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No one knows what quitting is like more than others who have done it themselves. Here are some of the conversations going on right now.

Beat the Urge to Smoke

There are lots of things that can make you want to turn to smoking– like being stressed out, drinking alcohol, having coffee or being offered a cigarette from a friend. You'll know you're in a slippery situation if you start making the "I'll just have one" excuse.

Here's what you can do to beat the urge to smoke:

  • Call a friend.
  • Think back to your separation exercises. Remember how you broke the glue between cigarettes and their triggers? Commit to waiting 10 minutes before you let yourself smoke. If you can delay smoking, the urge will pass. Next time, aim for 11 minutes.
  • Get busy. Those 10 minutes will pass much more quickly if you get up, get moving, and get your attention off cigarettes.
  • Go back and look at your reasons for quitting.
  • Don't bum a cigarette. No one else should feel responsible for your slip up.
  • Don't buy cigarettes in the same place where you're having the craving. Walking from one spot to another may give you a few minutes to think about what you're going to do and change your mind.

Get Your Quit Back on Track

If you slip, don't use it as an excuse to give up completely. You've already made huge progress. This is just a setback. You can get past this.

Think about what went wrong and make a plan to fight your next craving. Whether it's one cigarette or a few, these kind of slip-ups are normal. Get back to tracking your cigarettes and working on beating your triggers. You also might need to try a different quitting medication or even try a couple of them together. If you've chosen not to rely on medication, maybe now's the time to make it part of your plan. Go back and review the different types to find the one that's right for you. Don't forget – the right medication can double your chances of success. You can do this. We know you can.

Next, check out these quitting tips and techniques.

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