The Craving Hits, Now What?
- Oct 26
- 2 min read
That sudden 'I need it now' feeling can catch you completely off guard.
Whether it is the pull of a cigarette, the reach for your vape, a snack you do not really want or a rush of anxiety that takes over your chest, cravings can feel impossible to resist.
But here is the truth, cravings are not about weakness. They are your body and brain running a familiar pattern, one you have practiced hundreds of times before.
It goes like this: Trigger → Urge → Action
Something sets it off, you feel that urge build and your body moves automatically.
Breaking the Loop
The key to stopping it is not willpower, it is learning to interrupt the loop before your body takes over.
Every craving is your brain trying to predict what comes next. You have taught it that a certain trigger, like stress or boredom, leads to relief through a physical action — usually something involving your hands and your breath. Lighting up, inhaling, exhaling.
When you remove the cigarette or vape, the brain still expects that familiar hand-to-mouth action. It feels unsettled when it does not happen, which is why urges can hit so suddenly and powerfully.
What To Do When The Craving Hits
Instead of trying to fight it or distract yourself, meet your body where it is.
1. Acknowledge it. Notice the urge rather than judging it. Say to yourself, This is just my body running an old habit.
2. Mimic the motion. Bring your breathing tool or ChaLuMu necklace to your lips. That familiar movement gives your brain the cue it expects, easing the tension of unmet expectation.
3. Slow the way you breathe. Inhale deeply through your nose. Exhale slowly through the necklace for around eight seconds. Feel your shoulders drop and your heartbeat steady.
4. Wait sixty seconds. Cravings are like waves. If you let them rise and fall without acting, they almost always pass within a minute or two.
This is not magic, it is science. By slowing the way you breathe, you calm your stress response. By giving your hands something familiar to do, you satisfy the physical side of the habit. Together, they send a clear message to your body — you are safe, you are in control, you do not need the cigarette, vape or snack to feel better.
Taking Your Power Back
Every time you ride out a craving this way, you are teaching your brain a new pattern. You are proving that the urge does not control you. You can acknowledge it, breathe through it, and let it pass.
Real change happens through awareness, repetition, and compassion for yourself, not through punishment or willpower.
The craving will come, but now you know exactly what to do when it does.
Ready To Try It For Yourself?
Our ChaLuMu breathing necklaces are designed to help you take control when the craving hits. They combine beauty and function, helping you slow the way you breathe, calm your mind and break old habits one breath at a time.
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