Quick Tips: What to Do When You Crave Nicotine - Got a craving right now?
The cravings for nicotine can be intense for the first few days when you stop smoking, but they will get better with time. Here are some tips on how to cope:
- Use nicotine gum, lozenges, or an inhaler.
- Distract yourself. Stop what you are doing, and do something else.
- Remind yourself why you stopped smoking.
- Remember that most cravings do go away.
- Go for a walk.
- Take a bath.
- Call a friend.
- Exercise. Go for a jog, a bike ride, or a swim.
- Drink a glass of water.
- Suck on a piece of hard candy.
- Listen to music.
- Chew on a toothpick or a piece of gum.
- Relax! Try deep-breathing exercises or yoga.
- Do a puzzle or some other activity that uses your hands.
- Work in the garden-pull weeds or rake leaves.
What else works?
Use the space below to add to the list of things that help you get through a craving.
10 Ways to Reduce Stress While You Quit Smoking
Many smokers think that lighting up helps them relax. They’re fooling themselves, experts say. “Nicotine withdrawal makes people feel jittery and anxious, which smokers often confuse with feeling stressed,” says Steven Schroeder, MD, director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California, San Francisco. “Lighting up makes them feel better, not because that cigarette eases stress but because it’s delivering the next dose of nicotine.” Breaking free of nicotine addiction...
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