Craving triggers - food

upgetupgetup

I'm mostly controlling my urges ok with a mixture of mini lozenges, gum, and patch (sometimes - I use one every two days, even though I know there's not much in it by the 2nd day).

But the two times I feel the pang are in the morning, and right after meals. This is gross, but, sometimes, it's even during the meal that I feel it

The lozenges help, but I'm amazed at how strong the conditioned response is. Anyone else? Good solutions?

The other trigger that hasn't come up yet, but I know will, is difficult emotional situations/stress. The advice for that is therapy, destressing your life, fixing your problems, and deep breathing, but I'm wondering what people have tried that works right in the moment.

melsinct

In the moment, the only thing that worked for me were deep, meaningful breaths. For me it mimicked the long deep inhale of a cigarette and got me through that 2 minute period where my brain was screaming "CIGARETTE!!!!!" I would take a huge inhale through the nose, then slowly exhale through the mouth. I would do this a few times until the craving passed.

upgetupgetup

Thank you! I'm impressed it worked for you! Maybe I haven't really been trying hard enough... Always underestimate breathing (til I have bronchitis )

Moxie42

When I had quit for a few months, what really helped me when I was upset was working out. Sounds cliche but I'd get to the gym (or home) feeling like screaming and punching walls. I'd work out HARD and by the end I'd be so tired and hot and gross, cigs weren't on my mind, and my emotions over whatever situation was going on would be lessened. Or I'd swim- swimming helped calm me down and sometimes I could get in a zone and just swim swim swim while thinking about everything going on, and by the end I'd feel more clear-headed.

For the cravings that used to hit me at work or at home, I ate tangerines like crazy. I'd have 6 or 7 a day for a couple weeks. I heard citrus helps curb cravings. I don't know if that's true but I know that by the time I peeled the thing and ate it one segment at a time, the craving was gone or at least manageable. Cuties or tangelos are great at work since they're easy to peel and aren't messy.

upgetupgetup

When I had quit for a few months, what really helped me when I was upset was working out. Sounds cliche but I'd get to the gym (or home) feeling like screaming and punching walls. I'd work out HARD and by the end I'd be so tired and hot and gross, cigs weren't on my mind, and my emotions over whatever situation was going on would be lessened. Or I'd swim- swimming helped calm me down and sometimes I could get in a zone and just swim swim swim while thinking about everything going on, and by the end I'd feel more clear-headed.

Oh, that sounds really good, actually. I'm hoping to be able to swim next week I do like it, for calming.

For the cravings that used to hit me at work or at home, I ate tangerines like crazy. I'd have 6 or 7 a day for a couple weeks. I heard citrus helps curb cravings. I don't know if that's true but I know that by the time I peeled the thing and ate it one segment at a time, the craving was gone or at least manageable. Cuties or tangelos are great at work since they're easy to peel and aren't messy.

This makes a lot of sense