Anything for Cravings ...

[DoraBelle]

My cravings are brutal nowadays and looking for ways to lessen it...

 

I just stumble here www.tribeofhabits.com that some foods will make the cigarettes taste really horrible... Is this true?

 

Does anyone here have tips to effectively manage cravings to smoke?

 

I'm just having a hard time dealing with cravings especially when I'm in social gatherings :(

 

I appreciate any help from you guys...

[sharonsiff]

It's just a mind game really, mind over matter.

 

I found that if I totally distracted myself, physically or research a topic, it did seem to help.

 

You have probably heard this like a million times but be assured all this lark does pass, honestly it does.

 

I'm sure others will be along to post tips that helped them.

[joe]

The cravings are a fact of drug withdrawal....

 

nicotine s a powerful drug and the only way past it....is through it.

 

Obviously, as time goes on, the craves become less intense and shorter in duration, as you body and mind is breaking free from the addiction.

 

As Sharon stated, things DO get better, to the point that you don't crave, or even think of smoking.

 

I knew going into my quit that the cravings would be a huge hurdle...the way I was able to deal with it....no matter the situation, was to tell myself, that if this is all it ( the addiction) can throw at me, I can deal with it...I have dealt with much more in my life than wanting to suck hot smoke into my lungs...

 

And of course, the most effective way to get past those bumps, is to stay busy....exercise always seems to work...wether it be running, working out, breathing...whatever...go at it hard for 10 mins., work up a good sweat, you won't want a cigarette afterwards...all the while it will help to train your mind that every time you crave a smoke, your body is going to get a major work out, and if that doesn't change you thinking, you will be in fantastic shape 3months after you quit. :p

[Petra]

Get through the craving without smoking, and they will get weaker and weaker.   As long as you stay quit, they will eventually stop.  

 

Other suggestions:

Take deep breaths, call someone, send a message to someone here, post an SOS, spend some time with your pet, clean out the fridge, take a walk around the building (if you are at work), do some jumping jacks, punch a pillow, take a shower, cook something, eat shelled peanuts, don't smoke.   

 

One more: 

Put it off, tell yourself maybe you can have one in an hour, then put it off again.  One time, I really wanted a smoke.  I was driving and wanted to stop at the gas station and buy a pack.  I told myself to go to the next gas station to buy it, then the next one, then the next one.  I drove into my neighborhood and was still craving pretty badly.  I pulled over and logged on to the quit forum from my phone, just to check in and say hi.  That worked - distracted me long enough to say, "Ok, I can go home now and not go to the gas station to buy smokes."  That was one of my toughest moments, and I got through it.

 

At a party do the same thing, tell yourself you can have one after the next glass of water, then after you go to the restroom, then after you say hi to your friend, then after another glass of water.....  Try not to drink too much alcohol.  A drink has killed many a fine quit, but at the same time, lots of peeps here have gotten smashed and still kept their quit and were pretty darn happy about it in the morning!

 

Welcome, by the way!  

[ChRiSpY]

Deep Breathing!!!  Really concentrate on your breathing... in and out as long as you can pull.  Be loud with the breathing...concentrate on it.  Meditate.. if you are into it.  And 3rdly... get busy and you will forget about it.

 

As for the social gathering thing.. it is hard... try to avoid it.. it not.. be a badass and tell yourself... NOPE (As Petra said above...watch the alcohol... it can be bad.)

 

Each crave you get through will make the next easier.

 

Keep on keepin on.

[Doreensfree]

This was my tool box...keep busy,games..reading,coming here,learning all I could...

Repeating ..smoking is NOT on the table.. No matter what and how I was feeling..

Punching my punch bag pillow...

The craves do get less and less...and weaker and weaker..every time you fight a crave..your winning..

Congrats on your wonderful quit..

[Sirius]

Empty the contents of an over-full ashtray into a pickle jar half filled with water.

 

When your feeling a particularly strong craving unscrew lid and inhale the aroma 

and you will experience a bit of what your really missing.

[sharonsiff]

How are you getting on Dorabelle?