1. < Addiction & Recovery

Why do we crave nicotine after a meal?

Posted by mcmurf2 @mcmurf2, Jun 7, 2020

I know it is not just me,,, but seems like the strongest urge to use nicotine is after a meal... why is that? I think IF I could figure that out,, I may get a handle on this addiction. just a thought..??

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 8, 2020

@mcmurf2- Good morning. What an excellent question! I smoked for 35 years and I can tell you that lighting up after a meal, when having a cocktail, or the phone rings, and when I was tense were habits. And for some reason, I established them over time. Perhaps this is when I saw others smoke, or the craving from being addicted hit me. As has been said many times on this discussion addiction is very complex and habitual.
Symptoms of substance abuse are intense cravings, and loss of our ability to control our impulses. So, each time we use drugs or alcohol, for whatever reason, we are reinforcing that behavior. Does this make sense?

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1 reply
mcmurf2 | @mcmurf2 | Jun 8, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@mcmurf2- Good morning. What an excellent question! I smoked for 35 years and I can tell..." + (show)
@merpreb

@mcmurf2- Good morning. What an excellent question! I smoked for 35 years and I can tell you that lighting up after a meal, when having a cocktail, or the phone rings, and when I was tense were habits. And for some reason, I established them over time. Perhaps this is when I saw others smoke, or the craving from being addicted hit me. As has been said many times on this discussion addiction is very complex and habitual.
Symptoms of substance abuse are intense cravings, and loss of our ability to control our impulses. So, each time we use drugs or alcohol, for whatever reason, we are reinforcing that behavior. Does this make sense?

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yes,, it makes sense...so I have , myself, just been reinforcing this after meal behavior. It just seems, that IF I could just break THIS particular time of using it,,, I could get a hold of it.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 8, 2020
In reply to @mcmurf2 "yes,, it makes sense...so I have , myself, just been reinforcing this after meal behavior. It..." + (show)
@mcmurf2

yes,, it makes sense...so I have , myself, just been reinforcing this after meal behavior. It just seems, that IF I could just break THIS particular time of using it,,, I could get a hold of it.

Jump to this post

@mcmurf2- Yes, it would help. Do something else! Leave the table and go for a walk or do something that you love, other than smoking. I do not believe that getting a hold of something and quitting an addiction is the same thing. If you are addicted to something you have to stop it, go through withdrawal, and never do it again. Getting a hold of something means to control and if you are addicted then you have lost control. There are many, many stop smoking sites and programs that help with hints that help you break your way of thinking and help tolerate withdrawal symptoms. One thing that I would suggest is not to think of getting a hold of it but of quitting. Use terms that define what you are about to do, not hint at them.

These might help

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/basics/quitsmoking-basics/hlv-20049487
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/index.html

Have you set a date to quit?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 8, 2020

@mcmurf2, Here are a few references you might find helpful.

Smoking after meals: Why the puff after your lunch or dinner can increase your risk of cancer:
-- https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/smoking-after-meals-why-the-puff-after-your-lunch-or-dinner-can-increase-your-risk-of-cancer/390353

Find Your Smoking Triggers:
-- https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/features/find-your-smoking-triggers#1

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