| How to Help a Friend or Family Member |
Do you have a friend or family member who wants to quit smoking? Many smokers want to quit. But nicotine in tobacco is EXTREMELY addictive, so quitting is not easy. What can a friend do to help? Read these tips. Talk to your friend and ask what he or she needs. YOUR support may make a huge difference!
How To Offer Support: Ten Things You Can Do
Quitting smoking is tough. If you have friends or family members who smoke, you want to support them in quitting. But what can you do? These tips can help you support your friends, without turning them off.
1. Express care. Skip the criticism.
Try saying, "I really care about you and I'm worried about your smoking." Talk about the reasons you are concerned.
It's OK to let them know you care, but be careful not to criticise. Criticizing will only increase their stress level. Guess how smokers deal with stress? Yes, that's right, smoking.
2. Remember, the smoker needs to make the decision.
If a person isn't ready, you have a snowball's chance in hell of talking them into quitting.
Nagging, complaining, or pressuring will probably backfire. If may even make it harder for the person to quit when he or she is ready.
3. Ask how you can help.
If your friend is planing to quit, you can say, "What can I do to help?"
If they are not ready, let them know that you would like to support them when they do decide to quit.
4. Be patient with mood swings.
When your friend does quit, get ready for emotional ups and downs. Bad moods are a part of overcoming physical addiction. They will pass, usually within a few days.
Do not take mood swings personally - they are not your fault.
If you have a hard time being around the person, it's OK to take a break. Your friend may even prefer to be alone when a bad mood hits.
5. Be "On Call."
For some people, having a person they can talk to when they are craving a cigarette is helpful.
If they need to talk often, reassure them that it is not a burden. Tell them, "I really do want to help."
6. Offer encouragement.
Encourage even the small steps. Offer praise for thinking about quitting or cutting back.
Give extra encouragement during the first days of quitting.
You can say, "I noticed you haven't smoked today! That's just great!"
7. Encourage non-smoking activities.
If you are going out together, suggest doing an activity that does not include smoking, or an activity where other people do not smoke (Gym, Theatre, Symphony, Indoor Sports events.)
Take a walk together. Play basketball or tennis. It's hard to smoke or even think about smoking, when you are being physically active.
Hang out in places where smoking is not allowed. Museums and indoor malls usually do not allow smoking.
Avoid bars, parties, and other places where you know people are smoking.
8. If you smoke...
Don't smoke around the person trying to quit. If you live in the same house, step outside for a cigarette. Be careful to put your cigarettes away so they won't be a temptation. Be respectful of their efforts!
Consider quitting too. You could support each other, and grow closer!
9. Be prepared for slips.
Quitting for good can take several tries. If the person slips, don't get mad or act disappointed.
Say, "It's OK, I know you can do it. It just takes several tries."
10. Keep up the support.
Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things a person can do. It can be hard for weeks, months, or sometimes even years after quitting.
Celebrate one day, one week, and one month without smoking. Go out to dinner or give a small gift.
Let your friends know how very much, how really special it is to you that he or she is NO LONGER SMOKING.
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