Section 3: Managing Cravings and Preventing Relapse
Plan before the trigger arrives
Decide in advance, with an "if X happens, I'll do Y" approach, how you'll respond in hard moments.
Making decisions in a crisis moment can be hard. A short, pre-prepared "if - then" plan can reduce automatic behavior.
Examples
- If I want a cigarette with my coffee, I'll drink my coffee somewhere else.
- If someone offers me a cigarette, I'll say "I don't smoke."
- If I leave a stressful meeting, I'll walk for a few minutes first.
Alcohol and social settings
If alcohol or social settings where people smoke increase your craving, rearranging the setting, the duration, or the plan can help, especially in the early period.
Key takeaways
Choosing the plan in advance instead of coming up with it during a crisis means you have fewer decisions to make in hard moments.
This content is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional about your own health.