Forgive your Smoking Relapse and Start Over

You have done it, you have now been smoke free for a little while and you feel like you are on top of the world. Then out of the blue, the temptation hits and you can’t fight it and gave in. Sadly, this is not the worst of it. You not only slipped once, but felt so horrible and frustrated with yourself that you had a full-fledged relapse. Was all of this work for absolutely nothing? No, it wasn’t! As a matter of fact, while most certainly a setback, may very well be the motivation you needed to solidify your conviction and may keep you from relapsing down the road.

Consider these questions and suggestions of dealing with a relapse:

Note the time and location.  What made you to give in to temptation?  Why did you give in on that day rather than on any other day?  Be sure to keep your stash, such as nicotine gum and nicotine stashes, nearby for when the urge hits you to smoke.

What problem did you feel your smoking would resolve? Consider other options that are available to you and when if it happens in the future again.

If you figured that you gave into the temptation of smoking out of sheer boredom, figure out a more enjoyable activity or hobby to keep yourself from being bored.  Always remember, as grandma use to say, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground” and this could not be more true when it comes to quitting smoking.

You need to understand that a relapse is just a temporary setback.  While it is true that unlike a brief slip it is a more advanced regression, it is by no means a sentence of permanency.  Yes, you will probably have slipped into some old behavior patterns that are leading you back down that road to smoking, but just as you stopped these patterns once, so you will be able to do it again. 

Seek positive reinforcement.  Be open with friends and family about your relapse and explain how you feel about it.  The odds are good that they will not only spur you on, but perhaps will help you to overcome tempting situations. This may also be a good time to consider enrollment in a smoking cessation program to have some help in case another relapse threatens.

Remind yourself why your are giving up smokking.  Focus of your intentions at all times.

Review the effects of smoking on your body, as well as on those around you.  Evaluate your health as it is now, and strive to make that positive change a permanent one. 

As you can see, a relapse does not have to be the end of the world.  As a matter of fact, it does not mean that you are weak-willed, incapable of quitting the habit, or in any way inferior to any of the other ex-smokers out there.  Plenty of them slip up or relapse, but they also get right back onto the non-smoking wagon after they fell off.  It is not unusual to relapse and it is important that you not only learn from your experience but that you also forgive yourself for the mistake you made.  Remember, you can quit and a relapse is simply a temporary setback!

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