5 Steps That Lead to a Smoking Relapse

"Quitting isn't so hard. I think I've got this thing licked and can handle smoking just one cigarette tonight. I'll get right back to my quit program tomorrow."

Otherwise known as romancing the cigarette, or junkie thinking, this kind of thought pattern gets us into hot water fast. Time away from smoking can blur the edges of the reasons we had for putting those cigarettes down in the first place. We forget the chronic cough and lose touch with the racing heart and breathlessness that came from climbing a flight of stairs.

As we gather a head of steam and start logging smoke-free time, it's easy to fall into thinking that we have control over our addiction. Make no mistake about it, though; as nicotine addicts, we will always be susceptible to dependence once again if we introduce nicotine back into our systems. The only way to maintain control for the long haul is to have a zero tolerance policy with nicotine. Remember that there is no such thing as just one cigarette, and adopt N.O.P.E. as your motto.

More:

• Nicotine Withdrawal and Junkie Thinking

• There is No Such Thing as Just One Cigarette