of feeling or even being short tempered. We must try to bite our lip, and control; ourselves. Recognise the short temper as being the removal of toxins which are trying to find a way out. They went in through the mouth, and they try to get out that way to. We must learn to keep our mouth closed, and force the toxins out the other way.
After we have stopped for a while we will begin to feel that just one wont to any harm.
All that leads to is a desire for just another one. We must guard very strongly against the desire to have just one.
2006-10-25 20:22:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congrats on the first 11. You are a non-smoker. How long till you feel like a non-smoker is a different question. This will get easier after the first month. At that point all the nicotine will be gone from your body so the craving will lessen. If you are not in a support group go find one they really do help. I quit almost 6 years ago and sometimes all I want is a smoke it usually passes quickly but I guess it is called addiction for a reason. So will I ever truly feel like a non-smoker? No, but I choose not to smoke. Have you got to the point where things smell better? The sense of smell will be one of the first senses to change and when food starts smelling really good you will be on your way to being a person who chooses not to smoke.
2006-10-25 06:11:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good, you're almost half-way through. It takes a good 30 days
of abstinence from smoking to be confirmed as a non-smoker.
By that time, your nicotine withdrawal has ceased, that is, the
urge of smoking isn't there and your health, especially stamina
and breathing will improve for the better.
You'll experience better quality of sleep and may put on some
weight, but you can reduce it by eating lesser or daily exercise.
(For your info, I took about 30 days to stop the urge of smoking
cigarettes and I have been a non-smoker since 20 years ago).
2006-10-25 06:14:29 · answer #3 · answered by steplow33 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been smoking for 10 years now, I never tried quitting myself yet.
But after 11 days I would say I am not physically dependent anymore. Yet, after three months, I will think I have reached a security line. Yet, after 6 months to 1 year, then I can claim being a non-smoker.
They say lungs fully recover after 6 months, should be same for the brain circuitry.
2006-10-25 06:02:02 · answer #4 · answered by HKernel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I watched a tape from the American Lung ***'n.. and in it they indicated that after 3 days, nicotine is out of your system and after 21 days you can consider yourself a non-smoker. Doesn't mean cravings are all gone, but you are well on your way! Best of luck!
2006-10-25 06:11:05 · answer #5 · answered by Murphyboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is up 2 u and how badly you want to quit 4 good and your stress level. I quit smoking when I was pregnant with both of my kids only to start again after they were born. My daughter weighed 12 pds 1 oz maybe i should have smoked (lower birth weight) totally joking. Good luck.
2006-10-25 06:08:12 · answer #6 · answered by bricklynn71 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first time you go to a restaurant and sit in non-smoking. Just kidding, you are now. (I quit 2 days ago, and I am a non-smoker ;-) )
2006-10-25 06:01:42 · answer #7 · answered by Star 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations, you have passed several hurdles in your 11 days but to be called a non-smoker I would guess at least one year.
2006-10-25 06:26:05 · answer #8 · answered by JOHN M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations, you non-smoker! Really, Good Luck, don't give in to temptation to start again. You've passed a big hurdle, there will be more, but you've done the hardest part.
2006-10-25 06:00:08 · answer #9 · answered by nimo22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
-11 days. You were a non-smoker then, and you are now.
If someone offers you a cigarette the answer you should give is: "No thank you. I don't smoke".
2006-10-25 06:04:25 · answer #10 · answered by Sciman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋