People who quit smoking or chewing but relapse more than six weeks later are not smoking or chewing to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Rather, their relapses are caused by a desire to smoke or chew (craving) induced by emotions in response to internal or extenal cues.
Assessing how each person's tobacco use serves as a reinforcer can help your treating professional identify potential relapse triggers for you.
Ask yourself these questions, and bring your answers to your treating professional:
Sensory Rewards
Lots of smokers like the way a cigarette feels in their fingers. Or, they enjoy the puffing, the smoke and the warmth of a cigarette. Tobacco chewers like the smell of their tobacco, and often feel like their chew against their cheek is a companion.
What about you?
Rituals
Lots of smokers have special things they like to do with tobacco, such as what they do with the cigarette pack, the way they open it, the way they light up and the way they puff on the cigarette. Chewers like the can or pouch that contains their tobacco, and wear it on their bodies in a predictable place. They cut it, tap on it, smell it, etc.
What about you?
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What sort of people smoke or chew (your brand of tobacco)?
What are they like?
Emotional Relief
Lots of smokers and chewers discover that tobacco helps them deal with stressful feelings, such as anger, frustration or boredom.
What about you?