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Coping with cravings
The nicotine's gone .. why do I still want a cigarette? Remember when you had a drink or a coffee with your cigarette? Your brain hasn't forgotten that yet. After years of smoking, your brain sends a signal to have a cigarette every time you do these things. When you've quit, these times create cravings - they're a memory of how things used to be. Situations like
can all trigger a craving. Your feelings are connected to smoking too. You might smoke for comfort when you're sad or angry, or to cover up uncomfortable feelings. Or you might have used cigarettes when you're bored, or to give yourself a break. Even once you've stopped, the links between smoking and everyday feelings are still there in your mind. It will take a while to break those links. The desire for a cigarette still feels real, like a physical craving.
Common feelings about quitting I'm glad I stopped ... but why do I feel like I've lost a friend? This is a big change in your life, and it's hard. Old and familiar ways are difficult to let go of. You may feel some loss, but ride it through - you'll start to feel more confident. Don't waste all your hard work ... Quitting isn't really about willpower, it's about skill power. Everyone feels like a smoke sometimes while they're quitting. Recognise when you want to smoke and what you can do instead. Make a plan. |
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