What can i do to making my recent smoking cessation easier?

Question

I've been a heavy smoker for a while now, having just stopped, I'm finding it hard not to think about it and crave cigraettes, any suggestions on how to distract from cravings/take my mind off it would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Hobby-ride a motorcycle-cook something

Answer 2

You dont say whether u r on any nicotine replacement therapies. If u aren't then i suggest u get on 1 that suits u. What is the point in going cold turkey when there is help. I too was a heavy smoker and quit 5 years ago next month. For me, i used the inhalator, as a long time smoker, i was used to having something between my fingers, so the ihalator did just that, plus i enjoyed that drawing up feeling, so again was able to do this with my inhalator. You also have to change patterns, i.e. say u would have a *** with a cup of coffee at 10, then have another drink, walk around more. Try and occupy yourself. Buy some celery, carrots, chew on those, that helped me when i was watching tv. Put yr money u have saved from fags into a big jar and watch it grow, that helps too. Good luck. U will feel so much better and have more energy.

Answer 3

The theory is that the craving for a ciggy lasts approximately 15 seconds, and on average it occurs once every 20-minutes if you smoke 40 or more a day. So, with that in mind, try counting slowly in your head from 1 to 15, breathe deeply, and tell yourself that the craving is only temporary. Another trick that works is drinking a large glass of very warm water without stopping as soon as your craving starts. Soon your brain will associate the rather unpleasant sensation of drinking a large quantity of warm water with a craving, and your brain will start reworking the way it thinks. There is one pitfall with this method; don't find yourself too far away from a toilet as you'll need one more often than usual!

Answer 4

Its not just the nicotine. Its also the other 50+ chemicals they out in cigarettes. Also the main problem is habit.
We have been used to having body sensations which we translate as 'my body needs something, which we have attempted to satisfy by having a cigarette.
When we try to stop smoking, we still get these 'my body needs something' sensations, and we still feel that we want a cigarette. We have to train our body to be more selective. When we feel we need something, we have to work out what it is that we actually need.
A glass of water is an excellent substitute if nothing else comes to mind, as it helps with the clearance of the toxic substances in our body. Another good substitute is a bag of salted peanuts, used in combination with the water.
Another thing to do is to find an activity which occupies the mind or body. Go swimming - nobody wants to smoke while they are swimming. Slowly, as our body adjusts and translates the 'want something' feelings into something other than cigarettes, then the feelings begin to go away. We know its not a cigarette that the body really needs, because as soon as we've had one we still have the feeling, and want another!

Answer 5

Chew gum, any kind will do. Your mouth is used to having cigarettes in it on a constant basis so you need to keep it occupied. Also, drink a lot of water. I'm not sure how or why, but my grandfather and my best bud's girlfriend both received this tip and said it helped immensely. Aside from those two things, you need something to take the place of smoking, find a hobby, practice meditation, research something you've been interested in, anything but smoking.

If you absolutely have to have a smoke, consider going to a hookah bar. The ratio of tobacco to flavoring in those water pipes is generally 2:1, meaning you can take puffs for hours while only ingesting the about of tobacco from a small number of cigarettes. Plus, hookah is tastier than cigarettes.

Answer 6

At the outset please accept my greeting and congratulations for quitting smoking because - It is a silent poison for death and you are trying to come out of it.

Many people after stopping smoking start again because they crave for it. You have to decided and implemented cigarettes smoking. Only WILL POWER to stay without Cigarettes will make you successful. By smoking you do not get any sort of enjoyment and whatever you feel is only an illusion and on the other hand it helps persons to get heart ailments and cancer fast.

The best way to forget it and come out of the clutches of smoking apart from will power YOGA AND MEDITATION can help you. Please practice meditation (you can get simple books on this subject and start without any guidance from others) and do it when ever you get time and specially when ever you crave for a smoke. If you follow this, in about 15 days time you will be able to come out completely. Yoga and Meditation will also save you from most of other ailments.

You can also take a glass of water whenever you like to have a cigarette and this will help a lot.
I am writing this with my personal experience.

Answer 7

Well done stopping! The most immediate thing you can do is drink lots of water. That really helps. The next step is to read Alan Carr's book on stopping smoking. The mental hook is far more significant than any physical addiction and the book addresses this. The cravings subside after a day or so. Hang in there.

Answer 8

Know what to expect. Be preparred. Do some research.
Understand that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on earth.
You already know that you will experience irritability.
The other withdrawel symptoms are lethargy, dizziness, weakness, constipation, stomach upset, confusion, difficulty concentrating, hunger and still more.
The first two weeks will be the most difficult. There are many methods to help. Cold turkey is the best. Carry hard candy to suck on for a few weeks. Avoid areas where other people smoke. Avoid alcohol because it will prompt you to have that "one" cigarette.
Drink plenty of water every day. Get some physical exercise. Distract yourself with activities.

Here are some facts to help you:

As soon as you snuff out that last cigarette, your body will begin a series of physiological changes.

Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will drop to normal.
Within 8 hours: Smokers breath disappears. Carbon monoxide level in blood drops and oxygen level rises to normal.
Within 24 hours: chance of heart attack decreases.
Within 48 hours: nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to taste
and smell improves.
Within 3 days: Breathing is easier.
Within 2-3 months: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier.
Lung capacity increases up to 30%.
Within 1-9 months: sinus congestion and shortness of breath
decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your lungs grows back. Energy increases.
Within one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that
of a person who smokes.
Within 2 years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.
Within 5 years: lung cancer death rate for the average former pack a
day smoker decreases by almost half that of a smoker.
Within 10 years: lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a
person who does not smoke. The pre-cancerous cells are replaced.
Within 15 years: risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a
person who has never smoked.

Nicotine is as addicting as heroin- quitting is a Bi-yatch! Expect it and you will succeed.
Don't get down on yourself if you fail. Guilt and disappointment do not help. Many people succeed only after attempting many times.

This advice is from my husband. He was a heavy smoker for 36 years. He loved his cigarettes. He stopped smoking 2 years ago. He says you will have to quit one minute at at time.

.

Answer 9

You need to find something to do with your hands - Try knitting!! My aunt did this after years and years of smoking - she said it really helped. Your cravings only last for something 10 minutes at a time so thats all you have to keep yourself busy for! Or invest in some chinease stress balls (the silver ones with the bells inside). Hope this helps and good luck!!!

Answer 10

Hi and congrats on giving up, best thing you'll ever do for your body!

If you have children then guilt yourself into not caving in... really imagine them growing up with a parent.

Sounds gross but perhaps keep a picture of a smokers lung as your desktop or print off and put in your drawer for moments of weakness.

Chew gum.

Put all the money you'd spend each day on ciggies into a tin and each month treat yourself to something.

Good luck!

Answer 11

Substitute the feel of a cigarette in your hand/mouth with something like a carrot stick - healthier option too

Chew gum ... use patches ... go for a walk ... drink water ... put the money you would have spent on cigarettes in a glass container so you can see how much you're saving, then spend it on something nice for yourself!

Good luck ... hope your willpower overcomes the cravings