Cravings....

[nsd_user663_7712]

Well the end of my first month of not smoking (barring a few blips) the cravings havnt being to bad untill recently yesterday and today have being the worse and usually at work which I sopppse stops me caving in and smoking

It feels like I'm hungry but I've allready ate so I know I'm not hungry!

My question is how do you all deal with the cravings?

[nsd_user663_4786]

So many different ways, some people say drink (water) others recommend eating what you like for the first 6 weeks. Other sing, dance, bake cakes:eek:. I did all of the above, well ok I don't do water and as for baking well :eek:.

Whatever works for you, go for a walk, go for a bath, put some really loud music on, come here and post.

The only thing that matters is that you don't smoke, do some more reading of the links it will help.

Stay strong, sending you some PMA, this will pass, it will get better, I promise.

[nsd_user663_4964]

Cravings are nasty, but these things can work for you Stu. Are u on any NRT? I find the patches give you a good baseline of nicotine so the craves aren't unbearaBLE. On top, you can use gum, lozenges, inhalator (even if you have the patches on- you can't do any harm unless you go absolutely crazy)

Other things that can help:

Distracting yourself with anything to hand, crossword, film etc. etc.

Hot spicy food/ sauces can give the brain a buzz

sucking sweets, lollies, water in those bottles with the sucky tops.Anything that raises your blood sugar is good in the short term (The craves really do feel like hunger sometimes, and your appetite is increased anyway.)

Exercise (raises the happy brain chemicals) Even a short walk can make the craves go away.

I find a hefty caffeine dose can work too (mega strong coffee)

Also multivits sort out your neurotransmitters and help you build up to a "normal" state. Eat as healthily (disregarding the necessary chocolate snacks) as you can to detox yourself, and aim to do as much "healthy" stuff as you can.

Do something positive for yourself, treat yourself to something that you can only now afford cos you've given up. (Only you know what you would most enjoy)

Also, trust us when we say it absolutely does get better with time, and non smoking becomes totally normal. Read all the "Junkie thinking" stuff you can find, as the mental part of the battle is the biggest, including all those situations where u used to smoke.