A slip is when a smoker who has quit smokes one or two cigarettes. A relapse is when a smoker who has quit returns to regular smoking. Most people quit and restart many times before they stop smoking for good.
How can you avoid your smoking triggers?
Many common activities or events can trigger the urge to smoke. Here are some common triggers and what you might do to avoid smoking:
- Finishing a meal.
- Get up from the table immediately and do something else.
- Drinking coffee.
- Change the way you have coffee: the place, the coffee mug, everything you did when you were smoking.
- Talking on the telephone.
- Use a phone in a different room when you're at home, or hold the phone with your "smoking" hand.
- Between tasks.
- When you have time between projects, try taking a short walk or reading a section of the newspaper.
- After an argument, disappointment, or negative event.
- Let off steam by walking briskly around the building.
- In the car.
- Remove the ashtray from your car, or change your driving patterns.
- Other people who smoke.
- Avoid the smoking areas at your workplace.
- Parties.
- Don't go with your friends when they go outside for a cigarette.
What can you do if you have a smoking slip or relapse?
If you slip or smoke a little, don't give up. Talk to someone who has quit smoking, or to a counselor, to get ideas on what to do. A slip can quickly turn into regular smoking, so it's important to do something different soon.