Ask yourself is it sensible, helpful to your emotions short term and long term, and/or goal producing?
I would argue that the first smoke would taste horrid, you would smoke more, feel crappy about it and start the whole cycle over PLUS you wouldn't have your goal of being smoke free.
There's nothing left to analyze so you can walk around this problem and change the channel of your mind to one or more of the things that Shawn suggested above.
give yourself 10 minutes. breathe in for 6 seconds, breathe out for 6 seconds, repeat. Wash your brain of those thoughts. Always tell yourself if I have one, I know I'll have 19 more. Old saying on here, they run in packs. Make a list of things that you've neglected all these years that you've smoked. could be the baseboards, a cupboard, windows, new shelving paper. I'm sure there's something around your house that you've put off because you need to smoke that last cig. In my case, it was shelving paper. You and I both know what a pain the neck that is to rip off. Well, let me put it this way, in 4 months my house does not have one piece of shelving paper left anymore.
they always told me that the cravings would go away. They always told me it would get easier. After 4 months, they're right. Yeah, I've had my ups and downs. It's just my brain reprogramming itself after years of smoking. I can't even remember a time when I didn't have a cigarette in my hand. Out of all of my years living, I only didn't smoke for 16 of them (actually 12 if you count trying it to see what it was all about). I have no memories of not smoking. I just have to make new ones. Read up on nicotine receptors. You'll be amazed on what the brain can do.
Sit back and think about what exactly you were doing at the time the craving hit. I'm sure by now reading all this rambling it's passed by now or I've created a new one 😉 But think about your emotion or what you were doing when it hit you, then replace the cigarette with something else. perhaps a stick of chapstick, like someone suggested on here. I always used gum. Providing I don't bite into my tongue, I can gnaw that piece until my jaw hurts. A smooth rock that you can put in your pocket and stick in your hand and just simply rub it. I have a habit of putting my hands in my hoodie and clasp my hands and massage my thumbs. Read up on pressure points. There's a good one to use to press your thumb in the center of your palm for 5 seconds.
In my case, I couldn't do cold turkey. I caved after 4 days. I couldn't do the physical and emotional all at the same time. I know in the beginning I would just chant, this will pass, let it go over and over. There's no one here except me and the dogs otherwise they probably would have admitted me at this point. The first 30 days are the hardest. Then you kind of level off and then you have a few rough patches here and there. Everyone is different. Some have it harder than others. I used the patch in the beginning from 1/26 to 3/20. I didn't have the depression and anger until a few weeks after I went off the patch. For me that lasted three weeks. For you it may never appear. Just remember to ride the waves, remember the waves, remember the calm afterwards. Time the craves, keep yourself busy during them. You will notice that they do get further apart. For me remembering the ebb and flow of the cravings is what made me never want to go back and also ACCEPTING that I can never have another cigarette for the rest of my life. Once you get there, you've got this battle halfway won. You'll never win this addiction, but you can get it under control and not let it run your life. I'll be watching out for you. I've done it and I know you can too. Hang in there !!!!
Your mind is a powerhouse and God is also there to help you get through !
Change your thinking do not focus on it and tell yourself it is only ole nic that addicted part of your brain trying to get you !
"I don't do that anymore " is a powerful statement ! I used it a lot and still do at times ! it will get easier .
As you change your thinking your brain is being renewed ! Take some nice deep breaths and sowly exhale thinking of how nice it is to breathe fresh air and not poison !
Get busy - if that doesn't work - get BUSIER! Take a walk, call a friend, go get some ice cream. Don't give that crave any power, You can't win an argument with yourself, so simply don't have one.
All of the above! Distract, distract, distract! You are doing this! Keep moving forward. I know you don't want to repeat what you have already done! Stay Strong! Terrie
I must repeat, all of the above. We had good days and bad days as smokers and this looks to be a bad day or a bad moment. No crave ever killed anyone, can't possibly say the same about smoking!
What you describe in your recent comment - scream, pull hair, smack yourself - those things you can do! You can do anything - just don't smoke! I know that sounds oversimplified - but, it is what it boils down to!
Pulling through this tough day will strengthen you!
Congrats on your quit - I promise it will get better!
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