There is a quote that is sometimes heard in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous; “If you hang around the barber shop long enough you just might get a haircut.” For a person in recovery, especially early recovery, that quote holds one of the basic principles of recovery: Avoid the people, places, or things that might trigger one to go back to their drug of choice. This is also pertinent for someone who is working on quitting smoking. Relapse triggers are everywhere and you must be prepared. Of course you won’t be able to avoid going to the gas station forever, but you could find another one that does not evoke those triggering thoughts. You might not be able to quit drinking coffee, but could you go to a different part of the house to drink it, maybe a room that you never smoked in. You might not be able to get out of that traffic jam every day on your way home from work, but you can alter your routine in the car by changing the radio station, or using your fingers to tap a song on the steering wheel!
What are some of your triggers for smoking? Prevent an unnecessary haircut – think about the people, places, or things that might get you back to smoking and develop a plan to deal with them.
Heather Kraling-Coons
