Cravings can be caused by nicotine withdrawal, stress, a familiar smoking situation or a pleasurable memory. They can make you feel like you are mildly uncomfortable or going completely crazy. They can appear on the horizon of your mind and build, like a tidal wave on the ocean, until the only thing you can think about is a cigarette. Just reading about smoking, seeing a friend light up a cigarette, seeing a movie, getting into your car, or finishing a meal can cause one. They can zap away your motivation and determination to quit smoking.
Cravings are what make quitting such a hard goal to achieve.
Focus on the Craving Most cravings are short-lived. They begin to build and crest within a few minutes and are generally ebbing away within 10 to 30 minutes. However, when you are in a relapse cycle, you may experience more cravings, or stronger cravings, than usual within a period of a few days. The frequency of the cravings during a relapse cycle makes them more difficult because you get tired of having to cope with them. As a craving is building, the most important thing to remember is to feel the craving that you are actually having, and do not anticipate how bad it will get in the near future.