Saw this about 'Urge Surfing' and thought it might be useful.

Marlatt teaches a technique called "urge surfing" as a way to cope. "The urge is like a wave," he says. "It goes up and down. You don't try to get rid of it, but accept it and let it pass." People tend to think that urges will escalate infinitely if they don't yield to them — but in fact, like a wave, they rise to a peak and then fall. That is, even if you don't give in, the urge dissipates.

Indeed, because of the way the brain is wired, each time an addict lets an urge pass without engaging in the unwanted behavior, it weakens the neural connections that underlie the desire; each time he or she rewards the craving with the bad habit, the brain pathways, and the addiction, are strengthened. It helps for people to remind themselves that if they can resist an addictive urge once, it will become easier and easier to do it again in the future.

Read more: Why Falling Off the Wagon Isn't Fatal - TIME content.time.com/time/healt...

[Hidden]

Hi Rozi

I like this theory makes sense. I've just read Gillian Riley's book 'how to stop smoking and stay stopped for good' which is on the same wave length. Excuse the pun lol x

[yellowsnowdrop]

Hi there Rozi,

The article definitely makes sense or the cravings to smoke would never lessen.I think that the brain is such a brilliant thing controlling everything from breathing to cravings to smoke.Thanks for sharing Hugs H

[Hidden]

I know when we are at the start of stopping it's useful to remind ourselves that the urges will lessen but it's also good to think about it in this way when we are a bit down the road and the nicotine monster creeps up unexpected...out of the blue!

H and Beth....you know what I mean! Thank heaven for this site! xx

[jules56]

hi rozi yes good to read. makes alot of sense. thanks for puttin it on.

[trisha1234]

Sounds like good common sense