How To Help Someone Quit Smoking

Smoking can be a difficult habit to break, and it can be just as difficult to know how to help someone quit smoking. However, a smoker can quit and you can help. Here's how:

1. Educate yourself.  Why and how can someone quit smoking? Read up, or ask the former smokers in your life how they did it and what most helpful to them. If you are a former smoker yourself, think back on your experience and what you learned from it and can contribute. The health risks related to smoking can provide motivation. Nicotine replacement gums or patches could aid the smoker in breaking his addiction. Snacking on carrot sticks or holding a cinnamon stick between his fingers could provide some relief to the urge to smoke. If it is the short breaks he will miss, find ways to provide distractions and relieve stress.

2. But, wait! Before you get a step ahead of yourself, ask the smoker how to help someone quit smoking--after all, that someone is her. Confirm that this is a decision she is ready to make and find out his reasons for doing so. Discussing this with her will allow her to explore her thoughts, which could help her solidify and keep her goal. She might not know how to help someone quit smoking, but she can give you a sense of how much support she needs or desires.

3. Follow his lead and have patience. Stay positive and encouraging. Don't be a nag, unless he has asked you to be a nag.  Don't ignore his challenges, unless he has asked you to ignore them. Remember that he will likely feel out of sorts and that this is not a reflection on you.

4. Celebrate the victories. Help someone quit smoking by recognizing the effort she is  putting into the task. At first, each unlit cigarette or nonsmoking break is a victory. With your help these small victories could quickly add up into days, weeks, and so on.

5. Recognize your limits. Remember that you really only have control over yourself. Although you can help someone quit smoking by supporting him throughout his quest to become a nonsmoker, you can't do it for him. You have to let him do it for himself. His setbacks or failure is not your responsibility.

6. Rest easy. Give your smoker your ear and your positive reinforcement, then rest easy in knowing that you have done what you could.

Smoking can be a bad habit that is difficult to break. You might be tempted to avoid getting involved in someone's struggle, but help someone quit smoking and you just might ultimately discover that his victory is also your victory. Be there for the smoker or ex-smoker as long as he desires your support. Regardless of the outcome, breathe easy. If you can't help someone put down a cigarette, you can still avoid picking one up.