How to Help Someone Quit Smoking

Someone who feels supported is more likely to quit smoking for good. That’s why friends, family members, and significant others can play a big part in helping a person become smoke free. Here are some tips that can help you support the person in your life who is quitting smoking. The more you know, the more you can help.

It’s Hard to Quit

Smoking cigarettes isn’t a bad habit. It’s a serious and complicated addiction. That makes quitting smoking one of the biggest challenges many smokers will ever face.

Deciding to quit doesn’t mean thoughts of smoking go away at once. It takes time for cravings to fade, and it can take a person more than one try to successfully quit. Most people who quit don’t do it on their own; they get a lot of help and support from friends, family, and significant others.

Know Your Relationship Style

The way you deal with smoking can have an effect on a person who is trying to quit. It helps to become aware of your relationship style. Your style affects their smoking, their quitting, their health, and yours.

Understanding your relationship style can help you understand what both of you may have to change to better deal with their smoking and quitting.

Start the Conversation

It can be hard to get someone to talk about quitting smoking. To get a conversation started, look for an opening.

Let them know you think it’s great they’re considering quitting and that you’re ready to help. If you’re an ex-smoker, you can draw from your own experience of quitting. Let them know how much better you feel now that you’re smoke free.

Create an Opening

If someone doesn’t give you an opening, create one. Ask them whether they’ve thought about quitting. Or you could try a different approach.

Ask Questions

Asking open-ended questions can help you understand what a smoker who is quitting is going through. You might ask:

• “What made you want to start smoking?”
• “What things make you crave a cigarette?”
• “What made you decide to quit smoking?”
• “What things have been stressing you out lately?”
• “What could I do to help make quitting easier for you?”

Listen

Quitting smoking is about them—not you. Listen to what they have to say. If you ask a question, be quiet and give them time to answer. Resist the urge to insert your own comments.

Don’t Lecture

Lectures, nagging, and scolding won’t help your friend or family member quit smoking. It might just put you on their bad side, and they may not come to you for help when they really need it.

Offer Distractions

Lend support to your friend or family member by helping them plan smoke free activities. If you’re still smoking, avoid smoking around them, especially if you call an activity “smoke free.”

Some triggers and cravings are unavoidable. Help your friend or family member prepare by thinking of ways to distract themselves until the craving passes. Most cravings only last a few minutes, so making a short phone call or finding a task to keep their hands busy might be enough.

Put together a smoke free quit kit with a few of these items for your friend or family member to help them be ready to deal with cravings in the moment.

Be Patient and Positive

Supporting someone who is trying to quit smoking can be frustrating and exhausting. Focus on staying upbeat. Don’t give up on them. Your support is important.

The withdrawal that can come from quitting smoking may make a person moody and irritable.

The cravings a person might face can be hard to deal with. Don’t let them lose confidence in quitting. Check in on them and let them know you support them.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Them if They Slip

Your friend or family member may slip at some point and smoke a cigarette. They’ll probably feel guilty, so getting angry with them will not help.

Celebrate Successes Big and Small

Recognize your friend or family member’s smoke free successes and milestones. Staying smoke free for one day, one week, or one year are all reasons to celebrate. So are throwing out all of the ashtrays in the house, ditching any reminder of cigarettes, and passing on an after-dinner cigarette.

Help Them De-stress

Quitting smoking can create a lot of stress, which may cause someone to reach for a cigarette. If you notice they are stressed, help them break the cycle by finding healthier ways to de-stress. If you smoke, remember not to agree to have a cigarette together—that will set them back.

Be There for the Long Haul

The challenges of quitting smoking don’t end when a person puts down their last cigarette. Cravings can pop up weeks, or even months, later. It’s not uncommon for ex-smokers to start smoking again within the first three months of quitting.

Let your friend or family member know you’re there for the long haul. Keep celebrating their smoke free anniversaries and offer distractions to help them deal with cravings. Your ongoing support could be all they need to make this quit attempt their last.

Blog Source: Smoke Free | How to Support Your Quitter