If you have a loved one who expressed the willingness to quit smoking, you certainly would like to give him or her your full support and encouragement. It is not easy to break a tobacco dependency. One other thing is that quitting the habit is such a touchy subject. This is what makes it difficult for you to figure out how to help. Here are some tips on how to express your support and encouragement for your loved one to start his or her journey of quitting.
Give health the appropriate perspective
You can inform the person about the profound benefits of quitting in terms of his or her health as well as the family. You can start by saying that getting rid of the habit can reduce the risk of incurring lung cancer, heart ailments, peripheral vascular disease, respiratory symptoms, and even infertility among women who are of child-bearing age. Try to remind them by painting a picture of what your loved one has to lose in smoking.
Understand and be patient with the addiction
Addictions brought by smoking can be both physical and emotional. Around 80 to 90 percent of smokers are addicted to nicotine. Smoking is as addictive as heroin and cocaine and it is quite difficult to quit. It is especially significant for you to be patient during the initial withdrawal period. These are troublesome times with symptoms including anger, irritability, difficulty in sleeping, weight gain, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, among others. Remind your loved one that these symptoms are quite normal and they will go away soon.
Slips are normal
Most people may experience a reduced urge to smoke after a week, yet slip-ups may still occur weeks and even months after quitting. It is crucial to keep on encouraging those who go through a relapse temporarily instead of criticizing the slip-up. Keep a positive attitude. You may also advise your loved one to try vaping and use a vape liquid with nicotine to lose the nicotine addiction temporarily. As a sign of support, you may even gift your loved one the best vape pen for e-liquid.
Don’t forget to express your concern
Make sure that you let your loved one feel how concerned you are about his or her health. Always tell them that you will be there to support them once they decide to do so. You may ask them how they would like to be helped. Better still, wait for them to reach out to you. Don’t nag or give them unsolicited advice. Even if they have already expressed their willingness to quit the habit, it doesn’t mean they are now ready to go. Give them the freedom to decide on their own and to start on it when they think it’s right.
Try to come up with distractions
Distractions have the ability to reduce cravings and the handling of withdrawal symptoms. If you think your partner requires distraction from the habit, you may offer any of the following: taking a walk, playing a game, watching a movie, cooking a new dish, gardening, and taking a class like handicraft or painting. Find some activity that your loved one enjoys doing to distract him or her from the cravings. However, try not to do activities or go to places where smoking is more conducive such as bars and concerts.
Help your loved one find outside help
Once you have decided to be all out in helping your loved one to quit smoking, always bear in mind that some smokers may need numerous attempts to be free from the habit. If your loved one is going through severe withdrawal symptoms, you may help him or her find a physician, group support, or a behavioral therapist to assist your loved one professionally.
Encourage your loved one to join a support group
There are support groups that are web-based and they are composed of people who want to quit smoking. You can introduce your loved one to one of these groups. Your loved one may feel motivated to quit the habit after hearing someone successful in being nicotine-free.
Celebrate small and big victories
Make it a point to recognize the smoke-free milestones of your loved one. Whether it is being smoke-free for a week, a month, or a year, everything is a reason to celebrate. Apart from disposing of all the ashtrays and getting rid of anything that reminds your loved one of cigarettes, you can support your loved one by buying them a ticket to a play, sending flowers or a congratulatory card, or giving him or her a home-cooked dinner. Be generous with compliments and positive words. This will boost your loved one’s will to quit the habit.
Help your loved one to destress
The act of quitting the habit is stressful. Once you notice that they are stressed, you can help your loved one find a healthy way to destress. This can be watching the sunset or walking outside with the dog.
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