It's not always easy to get someone to quit smoking. It is possible that he has already tried, unsuccessfully, to break this bad habit. In some cases, the subject wants to quit, but does not have the tools to fulfill his desire. This is the time when you can step in and help. Your continued support and presence can convince a loved one to quit smoking and succeed.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Talk to your loved one to stop smoking
Step 1. Determine how to introduce the topic
Since this is a sensitive issue, it is worth planning in advance how to start the conversation.
- Decide where to talk to him. A familiar and welcoming place is the best choice.
- Find a way to approach the subject without being abrupt. You need to try to minimize surprise or shock.
- Be prepared to react promptly to her grievances and the manifestation of hurt feelings. For example, the smoker might argue that he is able to make his own decisions. If so, you need to confirm this, but express your health concern.
- Try to leverage the emotional side of the subject. This way, they will understand that your motives make sense and will be more willing to listen to your advice.
Step 2. Remind him of all the harm caused by smoking
It is an unhealthy habit, not only for the smoker, but also for those around him. It is important to send positive messages; don't scold him, don't torment him, and don't try to scare him.
- Remind him how important he is to you and that you want to be with him for years to come. Smoking causes serious medical conditions, such as lung cancer, and is one of the recognized factors that causes osteoporosis, stroke and depression.
- If the aesthetic aspect is important to your interlocutor, encourage him to preserve his beauty, avoiding the wrinkles and yellowed teeth typical of smokers.
Step 3. Encourage him to desire a long life by leveraging personal relationships
Remind them of the people they care about - their children, grandchildren, spouse, and trusted friends - and how important they are to them. Pictures of young people can help keep him motivated and remind him every day why he wants to quit smoking.
Step 4. Offer your support
Try to make the detox process as simple as possible.
- Make sure that you are always available on the phone to help him get through the moments of withdrawal.
- Let them know that you will be supportive throughout the process.
- Involve other friends and family to work to help the smoker if possible.
Step 5. Work out an action plan with your loved one
Structure a schedule together that the smoker can stick to on a daily basis to help them stay away from cigarettes. You can make changes if needed, but that way there will be a routine to follow and a guideline for the future.
Part 2 of 4: Offer Constant Help
Step 1. Try to distract him
The act of smoking becomes an integral part and a natural aspect of a smoker's daily life, almost second nature. One of the biggest hurdles to face is to structure new habits. You can help your friend at this stage or ask other people to help.
- If he usually smokes during breaks at work, suggest they go for a walk together instead.
- If he lights his cigarette after a meal, ask him to wash the dishes or walk the dog.
- If smoking is the first action in the morning, offer him a cup of coffee to drink with friends.
- If it is assumed that you smoke when sipping alcohol, avoid attending parties and bars where alcohol is served.
- When you have a strong desire to smoke, try to be available to talk to and distract him.
Step 2. Address withdrawal symptoms
The loved one will experience a series of more or less intense ailments due to the lack of nicotine. It is best to manage them directly and always be supportive in these difficult times. Remind him that these are transient symptoms.
- Weight gain is a common effect. If this happens, offer to exercise with your friend and help him reset a diet plan.
- He may have difficulty sleeping for some time. Suggest some activities to relax, such as reading a book, watching a TV show, or writing a journal.
- Don't take his bad moods as personal. Continue to take a positive approach and reassure him that black days are completely normal. Remind him how proud you are of what he is doing.
Step 3. Support him so that he doesn't give up if he has "relapses"
Most individuals who attempt to quit smoking sooner or later succumb to the temptation of a cigarette. This is completely normal and part of the process. Unfortunately, many smokers take this as a sign of failure and discontinue the program. The first two weeks are usually the most difficult.
- Remind him of all the reasons that made him want to quit smoking or why he should.
- Reassure him that he can still quit, despite the "misstep".
- Identify the situation that led to him giving in to the cigarette, so that he can avoid it in the future.
Step 4. Reward your achievements and successes
The process of quitting smoking is by no means simple. You have to reward his efforts along the way, to keep his motivation high and remind him that he is on the right path.
- One of the immediate positive effects of quitting smoking is saving money. You can suggest that your friend put it aside to treat himself to a treat when he is completely free from cigarettes, such as a nice vacation, why not?
- Rewards and praise are important elements. Positive feedback or tangible benefits make the smoker (or "near ex-smoker") aware of their progress.
Step 5. Stay in touch with your loved one
Don't let her tell you how the program is progressing, but inform yourself and ask her questions. Monitor her progress, so that you are always available to support or reward her.
Part 3 of 4: Providing Professional Support or Advice
Step 1. Suggest that your friend see a professional
If you can't do all that is necessary to help him quit, it is worth seeking the help of a therapist who specializes in this area. You can consider individual or group therapy, which provides more support.
Step 2. Offer to accompany him to the meetings
Many people feel uncomfortable about going to support group meetings, especially on a first date. For this reason, your presence may help reduce anxiety in your friend until he or she feels comfortable going alone.
Step 3. Recommend using nicotine patches or gum
Both of these products help many people in their fight against smoking. You can always tell your friend to give it a try.
Step 4. Provide other sources of help
Be prepared to offer other methods and supports to quit smoking, should they become necessary. If the smoker can't afford a therapist, help him look for free or low-cost programs. You can also indicate the same websites on which you have documented and from which you have drawn the statistics and facts.
Step 5. Offer to make an appointment with your GP
He is able to offer your friend other resources and specialist advice. It is always a good idea to involve the family doctor in processes like this so that he can help.
Part 4 of 4: Learning about Nicotine Addiction
Step 1. Do some research on smoking statistics
Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in cigarettes; on this topic you can find many reliable sources that provide truthful statistics and help you understand the problem. Websites are a great place to start.
- The CDCs provide statistics categorized on a demographic basis.
- On the AIRC website you can find a lot of information about the health harms of smoking and the benefits of stopping smoking.
- You can also find useful information on the Ministry of Health website.
Step 2. Take notes
Write down the most important statistics and facts on a piece of paper. They can help you when you need to convince the smoker to quit.
Step 3. Talk to a doctor
Statistics help you get an overview of the effects of smoking and nicotine addiction, but only by talking to a health professional can you ask specific questions and get more details on the topic of smoking.
Step 4. Meet an ex-smoker
Who better than a person who has quit smoking can understand the detoxification process? Since no two people are alike, you should talk to more than one ex-smoker to learn about their experience. These individuals will offer you a point of view and show you what is not deductible from a website.
Advice
- Make sure the person is ready to quit. If she is not motivated, she will not be successful.
- Keep in close contact with your friend to monitor the progress of the process.
- Be a good listener. Sometimes a person who is trying to quit smoking just needs someone to listen to them.
- In some regions, the SerT provides free supports (patches, candy, mutual aid groups, and so on) to help people quit smoking.
Warnings
- Don't be negative about the smoking detox process (especially in the first few weeks). Maintain a positive and upbeat approach even when the person you are helping is in a bad mood.
- Be respectful. You may have very strong feelings about this vice of a loved one. However, your concern should never outweigh his right to freely choose whether to smoke or not.
