Help! I've Slipped
It's common to have a slip or two after quitting. If you’ve had a slip, remember
that a slip is absolutely no reason to give up your new lifestyle. And after
all, it's only human to make mistakes.
Remember when you were first learning to drive? You probably made plenty of
mistakes. But, you kept going and you slowly got used to driving. You learned
from your mistakes and you gradually became a better driver. Quitting smoking
is the same way. You have to re-learn how to not depend on cigarettes. Quitting
smoking is a process that doesn’t happen overnight.
You may have you went out with a few friends and ended up having a cigarette or
two. Perhaps you found yourself in a stressful situation and the temptation was
overwhelming. Perhaps you felt you couldn’t “ride out” a craving and caved in….
no matter what the case, you made a mistake. Thousands of people make this
mistake. Thousands of people also overcome these mistakes and successfully
quit. Acknowledge your mistake and move on.
Your mistake might make your feel disappointed in yourself, or even a bit
depressed. These are normal feelings and you shouldn't feel like a failure.
What you have to do is get back on track as soon as possible. Learn from your
mistake and set a goal to not make that same mistake again.
You might want to ask your friends to not smoke around you. You can tell them
not to give you a cigarette, even if you ask for one. Or, you could avoid going
out for a few weeks or until you feel that it’s safe to go places where people
smoke. Do whatever works for you. It’s your health, your life, and your
decision.
And we’re here to help! You can always count on us to be here.