Handling a Slip

You Can Recover from a Slip

If you do go back to smoking, you are not a failure. Don’t toss aside your attempt as worthless. Use it to try and succeed. Think of your quit attempt as a learning experience, and if you do slip, try again.

Here are a few ideas to help you recover from a slip:

• Understand that you’ve only had a slip.
  • One or two cigarettes is better than an entire pack. You had a small setback, but it does not make you a smoker again. Recommit to the quit. If you have not already, pledge to quit, and create a quit plan to help prevent slips in the future.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself, but don’t be too easy on yourself either.
• Feel good about all the time you went without smoking.
• Find the trigger that caused you to slip.
  • Figure out what exactly made you smoke and how you plan to avoid or handle that trigger for the future.
• Learn from your experience.
• If you are using your medication, keep using it.
• Talk to your doctor or another health professional.