Quit Smoking Advice: The Perils of “Just One”
Here's the scenario: You finally - finally! - After probably years of struggling, manage to quit smoking. No more clothes that reek of smoke, no more off-putting breath and - most importantly - you feel healthier than you have in years. You've beaten the tobacco demon, and after several months you can't even remember why you smoked in the first place.
Fast forward a couple of years. You're still a non-smoker, and you're proud of how you've stuck to your guns and succeeded in quitting. However, in a moment of weakness, you think you can have 'just one' cigarette. After all, you've gone without for years - and one cigarette alone isn't going to harm you, right? Besides, you'd like to see if you still enjoy smoking, it’s just an experiment. So you smoke a cigarette.
Fast forward again, and you'll be a smoker a few months later.
The reality is no ex-smoker can afford to have 'just one'. Addiction is an endless battle. Even when you feel strong enough to smoke 'just one' cigarette, or if you're feeling particularly stressed or upset and think 'just one' will calm you down and then you won't have another - the truth is, that 'just one' is a psychological barrier. When you break it, all of a sudden it doesn't seem like that much of an issue to have another cigarette. That 'just one' spirals, and eventually you're right back where you started: a smoker.
If you really want to quit smoking for good, don't fall in to the trap of 'just one', no matter how much time passed since your last cigarette. It's better to be safe than sorry.