When people try to quit they often don’t reach their goal on the first attempt.
Statistically Only 20% reach their goal on their first try.
People who take action toward a new behavior and fail, are twice as
likely to take action again in the next 6 months and succeed.

WHY DO PEOPLE RELAPSE?

Old behaviors meet a need.
When they are eliminated, the need still exists.
That is why substituting a new behavior for an old one is
effective
People often try to change through trial and error rather than using a careful plan and specific techniques
People may take action before they are really ready to change when someone else insists that they change.
Change often costs more than people expect in terms of time, energy and money.
They forget it took years to create the situation.
They don’t realize that it takes a lots of time and energy to change.
Stress can cause relapse.
A response to stress is to return to comfortable old habits and stop putting forth the effort change requires.
Social pressure or lack of social support can cause relapse.

USEFUL TECHNIQUES
Set an expectation in the beginning of an intervention that a relapse is likely and can be overcome.
Help the person see the return to old behaviors.
Call it a slip or a lapse, rather than a relapse.
Remind them of the progress they made up to the point of the slip most people lapse.
Encourage the person NOT to beat up on themselves.
Feeling guilt and shame is not useful.
Move forward by revising your plan based on what you learned.
Write a plan for when you relapse and carry it in your pocket or purse.
When you develop a behavioral change program, apply the theories that fit with
your goals, the available resources and the population you are
trying to reach
Changing behavior take more than will power. The strategies outlined offer
effective tools to help older people make changes to improve their health and
quality of life.