"Help Me To Stop Smoking!" – Handling Setbacks and Temptations When Quitting Smoking

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably uttered the statement “Help me to stop smoking!” numerous times before. Arguably the most difficult aspects of giving up smoking are the cravings, temptations, and the setbacks that may occur. There are, however, things you can do to make dealing with these things a bit easier, so you’ll never have to say “Help me to stop smoking!” again.

Change Your Habits to Avoid Triggers

A huge part of avoiding the temptation to light up surrounds knowing your personal triggers and how to avoid them. If you're constantly saying to yourself, "Help me to stop smoking," change your routines and avoid triggers. Common smoking triggers include coffee or alcohol, stressful situations, after eating or talking on the phone. Changing your morning routine to get out of an early-morning ‘coffee & cigarette’ habit, altering how you spend your lunch-breaks at work or changing your after-dinner relaxation routine are all examples of how you can change your usual habits to avoid the urge to smoke.

Temptations Are Inevitable, Relapses Aren’t

Temptations cannot be avoided, simple as that. The difference between being tempted to smoke and relapsing, though, lies in being able to distract yourself until the temptation passes. Making a phone call, or engaging in conversation with someone you live with, can be a great way to do this. If you’re at home, go for a walk or do something with your hands to keep them busy. In social situations, make an effort to talk to someone you don’t know. The effort it takes to socialize with someone new will distract you from wanting that cigarette.

What To Do If You Start Smoking Again

The number one rule if you light up again is to not be too hard on yourself. If you beat yourself up and start thinking “I’m a failure, nothing will help me to stop smoking”, odds are that that’s exactly what will happen. Even if you fall off the wagon in a major way, get back on it the next day as if you never fell off in the first place. The more upset you get about it, and the longer you wait before stopping again, the harder it will be to quit. Learn from each opportunity; if you have a few too many drinks and light up as a result, don’t drink as much next time. If it’s a stress-related issue, try and not let things get so out of hand next time.

Don’t Give Up On Yourself

Under no circumstances should you give up on yourself entirely. It takes willpower and strength to resist the temptation to smoke, and the mere fact that you were able to give up the first time means you’ll be able to give up again. If you want new strategies to try, just think to yourself “what do I think will help me to stop smoking for good?” From herbs to help quit smoking, to nicotine replacement therapy and everything in between, if one method doesn’t work there are plenty of others to try.