What to do if you start smoking again?
What to do if you start smoking again
Smoking is an addiction that can be very hard to quit. Many people struggle to quit smoking and may relapse, which can be discouraging. If you have relapsed and started smoking again, it's important to know that you're not alone. Many people have experienced this setback and have gone on to successfully quit smoking!
Here are some tips for if you start smoking again:
- Go easy on yourself
- Quitting smoking is a difficult process, and it's common for people to relapse. Don't beat yourself up about it. Instead, acknowledge that relapse is a normal part of the quitting process and that you're going to get back on track.
- Identify your triggers
- Think about what triggered you to start smoking again. Was it stress? Peer pressure? A social situation? Once you identify your triggers, you can work to avoid them or develop strategies to deal with them.
- Revisit your Smoke-Free Action Guide
- If you started smoking again, it's a sign that your Smoke-Free Action Guide wasn't effective. Look at your guide and identify what worked and what didn't. Then, adjust your guide accordingly. This is a great time to talk to your doctor or a smoking cessation specialist for additional support and insight.
- Find support
- Quitting smoking is way easier with support. Reach out to friends, family, or a support group for help. If you don't have anyone to turn to, consider calling a quitline or joining an online support community. There are thousands of people going through exactly what you are, and that human element can give you the boost you need to achieve your quitting goals.
- Try, try again
- It's important to remember that quitting smoking is a process, and it's okay to stumble along the way. Don't quit quitting! Instead, use your relapse as a learning experience and motivation to try again.
“Failure teaches you everything—you learn nothing from success.”
― George Clooney
If you start smoking again during your quitting journey, don't give up. So many people have gone through the same thing and successfully quit smoking for good- you can do it, too! For more specific ways to help you quit smoking, check out our list of the best tips and tricks here
- Learn the Serenity Prayer
Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.
The Serenity Prayer is an invocation by the petitioner for wisdom to understand the difference between circumstances ("things") that can and cannot be changed, asking courage to take action in the case of the former, and serenity to accept in the case of the latter.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
