Non-Smoker Identity

Maintaining Non-Smoker Identity

Next to gambling, smoking is a hard habit to break out of. The beautiful smoke that goes out of each inhale is freaking gorgeous, right!?

I’m counting 336 hours without a cigarette. I have a strong will to break out of this habit. Smoking has been slowly affecting my body piece by piece.

Disclaimer: This post does not disclose any health disadvantages smoking could cause. Experience and feelings you may get while reading a Non-Smoker Identity post is not meant to force you towards making any decision but instead give you another perspective on the smoking habit. Non-Smoker Identity blog post will not be held accountable for any actions you may take post-reading this article.

That first one in 16’s

My first cigarette was round when I turned 16 or so. I still remember the place and the people around me when I inhaled it for the first time. Honestly, back then, it felt incredible.

I remember walking around the block smoking and smiling. I felt like I’m on top of the world. My Non-Smoker identity was not even in my back pocket back then.

It’s pretty much like that thing in Sims. “New Car Smell” vibe and stuff, anything new you do in life gets you that buff of feeling suitable for a significant amount of time, but afterward, you feel like you’ve been doing it for the past decades, not a couple of days or hours.

I used to buy a pack with a couple of homies. The first pack I got was somewhat at the end of high school. Having a Non-Smoker Identity then might’ve saved me a lot of money which I could invest in something more thoughtful.

Don’t get me wrong; I was not a huge smoker. I legit have not passed 4-6 cigarettes a day back then. When your folks don’t know you’re smoking, you feel like you have to smoke a world before they find out, but you’re taking it slow afterward.

Judging by my medical issues as a kid, I felt that cigarettes were not tailored for my body right from the start. It felt good, but it didn’t feel right.

Should I tell my parents?

I told my parents after a year or so of smoking; honestly, I believe it wasn’t even six months but let’s say a whole year passed when I actively started smoking.

Before I continue, I have to note that I come from a family where my parents are long-term smokers while both older brothers are non-smokers.

I’m personally not a big fan of hiding my actions. Mainly cause I don’t care whether someone thinks they are good or bad; I do it because they are my own.

Yes, people can help you in any situation, right people. At the end of the day, what you’ve done or going to do will affect you personally, not them. Either you will have a tag under your belt called Non-Smoker Identity, or you won’t.

Parent’s reaction

Dad being a male, reacted like I’ve burned a whole neighborhood. Meanwhile, Mom took a different approach and started asking questions about how it happened, whether I knew what it meant, and how it could change my life. Reactions are works of art; you can work on your reactions and how you welcome the news given to you.

I’m working on the patience and calm vibe; hit me up if you want to know my steps.

Telling my parents and close family that my identity had welcomed a new tag, “Smoker,” I felt better, like a burden went off my soul.

After waiting hours and hours to go outside to smoke, now I could smoke whenever I wanted to. I did not receive an extra allowance on top of what I already received for school; that’s, I guess, a way parents say: “If you wanna smoke, learn how to finance it.” Of course, being the typical kid, I am,

I figured out how to do it, loan here, and don’t get lunch one day, etc. You will always find a way to claim the thing(s) you want or need.

Honestly, this way of figuring things out is suitable for kids as they have to learn how to get by; not saying it’s perfect, but it helped me learn how to manage my finances.

So I stopped smoking. What happens now?

Ehm, nothing pretty much. I’m still on my third day in the no-smoking zone, and I’m fighting to continue down that path for longer than last time, which lasted for nine months due to medical.

But what about the coffee myth?

Bruh, you have to understand that smoking while drinking coffee is a myth. Those two actions are not glued to each other. I have drank six coffees without smoking; coffee tastes still the same, if not better.

Like my dad has to smoke while in the restroom, I never did that, have you? Cause the majority or minority are doing it doesn’t mean it’s a new have-to.

Thanks, Tenor, for all the GIFS.

Anxiety Link

I’m not entirely sure there is a link between the two. When I used to go to therapy sessions, my therapist said: “If you’re considering smoking again, do not.”

At first, I thought I won’t then, but I got back into it weeks later. After those nine months that I stopped, every cigarette felt like I was forcing it, and my body said, “Bruh, chill with that *hit.”

A couple of cigarettes a day makes me feel nauseous at night, and guess what, usually before bed when I should feel the safest. I started gracing my sleep when I felt like a typical sleep night; god, I wouldn’t touch a cigarette if I could sleep like that every night.

Smoking makes me feel nauseous after eating various meals, which I often link to the food itself, and now I’m testing the same when I’m not smoking so I can compare whether or not it was the food or smoking side-effect.

I had breathing troubles, and no, I do not mean inability to breathe, but anxiety makes you into a trippy person like death is haunting you, no joke.

After 336+ hours in the no-smoking zone, I feel better, and my body is getting stronger.

What has changed for the better?

I started training daily and have the energy for a 45-50 minute training.

Yeap! How I feel before and after every training session.

Let me write that up in a list so it would be easier for you to go through it.

• Energy to work out every day if needed;
• Having a better quality sleep;
• Not feeling in danger every part of the day;
• Less anxious more enjoyment;
• Nauseous level drop;

What you read above is pretty much want I want to achieve here at Stefan Stax. I want to use my experience, regardless of what kind of it, to give it to people like it is. Sharing experiences can help another make a better decision than I did, and I hope it will.

Uh, so the past days have been rough. Withdrawal symptoms are intense. I started feeling nauseous more when I drank more coffee than usual. My stomach is troubled if I’m not dressed as well for indoor/outdoor temperatures.

Another update, after this one, I will start updating weekly for the next two weeks, then monthly. I feel like withdrawal symptoms are not as strong rather could be something different such as me tripping out or being sick or another thing.

When I’m put in this position, I do not want to be alone in such moments. Yes, you want to grow stronger, but I wouldn’t push myself into it again. Forcing myself into something will only increase my stress, and I honestly can not handle such an addition due to multiple reasons.

I would still go for it if I knew Non-Smoker Identity would bring such difficulties after adding that tag under my belt. There is so much strength in fighting your urges. The more you practice more you achieve.

Check my Anxiety blog that might shed some additional light on how these two are connected.