| If you are a smoker one of the best things you can do | | | | There are specific feelings and or time of the day you |
| for yourself is to quit smoking. Many smokers have | | | | like to have a cigarette. For example, I like to smoke |
| either thought about quitting or tried to quit within the | | | | while I talk on the phone. I felt like when I was on the |
| past year but did not succeed. Why is this? It not only | | | | phone it was a great opportunity to go outside and |
| hurts the smoker but the people close to him or her. | | | | light up. The longer the conversation the more I got to |
| For most, nicotine has such a strong hold on their life | | | | smoke. This became a habit for me. When I quit |
| that quitting seems to almost be impossible. Well it is | | | | smoking it was difficult at times because the phone |
| NOT impossible. Millions of smokers have quit smoking | | | | would ring and I would instantly think about grabbing a |
| and stay quit. You can too. There are three types of | | | | cigarette. Other examples of habit cravings include: |
| cravings that make quitting smoking difficult and the | | | | after having an alcoholic beverage, going to the store |
| better you understand them and prepare for them the | | | | where you used buy cigarettes, driving in your car, |
| better your chances of quitting smoking. | | | | finishing a meal, getting angry, being bored, and taking a |
| The most obvious craving you will experience after | | | | break. As with nicotine withdrawal cravings, they will |
| you quit smoking is the one associated with nicotine | | | | come and go. Just wait them out. Each day you make |
| withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal will affect you | | | | it not smoking the easier it will be. Build yourself up by |
| physically as your body adjusts to not having nicotine in | | | | telling yourself you can do it. |
| it. This period of time can be quite uncomfortable and | | | | There is one last type of craving you will experience |
| many people relapse due to nicotine withdrawal. | | | | after you quit smoking and that is memories of |
| Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include: feeling | | | | smoking. For me this type of craving has lasted the |
| irritable, difficulty concentrating, depression, headache, | | | | longest. The nicotine withdrawal cravings and the habit |
| anxiety, feeling lightheaded, increase in appetite, and | | | | cravings lasted at most 30 days. However, memories |
| sleep problems. The feelings associated with nicotine | | | | of smoking still creeps up every now and then and |
| withdrawal will come and go. You most likely will | | | | reminds me how nice it was to kick back on the back |
| encounter only a few of these nicotine withdrawal | | | | porch and have myself a nice relaxing cigarette. |
| symptoms, typically at different stages in the quit | | | | Dealing with this type of craving is relatively easy |
| smoking process. Be reassured they will not last, they | | | | compared to the other two. The key here is not to get |
| typically come and go quickly and you will find that | | | | caught up in the pleasant memories about smoking. |
| anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks they will subside almost | | | | You quit smoking for a reason, one of which was it |
| completely. | | | | was killing you and those close to you. Simply |
| The next type of craving you may experience after | | | | reminding yourself of the reasons why you quit |
| you quit smoking is the cravings associated with habit. | | | | smoking can pretty much squash this craving. |
| Just think about how many years you have smoked. | | | | |