Day14. g force cravings.

[nsd_user663_52080]

Today was really weird.For the last two weeks Ive been having cravings for fags/nicotine? every day.These were strong at first and over time they have become fainter.They only lasted for split seconds and the time between them had lengthened.I was feeling really optimistic and pleased with how it was going.If I had a strong crave Id have a Nicquitin tab and it would go away.Going great and then today happened..... I found myself swamped and knocked sideways with all encompassing "craves".It was like the previous craves had been mental wishes and desires.These were gut crunching,bone squeezing,face squashing entire craves.That is why I called them g force craves as I felt like I would of looked like someone going through g force!They lasted longer too and also the tabs didnt work as well.Todays experience has shaken me.I used to smoke about 12 rollies a day Golden Virginia without filters.I have been taking .75mg Nicotine 2 or 3 times a day so far.After todays experiences : ( Im wondering if when I get a g force one I should try 1.5mg instead? I was so hoping that I had got over the hardest part and now I feel Im going backwards? One thing for sure I couldnt live with them for ever at that intensity.Gosh! stuck between a rock and a hard place : (

[nsd_user663_51617]

Hey Soosan, good for you for speaking up and writing it down on here. I cant offer any advice about NRT as i've gone CT but i reckon you should go to see your GP as they will be able to advice on safe levels etc.

The staple advice for when you get a crave is to breathe deep, take a sip of water and relax. My advice however would be to positively look forward to and wish the cravings on so that you can face them down and beat them. Dont be scared of them as every one you beat is a victory. ive done this from day one and i dont get craves any more, just get caught out every now and then by my adjustment to new routines but its nothing.

good luck and keep talking.

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

The first thing to learn is that cravings are absolutely nothing to do with nicotine.

Sure you can relieve one by having a lozenge or a micro-tab, or some nico-gum. Similarly you can relieve them by having a midget gem, a rolo, a chuppa-chup, a walk, an apple, a shout, a good stroke of a hairy dog etc etc etc.

Cravings disappear when the smoker lights up, but that is because a craving is simply a mental prompt to repeat the habitual behaviour, triggered by the brain, not by falling nicotine levels, but experienced as a physical compulsive urge that seems to the smoker like a real bodily need. The craving disappears long before the cigarette is smoked and well before the seven second myth of nicotine to brain transit.

The easiest route to stopping smoking is education.

[nsd_user663_52044]

a good stroke of a hairy dog

Can I get one of those on the NHS?

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

Can I get one of those on the NHS?

If Pfizer made dogs, yes.

[Lulu_65 2 Years Smoke Free]

I had found from week one to week 3 my cravings got less and less...and then they seemd to change and increase between weeks 3 and into weeks 6.

I think the theory is that at first you're dealing with and cocentrating nicotine withdrawal...once that's over the psychological cravings seem to step up the game and I have to say for me, like you, they really took me by surprise. I started to view these craves as a seperate entity and not part of me at all. Just something I had to ingnore, defeat and eventually scrape off.

Just keep at it, ignore them, and for every one of these mental craves that you overcome - you become stronger and the dependency/habit/crave gets weaker.

I am now a couple of days away from week 7... and I am still having the odd crave/urge but it is now becoming a habit and part of my persona to deny and ignore them. They are getting weaker and I am definately stronger.

Keep going. xxxx

[nsd_user663_52080]

Armed and Ready!

Thank you All for your posts.I found them all extremely helpful and now feel armed and equipped to deal with the new "entities". I loved the term deny and scrape off! Am off now to try and rewire the subconcious,and rearrange the order of the compulsive beaviour pattern.Not forgetting lots of strokes,kisses and cuddles with my two fat hairy cats : ) ps I think reading this forum should be part of the National Curriculum then hopefully the ex smokers experiences would deter future smokers.

[nsd_user663_52101]

Im on day 10 and yesterday evening I really had to struggle with myself not to have a smoke.It too took me by surprise,I think we have to realise these urges will creep up on us when we think we are out of the woods.:eek: