Stop Smoking Cravings

Succeeding at stopping smoking means coping with cravings. Each smoker will have to figure out what works best for him when he decides to stop smoking because all the techniques work differently for different people. Smoking is a difficult habit to break and it takes a few weeks for the body to get the toxins out of the system. You have cravings because of homeostasis, a biological desire for equilibrium. Your body automatically attempts to regain balance when something changes. You can use this to your advantage, though, if you understand how it works.

One of the hardest parts about stopping smoking is how anxious and guilty you feel and how you worry you won't really be able to quit. These feelings cause stress that that can make you want to smoke even more, creating an unhealthy cycle. This is especially hard in the first few weeks when your body is physically changing. You really have to commit to changing your life for the better to work through the cravings that come when you stop smoking.

While you are stopping smoking, you should avoid as many stressful situations as possible. You need to cope with the stress from quitting smoking before you take on any other stressful situations. It is a good idea to distract yourself in a healthy way. When you want a cigarette, try eating a piece of tangy fruit like a pineapple or orange instead. Another way to fight the cravings is to listen to a favorite song when you want a cigarette. Songs last about as long as it would take you to smoke a cigarette so this can distract you temporarily. Make sure you choose uplifting music, not music with a negative message.

Exercise your hands when you are wanting a cigarette. You can get a hand exerciser or just squeeze a small ball. Eventually, you can start working out with the entire arm and your back and shoulders. Exercising helps improve the health of your circulatory system. You can also try focusing on tasks that require you to concentrate like shaving, drawing, putting on make up, or doing math. If you focus on something like this, you are going to be able to stop thinking about your cravings for a cigarette.

If you try these things, you will soon see your cravings disappear almost entirely. You will experience them again from time to time but you can use these techniques to cope with the cravings. Focusing on how stopping smoking is going to make you healthier and happier, not how hard it is to quit.