Preventing a Relapse
There will be obstacles on your quitting journey. Prepare yourself for things that put your quit at risk, and learn the warning signs.
There may be “snakes on the path” while you’re quitting—things that put your quit in jeopardy and can attack at unexpected times (or sometimes, appear right where you expect them to be). This is as true for experienced hikers as it is for novices.
But the better prepared you are, the less likely you are to get “bitten.”
Here are some examples of what we're talking about.
Warning Signs of a Vaping or Smoking Relapse
Right before a “snake attack,” you'll usually get a warning signal—an inner voice making excuses. So when you hear that inner voice persuading you to light up, tempting you that “just one won’t hurt”, get out of wherever you are. Take a walk, go home, or just do anything else to get your mind thinking differently.
Hearing thoughts like these is a warning signal that you're on the verge of returning to smoking, vaping, dipping or chewing. When you hear yourself thinking like this, wherever you are, change the situation. Avoid those snakes on the path!
- "I've gone three weeks without smoking. I've proved I can quit, so I can have just one."
- "My aunt smoked a pack a day and lived to be 95."
- "Well, maybe just one couldn't hurt"
- "I'll just try one of these 'light' cigarettes."
- "I can't do my job without smoking. I can't think straight."
- "I just need it when I'm here. When I get home, I won't keep smoking."
- "Screw it. Everyone has got to die of something."
Next, check out these quitting tips and techniques.