[historyteach]

Help! I'm Craving a Smoke

If you have a sudden craving for a smoke, you will need an instant reaction. Fortunately there is always something you can do.

Which of these will help me right now?
I'll do the 4 Ds:
Deep breathe
Drink a glass of water
Do something else
Delay for 10 minutes (if it doesn't help, delay for 10 more: cravings rarely last more than 20 minutes!)

I'll figure out what's going on by asking myself:

What is causing this craving right now?


What can I do to change the situation?


I'll tell myself:

No matter what happens, I'm not going to smoke
This is hard, but I'm determined

Smoking won't make this better -- it will make it worse

No smoking!


Here's another thing I can say:
I'll take a time out:

I'll do a few minutes of deep breathing

I'll imagine I'm on a mini vacation

I'll talk to someone:

I'll call a friend or family member who supports my quitting

I'll contact a stop-smoking program


Most cravings will come up when you are out there in the real world, away from the computer. Print out the following summary page and carry it with you just in case you need it.

Thought this would be a helpful piece of information.
No, I am not having an emergency right now....but I've been there. I know how miserable it CAN be. And knowledge is power!
We have the power over those coffin nails!

Shalom!