Quitting smoking can be very difficult. Every year nearly 70 percent of all adult smokers report wanting to quit smoking completely. Millions of people try to quit smoking at least once during the year.
Most slipups occur within the first week of trying to quit smoking since physical withdrawals make this period particularly tough to get through. However, people who relapse after 6 weeks of not smoking usually don’t do it because of nicotine withdrawal. Instead, they relapse because they find themselves in situations that make them want a cigarette.
Here are some tips on how to avoid sliding back into old habits and what to do if you slip up…
Avoiding Slipups - How to Avoid Smoking Relapse
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so it’s best to avoid smoking again in the first place. Here are some tips on how to keep yourself cigarette free:
It’s crucial to avoid relapse triggers such as:
- Associating with other smokers, especially in a leisure environment
- Consuming alcohol
- Feeling overconfident
- Becoming isolated from your support system
- Not getting enough sleep
- Putting yourself in stressful situations
Taking proactive steps to reduce stress can help you less and avoid relapse triggers. Some examples of how to do this are:
- Exercise
- Getting enough rest
- Eating healthy
- Yoga/meditation
- Going for walks outside
Keeping your mind, mouth, and hands busy can help you avoid cravings. If you feel the need to smoke you can:
- Take deep breaths
- Count to 10
- Call a friend
- Reach for candy, gum, a straw, etc
- Watch TV, listen to music, read a book
Support groups are also extremely important. Keep in close contact with those who support your efforts to quit, be it your friends, family, doctor, etc.
In addition, positive reinforcement is key in breaking a habit so remember to reward yourself for milestones or small successes. This can mean celebrating even an hour, a day, or a week without smoking.
I Slipped Up, Now What? – Quitting Smoking After Relapse
Slipups can happen but here are some ways to cope and move forward emotionally. Try these steps if you relapse from smoking:
- First off, stop smoking again immediately.
- Know that beating yourself for relapsing will just make the situation worse so it is better to treat yourself with kindness.
- Know that you’re still in control and can push ahead in your goals to quit.
- Remember that you’re not alone and you can always start the road to quitting again, don’t give up!
- You can treat this incident as something to learn from and help you reach success.
Understanding what caused the slipup can help you avoid future slipups. To start, identify what caused you to slip up. Then write down all of your triggers. Make a plan for your two or three main triggers. Put your plan into action by finding a way to cope with your triggers or avoiding them for a period of time.
You can also seek out other resources to help you quit such as nicotine replacement therapy medicines or talking to a support-hotline counselor on the phone.When it comes to avoiding smoking relapse and maintaining a smoke-free lifestyle, smoking cessation devices, such as vapes, can play a pivotal role. Vapes offer a range of benefits that can aid in your journey towards long-term cessation. One effective strategy is gradually reducing nicotine strength by using vapes with lower nicotine concentrations, allowing you to gradually wean yourself off nicotine dependency. This controlled approach helps mitigate withdrawal symptoms and cravings, increasing your chances of successfully quitting smoking. Furthermore, vapes serve as a viable alternative to traditional cigarettes, providing a similar hand-to-mouth action and delivering a satisfying experience without the harmful combustion of tobacco. With a wide array of flavors and nicotine strengths available, vapes offer a customizable and enjoyable vaping experience tailored to your preferences. By embracing vapes as a healthier alternative, you can satisfy your cravings, reduce exposure to harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, and embark on a path towards a smoke-free future.. South Beach Smoke has a variety of options to aid in quitting smoking. All and all quitting smoking is possible, you can do it, start your plan today!