Smoking is one of the hardest addictions to kick. People have an easier time getting off class-A substances but nicotine cravings plague them all their lives. Here are a few ways you can control your cravings for cigarettes when you are trying to quit smoking:
Meal-time Cravings
Many smokers have conditioned the end of a meal to lighting up a cigarette. It gets extremely uncomfortable when you are taking yourself out of that comfortable, familiar pattern. You can curb this craving by replacing the cigarette with something else such as a piece of fruit, a dessert, a chocolate square or some chewing gum.
A Drink and Smoke Go Hand In Hand
Most people cannot consume alcohol without smoking a cigarette with it. If you are trying to quit smoking, why don’t you try quitting all addictive substances altogether and replace alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages? You can enjoy virgin cocktails, which taste and feel like the real thing but would not leave you intoxicated.
If quitting smoking and drinking altogether seems overwhelming, try drinking only in those places where smoking is not allowed. Or if you can’t help where you are drinking then replace the cigarette with nuts and chips. You can also simply chew on a straw and cocktail stick to get rid of those pesky cravings.
Cravings from Social Smoking
When you are around smoke, and people who smoke it is almost impossible to avoid relapse in the early stages of abstinence. You can request your friends for consideration before you meet them so that they refrain from smoking around you.
Try hanging out with non-smokers for a change till you are at a point where you feel like you can be around smokers without being tempted to relapse.
Maintain a Craving Journal
Make an inventory of your cravings, thought processes and daily progress for the first few weeks of quitting smoking. You can figure out patterns, moments and times when you find yourself craving cigarettes the most. This will help you identify your triggers and avoid them duly.
Writing about your feelings also helps you manage them, and give you perspective on your progress.