Updated January 30, 2015.

Smoking Relapse Prevention

The urge to smoke....oh, to have just one cigarette!
At some point in cessation, nearly all ex-smokers entertain thoughts of smoking just one cigarette, or just for tonight.  We rationalize that would be alright, that we can get right back to our quit programs. We know better than to believe that is true, but time and distance from the last cigarette smoked can soften the edges on the reasons why we quit in the first place.

Learning to navigate around the unhealthy thoughts of smoking that are bound to come up now and again through the first smoke-free year is a necessary and critical step in the recovery process.

Will I Miss Smoking Forever?

Does the urge to smoke weeks or months into cessation mean we are doomed to fail? Will we spend the rest of our lives chained to this addiction, whether we're actively smoking or not?
No.

Urges to smoke are simply indicators of the healing process that is going on within us and should be regarded as progress.

This lesson will help you begin to understand and reprogram your mind away from the junkie thinking that is a byproduct of quitting tobacco. I've also included stories from people who have been through a smoking relapse. Their perspectives give us plenty of valuable food for thought.

Keep your memory green, your reasons for quitting close at hand, and remember: There is no such thing as "just one" cigarette.

Avoiding Relapse - Beat Junkie Thinking

4 Steps to Defeat the Urge to Smoke
When we first quit, the urge to smoke a cigarette can be overwhelming.

This article will teach you how to decipher and satisfy what your body is trying to signal via the craving without lighting up.
5 Steps That Lead to a Smoking Relapse
Let's take a look at 5 of the most common reasons for a smoking relapse.

Rationalizations for Smoking
Chances are the rationalizations to smoke on this list have gone through your mind, probably more than once!

There is No Such Thing as Just One Cigarette
The title says it all, and the content of this article offers you the tools to stay smoke-free when your mind is urging otherwise.

Why Do People Relapse Years Later?
We all know people who have started smoking again after years of cessation. Why does it happen and how can we prevent it? 

Relapse Stories

Anatomy of a Smoking Relapse -- Leslie's Story
Leslie's account illustrates how unhealthy thoughts of smoking can lead us right back to cigarette smoking, and how years can go by before we're ready to try quitting again.

Relapse: This is How It Happens
If you've ever had a smoking relapse, you will identify with this ex-smoker's story about how she fell off the non-smoking wagon.

My Relapse Story - From Loribelle
Loribelle shares her relapse story and the lessons (and empowerment) learned from it.

Quit Smoking 101 -- Index Page | Lesson 10