Sometimes, when you are quitting, there may be times when you will suffer from a "lapse," for example, when you smoke a used cigarette from an ashtray, or light a cigarette, put it in your mouth, and then put it out. If you let it, this lapse can lead to a "relapse" and you may find yourself using tobacco as before or even more heavily. However, only you have the power to choose how you will handle a "lapse." If you identify the problem, learn from it, do something about it and maintain a positive attitude, you will continue on your way toward, maintaining a tobacco-free life. Using tobacco is a complex behavior and you may need practice to change. The number of quit attempts will help increase your chances for success next time. Look at what triggered the relapse and figure out how to handle it differently. Don't feel discouraged.

If you end up smoking once again, forgive yourself. It often takes more than one try to be totally free of tobacco. Set another quit date, get some support, and try again. Don't give up—nothing worth doing in life is ever easy. Try again for yourself, your spouse, your children, or your grandchildren.