Time and time again, people quit smoking, over, and over, and over again .

Stop the cycle. Too many people have tried to quit smoking, over and over, time and again. When you first try to stop smoking, you should know that most of those who have made the same decision before you, statistically, had to make the attempt over and over before they eventually conquered the smoking habit. The fact that many people try time and again to quit smoking is completely normal and should not in any way reflect on your decision to stop.

You can take solace in the fact that you are not alone and understand that quitting is not only a life-goal but also an immediate benefit to your life and health. Consider yor failure only a temporary lapse, an unintended slip-up and start over again. Go back to Day One and begin again. The key is not to give up: It's too easy to convince yourself "that it is OK, that it doesn't work, it's impossible", or some other excuse.

Change Your Lifestyle to Stop Smoking

In the event you do slip-up try to quit again immediately. Don't continue tosmoke. There are many events in our lives that can trigger smoking. The new non-smoker has to be aware of these and be ready to deal with them. If you are out with friends having dinner and a few social drinks it's very easy to revert to your previously comfortable cigarette habit and have a smoke. Realize what has happened. Stop smoking immediately. Reinforce your decision to quit by repeating your new mantra: I do not smoke, I am a non-smoker.

Indeed this is common enough, acknowledge your lapse. Understand that for many people it is part of the process. You are not really a failure and quitting is as easy as foregoing the next cigarette. Take heart, you can still get yourself back on track. This is important. Don't view these temporary lapses as permission to take a break and have a smoke whenever you feel you "need one". Following this path will only insure that you never quit smoking.

You can't quit smoking for six days a week and convince yourself you have solved your problem. On the contrary, you should very much try and avoid even the most innocent of lapses: don't get stuck on stupid thinking that "one drag" is okay.

If, however, you do have a lapse, don't despair. You have to make sure it's not thought of as a failure. You should still think of yourself as a non-smoker. To give up and decide that you're going to smoke again after you slip-up is to deny one of the most fundamental realities about quitting smoking: it is a very difficult thing to do, and for most people takes multiple steps.

Talking Points