Craves...

I'm not an expert, but I'm doing pretty well with this 'quit smoking' thing so far. I see a lot of newbies talking about craves (and I sure remember THEM) so I thought I'd offer what I learned about craves:

First of all, they have very little staying power. Mine never lasted even ten minutes - and they only lasted that long when I kept paying attention to them.

Second, in the beginning, there are a lot of them. Dozens. Hundreds maybe. They're all lined up like candy in a Pez dispenser. At first, when you have one and work through it, another pops up a short time later to take it's place.

Darn it! Didn't I just deal with you???

Nope, it's a fresh one. BUT IT WON'T LAST!

How to get rid of craves?

I had several strategies. One was to distract myself - that's the best way of all, I think. Just start thinking about something else and it goes away.

Another was to amplify it. Make the crave bigger and badder. Expand it. Pretty soon, it explodes. And goes away.

I also began talking to my craves. "Is that you again?" "Is that the best you can do?" "Seriously! Another crave?"

I know it sounds dumb. But it worked for me. I used to tell my craves - "The worst day quitting is better than the best day smoking."

[nsd_user663_49415]

Great advice. Still get them from time to time (after 7 months), but they're not physical cravings, just reminders and triggers from the memories of 35 years of being a dedicated smoker.

I just say to myself, "Its only a feeling, it does n't hurt and it will pass". And thats what happens.

Have to admit if they happen at home, rather than at work, I do tend to open a tinnie as well at the same time! But hey ho nobody's perfect.

[nsd_user663_53202]

I've started to view craves as simply a sensation in the body. The association between craves and wanting a smoke has more or less gone.