What to do in a crisis

[nsd_user663_53658]

Good afternoon everyone,

Well, I was just sitting here eating my soup and thinking as you do.

I got to thinking about the number of new members who are still in the first days / weeks of their quits and wondering about what advice everyone would give to help them get through any particularly nasty urges / craves.

There is the one that has been posted on here a few times and is, in my opinion, a really good piece of advice. If you are really and truly struggling and scared that you might slip, you come on here post a thread letting everyone know and promise yourself that you'll wait for at least 5 replies before you allow yourself to take any action. By then the urge to smoke will have left and you'll feel able to carry on with your quit.

When I was in the early days and weeks of my quit I would go through times when it was incredibly hard to carry on, I would come up with all the usual things like I can always quit again tomorrow etc. I couldn’t register here then so if I hit a point like that, and I was alone, I would make myself listen to Tubular Bells II all the way through (about 1 hour long) and it always worked. It always calmed me down and I would find that I was past the worst of the crave by the time it had finished.

So folks, does anyone have any advice for what someone could do in the times when they have a crisis, where they honestly believe they will smoke?

PS the soup was lovely

[nsd_user663_54332]

Oooh good thread Molly!!

Anything at all that distracts you had to be a good one - go outside and run on the spot, or listen to a favourite piece of music - playing games on Facebook works well too. Craves always seem worse when you give them head space so being busy mentally can help you forget!!

Glad you enjoyed your soup

[nsd_user663_60964]

I take a very deep breath. I think about all the lovely air I can suck into my lungs now, and how I can keep breathing in for ages without coughing. I can taste nothing in my mouth and my gums and tongue feel fresh. My teeth don't feel fuzzy. I look at my fingers and nails and notice how clean they look. Then I imagine the act of rolling and lighting a fag. I can imagine the hit (and how dizzy I would feel) and the taste (acrid) and the cough. I remember how it felt to clean my teeth six times per day and how often I looked at my fingers and nails to check how noticeable the nicotine stains were. By the time I've done that the urge has usually passed.

My other tactic is to walk as much as posible as often as possible. I never did want to smoke when walking and it always makes me feel better.

[nsd_user663_56673]

I can't lie Molly....when I craved bad I ate something, anything. I got a taste for choc chip rice cakes and also Ryvitas with jam on...

[nsd_user663_53658]

I must admit that food was a big last defence for me too.

Doesn't it feel absolutely fantastic when it hits you that you've left that stage behind. When you realise that you won't have times like that anymore, you know beyond any doubt that NOTHING will ever make you want to smoke again.

Quitting is worth it for that feeling of success and power alone! Never mind all the other benefits on the endless list of plus sides

[nsd_user663_61170]

Again a very experienced and interesting post, please don't stop.

[nsd_user663_3784]

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[nsd_user663_59305]

Screaming and thumping pillows - and I mean a proper, guttural roar - we use cigs as a release valve and then when we stop we don't give ourselves that vent - just let rip, crying also releases feel good endorphins so just let it all out

[nsd_user663_54332]

Screaming and thumping pillows - and I mean a proper, guttural roar - we use cigs as a release valve and then when we stop we don't give ourselves that vent - just let rip, crying also releases feel good endorphins so just let it all out

Last time I stopped, we'd had both our bathrooms redone so I smashed up the basins and toilets. Very theraputic!!

One of my favourite stress reducers is to take my empties down to the bottle bank and smash them in *hard*

People give me funny looks but wow does it let off steam

[nsd_user663_60734]

If possible.. sleep it off!!!

Eat!! I gained some weight with my quit but I've started excercising daily to try to maintain my weight and get healthy!!

Last: Remind yourself of all the reasons you decided to quit! (Maybe even write out a list to carry with you)