How to Quit Smoking, Again
If you're like most smokers who have tried to quit, you may have tried unsuccessfully several times. But you can try again and succeed.
"If you begin to slip back into smoking after quitting, this doesn't mean you've failed," says Mary Ella Douglas, the online director for Freedom From Smoking for the American Lung Association in Richmond, Va. "Millions of people who have quit smoking slip and start again before they stop completely. And it truly is a sign of success whether you quit for a day, week or month."
Fewer than a quarter of those who attempt to quit are able to make it beyond three months before resuming smoking, according to the American Public Health Association. Women usually find it harder to quit than do men, even though women have a higher risk of smoking-related diseases.
The following suggestions can help you kick the habit, again, for good.
Understand your relapse
If you relapse, the first thing you should do is not give up. Instead, take stock of the situation. When did the relapse start and what caused it?
Once you understand why it happened, you can begin to consider ways to get back on track.
"If stress caused your relapse, for instance, look into ways to reduce your stress," says Ms. Douglas. "If depression was a factor, then talk with your doctor about treatment."
Here are some steps you can take if you slip and smoke a cigarette:
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Treat the situation like an emergency. Stop smoking immediately! Get rid of all cigarettes.
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Make a list of coping strategies sure to work for you this time; forget about those that didn't work for you in the past.
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Review your list of reasons for wanting to quit whenever you feel you're slipping back into your old habit. When the urge hits, say, "I'm going to make it this time."
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Call a quit smoking hotline for encouragement. Research has shown that such hotlines really do help people quit by giving them someone to talk to when they get the urge to smoke.
Prevent relapse
One way to head off a relapse is to practice handling some possible situations that might tempt you to smoke, so you'll be prepared for them.
Ask yourself what you should do if one of these common situations arises:
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You're at a party and a friend offers you your old brand of cigarettes.
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You're under a lot of pressure at work and your supervisor wants a report right away. You can't concentrate and see a pack of cigarettes on a co-worker's desk.
The key to coping with smoking urges is to plan ahead, so that wherever you are, you'll have something to do instead of smoking.
For example, whenever you want a cigarette, try the four D's: