If you slip
If you slip and smoke a cigarette after you quit, don’t give up! You’re not the only one who has ever done this, and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Just don’t have another cigarette. Remind yourself about the reasons you want to quit and talk to a friend or counselor. Keep moving forward with your plan to quit.
If you relapse
If you start smoking again, try quitting again. Each time you try, you are more likely to quit for good.
Take some time to think about what happened:
- Why did you start smoking again?
- What was going on when you had your first cigarette?
- What could you do differently next time?
- Watch Betty’s story about how she quit after trying before.
Look at your quit plan and make changes. Then pick a new quit date and try again. Your friends, healthcare providers, and the counselors at the Massachusetts Smokers’ Helpline will keep supporting you for as many tries as it takes.
You CAN quit smoking!
