Forums / Cravings / cravings and urges

cravings and urges

5 posts, 0 answered
  1. freedomchild
    freedomchild avatar
    80 posts
    Registered:
    18 Jan 2022
    11 Dec 2022
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    I am fine with the lozenges..But how do you get your mind off of cigarettes when your home all day?..I don't work so I have all day to myself...my reason for quittng was my heath..I have copd and was already on puffers for a year..the doctor said next time i have trouble breathing like that i will be on oxygen...I don't want to smoke but I can't get my mind off of it...I exercise a little bit and i have my knitting which helps somewhat...NOPE helps ..i say that a lot...Any ideas??
  2. karen, quit coach
    karen, quit coach avatar
    29 posts
    Registered:
    09 Nov 2022
    12 Dec 2022 in reply to freedomchild
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    Congrats on your quit! Sounds like you have a couple of strategies already under your belt to keep yourself distracted when the cravings begin. We can look at a number of other ways that people have successfully managed these Urges or Cravings.
    There are 3 Categories:
    Things you could do,
    Things you could think about in your mind, and
    Supports you could get

    1.Things you could do
    - take a walk - do something vigorous, like walk up and down stairs 3 times
    - take a shower or hot bath - leave the situation that is triggering you to smoke
    - do a routine to relax your muscles - drink water slowly, or decaf coffee, or tea
    - munch on low cal snacks like carrots/celery - practice deep breathing
    Make a list of the reasons why you quit smoking. Carry it around with you and review that list each time you have a craving. List all the positives that have come and will come from quitting.

    2. Things you could think about:
    Talk to yourself when you get an urge. You might tell yourself:
    "It will only last for a little while. I can get through it."
    "My body is repairing itself, and I can handle it."
    "If I get through today, I can get through any situation without a cig."
    "I have made so much progress so far. I don't want to spoil it now."
    Each time you beat an urge, reward yourself by saying something to yourself like: "I've handled it again; it's difficult but I'm getting well; I'm taking back control.

    3. Supports you could get
    Contact someone close to you and ask for their support
    Talk to someone and tell them what you're going through
    Things you can say that some people have found helpful:
    What I'd like to ask you for is...............
    It really helps when you tell me how well I'm doing
    It helps when you remind me how far I've come.
    It helps just to talk about my struggle. You don't have to do anything.

    What do you think would work best for you? 
  3. levi1990
    levi1990 avatar
    1 posts
    Registered:
    26 Aug 2023
    26 Aug
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    Hello, I just quit smoking 6 days ago. I am managing all the withdraw symptoms except the exhaustion and always being tired and the brain fog. I have so much stuff to do this month that I feel like I might slip and go back to smoking cz I can’t function. Is there any way to make this exhausted feeling easier to handle
  4. efram, quit coach
    efram, quit coach avatar
    230 posts
    Registered:
    29 Nov 2017
    26 Aug in reply to levi1990
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    Hi levi1990, welcome to our forums and congratulations on 6 days smoke-free. Good to hear that you are mostly managing well, except the exhaustion and brain fog. As far as ways to make the exhaustion easier to handle, some suggestions: 

    1. Nap, go to bed early, sleep in when possible. Take breaks. Be patient with yourself and remember to breathe. 

    2. Recognize that the exhaustion you feel is because you are healing. 

    3. Consider that quitting smoking might be the most important thing that you're getting done this month.  

    4. Remind yourself that how you're feeling won't last forever; the worst of it is typically in the first few weeks. 

    5. Remember your reasons for quitting.

    6. Find ways to reward yourself.

    Forum members, what else would you add? 

  5. jb63
    jb63 avatar
    102 posts
    Registered:
    28 Feb 2022
    28 Aug
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    Hi Levi1990
    Congrats on quitting 
    my advice is one day at a time. I agree quitting smoking is the most important thing you are doing. 
    It does get better every day your energy will come back
5 posts, 0 answered