My cigarette cravings are getting to me this week, even after three years without even one smoke. Help! :(?
I quit smoking a little over three years ago. Since then, I hear people who quit smoking for ten years talk about how they started up again, which I find so discouraging. My cravings have not stopped for this entire three years! How much longer will I have them? I do have a glass of iced tea or water with me at all times to sip and distract me. I am also trying to lose the weight I gained since quitting, and it’s much more difficult dieting without the oral crutch of cigarettes.
For the past four days, I guess the stress of these cravings is starting to get to me. It is all I can do to go from hour to hour without getting on the phone and ordering food and having the delivery person pick me up some ciggs. Maybe I need some kind of refresher course. Another hypnosis session maybe? They say these cravings now are psychological, but they sure seem physical to me. I did smoke for a long time, so maybe that has something to do with long term cravings.
Any suggestions from someone who’s been through this? Anyone ever hear of a national hotline for nicotine madness?
Tagged with: after • Cigarette • Cravings • even • Getting • help • smoke. • This • three • week • Without • Year's
Filed under: Lose Weight Hypnosis
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Hi Lydia..
well lady, your a lot like me.. i found answers to all those things you posted about in a support group.. I don’t know how you quit initially, but congrats on that time.. 3 years is an eternity, congratulations there is really no wrong way to quit..
you mentioned the water thing, so you know some methods.. i was taught the 5Ds..
1 distract.. it hard to smoke for instance, when your hands are in dishwater..
2 delay (ie I don’t need one now).. a series of delays is a quit..
3 discuss your doing that now by posting your question..
4 drink water.. you know that one, it relieves cravings and flushes
toxins
5 deep breathe, most smokers learn to only inhale deeply when smoking.. deep breathing helps with oxygen among other things..
in the support community we do have a saying the “weight can wait” its natural to gain a few “new quit pounds”.. later your metabolism changes, and generally this isn’t a concern in long term quits.. the weight issue, isn’t worth sabotaging your nicotine freedom for..
well actually there is not a national hot line for nicotine madness… there is the next best thing… I am member of nicotine anonymous, I attend meetings both locally, and on line.. a number of online voice meetings are as close as your computer..Good luck on whatever method you use, and congrats on those big 3 years!!
Nicotine Anonymous is a Non-Profit 12 Step Fellowship of men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives. Nicotine Anonymous welcomes all those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction, including those using cessation programs and nicotine withdrawal aids. The primary purpose of Nicotine Anonymous is to help all those who would like to cease using tobacco and nicotine products in any form. The Fellowship offers group support and recovery using the 12 Steps as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve abstinence from nicotine.
Sounds like you need help with your thinking. Try http://www.cleanbreak.com. It’s been eight years since my last smoke, and I rarely think about it any more.