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Relapse: I Just Can't Do It Right Now. I Know I'll Quit Again..., Back In The Saddle?


jillar

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MarylandQuitter

Quit Date: 10/07/2013

 

Posted August 1, 2014

 

I Know I'll Quit Again

Video discusses the risk of allowing yourself to relapse using the logic that you can always simply just quit again.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHp8yFnHbZQ

 

 

Get Right Back In The Saddle?

Still quit right away but figure out what went wrong and what happened so it doesn't happen again. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcEzzFM6c7A

 

 

                                                                      "Well at least I attempted to quit smoking.  That's better than not trying to quit at all."

 

This comment was stated by a clinic participant who, after five days of not smoking, gave in to an urge and took a cigarette.  It was only going to be one cigarette, he thought.  But by the end of the day, he was up to his old level.  So what about his logic that at least trying to quit smoking is better than not trying at all?

 

If this was his first attempt, it could be said that it was a learning experience.  Maybe he just didn't understand the concept of addiction.  He did not believe one cigarette could reestablish a physical dependency on nicotine.  After taking one cigarette, he lost all control.  So now, if he would ever quit again,  he would not question the concept of one cigarette causing a total relapse.

 

But this was not his first attempt quitting.  It was his second time in our clinic, as well as multiple previous attempts at other programs, hypnosis and on his own.  He once quit for two months before relapsing.  At that time he broke all physical dependency on nicotine.  Also, after two months he successfully overcame many trigger situations which cause many smokers to initially relapse.  Work pressures, family problems, and social situations are obstacles that all ex-smokers initially face when quitting.  He overcame all of these trigger situations.  But then, one day, out of sheer boredom, he took a cigarette.  In that attempt, too, he relapsed right back to his old level.  Obviously, taking that cigarette was a serious mistake.

 

This attempt, too, he chalked up to experience.  But when considering his latter attempts, it is apparent that he learned nothing.  Unless he objectively evaluates what causes his relapses to smoking, he is wasting his time trying to quit again.  Because instead of recognizing his past attempts as failures, he rationalizes a positive feeling of accomplishment about them.  This type of rationalization all but assures failures in all future attempts.

 

Don't allow yourself to get into the same rut as this man did.  On again, off again, one withdrawal after another.  Quitting smoking is only the first step in smoking cessation.

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_11_at_least_i_tried.html 

 

Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/2156-relapse-i-just-cant-do-it-right-now-i-know-ill-quit-again-back-in-the-saddle/

 

Edited by jillar

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This is profound for me.

 

In the past, I know I believed that if I had just one, I could always quit again. Yes, I became an expert quitter. But I never found true freedom. The true freedom that can be gained when you start to challenge stinking thinking. That stinking thinking that causes you to believe that smoking can offer relief from stress or enhance moments of pleasure.

 

The real path to freedom is never taking one puff ever.

 

Many thanks for posting this again @jillar

Edited by Genecanuck
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QuitTrain®, a quit smoking support community, was created by former smokers who have a deep desire to help people quit smoking and to help keep those quits intact.  This place should be a safe haven to escape the daily grind and focus on protecting our quits.  We don't believe that there is a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to quitting smoking.  Each of us has our own unique set of circumstances which contributes to how we go about quitting and more importantly, how we keep our quits.

 

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