Managing Cravings with Mindfulness and Acceptance

Mindfulness involves recognizing cravings as temporary experiences that follow a wave-like pattern, starting small, escalating, creasting, and eventually subsiding, usually within 15 to 20 minutes. By accepting the temporary nature of cravings and being fully present in the moment, individuals can effectively manage and eventually overcome their cravings. Research has shown that practicing mindful acceptance not only helped individuals like Hetty surf through her cigarette urges to quit smoking but also provided an effective intervention for addicted participants, yielding positive results even among heavy smokers looking to quit.