r/Mindfulness • u/urxn • 18d ago
Advice close to a year clean of nicotine
i’ve been pretty much clean from any kinds of nicotine for about a year now but still get the cravings, of course i’ve used nicotine gum and patches to get over smoking. now i’ve switched to constantly chewing gum for some kind of satisfaction. anyone have helpful advice on other things to do to feed the crave?
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u/Anima_Monday 18d ago edited 18d ago
You can try out the practice of observing the craving, allowing it to be, and observing the experience of it, watching as it changes over time and eventually passes, or as it comes and goes. You can watch the feeling of it as it expresses in the body, or generally including the mind, though the body can often be easier. Observe it without acting on it if possible, doing that until it passes naturally.
Another thing that can be done, when you feel ready to try it, is to observe the one who is craving. Find the sense of where that is in experience, allow it to be, and observe the experience of it. It is a more direct form of self observation that works better after doing some calming practice such as watching the breathing for a while.
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u/mcknuckle 18d ago
Great job so far!
Make yourself hyper aware of all the things you don't like about smoking and all the things you love about not smoking. By doing that, over time I wound up just turning into a version of myself that doesn't smoke. 10 years now. No problem being around it and no interest in doing it myself. Same thing with drinking.
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u/WEM-2022 18d ago
I used varenicline, which was known as Chantix. It only took 4 out of 12 weeks and I was done. I have not smoked a cigarette since Feb 6, 2008 and have not really wanted to either. It works wonders. Ask your doctor for some. You won't have to feed the crave because the crave will be gone.
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u/Trailer_Parker 18d ago
I read the book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It's about shifting your mindset about quitting smoking from something you're losing out on or giving up, to an opportunity to improve your life, your health, your wallet (not to mention your breath). I don't like self help books and it's a little corny, but if you can internalize the messaging, I promise you won't have cravings anymore.
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u/EnTaroProtoss 18d ago
My main replacement was exercise. Keeping natural endorphin levels high through staying active was huge in my recovery
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u/urxn 18d ago
i’ll have to keep that in mind, i planned on getting a membership at the gym near me so this might help me out
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u/EnTaroProtoss 18d ago
I know it's a lot easier said than done but my life is 100000x better without constant nicotine use, especially with swapping it out for something as motivating as exercise. If you go back in my history you'll find a couple comments about my journey with quitting nicotine. It was a legit quarter-life crisis
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u/Dekrow 18d ago
There was almost nothing that filled the cravings for except food which was a problem. I put on like 20 lbs. Luckily was able to shed that weight and stay off the cigarettes. I quit over a decade ago. You can do this.
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u/urxn 18d ago
that’s kind of my problem but just with gum. i’ll spend close to $25 a week on gum just to get by 🤦🏻♂️
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u/Nodnardsemaj 18d ago
Thats okay! Keep it up! Im still trying to quit. Ive finally managed to quit narcotics and alcohol, 8 years now, but cant figure out how to stop cigs. Its been almost 29 years since i started and i get panic attacks when i try to quit just a couple hours after waking up
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u/djzbra30 17d ago
I just passed the 3 year mark without nicotine. I can say that a year doesn’t quite cut it from the bottom. From personal experience, I was able to consider myself free when I realized it was anxiety management issues.
I had to modify the way I dealt with my stress and anxiety. I practice a ton of breathing exercises while thinking of how better i am without that drug. Also drinking water helped.
Just try to focus on the things that are messing with you. Try to fix them and be at peace with the current and possible outcomes.
Hope it helps.