If your friend is trying to quit smoking, you can support him during this time. The American Cancer Society recognizes that the process to stop smoking is a stressful one to many people. While you may be in the position to help your friend, remember that it is his journey, and that he is in charge. If you do not have a tobacco addiction yourself, you may have a hard time understanding your friend's struggles. Try to support your friend without being judgmental.
Step 1
Speak encouraging words to your friend. The Quit Guide recommends telling her that you are proud of her decision to quit smoking and that you believe that she will succeed. Let her know that she can talk to you when she has setbacks and that you will not judge her.
Step 2
Offer to pick up items for your friend to suck or chew on to provide the oral stimulation that he is missing by not smoking. The American Cancer Society suggests that smokers trying to quit suck on hard candy, chew on straws and snack on crunchy, healthful foods such as raw vegetables in lieu of smoking.
Step 3
Try to keep your friend busy. Invite her out to smoke-free movies or to your house for dinner. Help her break the routine that smoking provided in her life. If you know that she often chain-smoked after dinner, ask her to go for a walk each evening with you instead.
Step 4
Celebrate small victories. Send your friend an encouraging card when he goes his first 24 hours without a cigarette. Take him out for dinner when he makes it a full week. Show him that you understand how difficult this is for him, and what a huge undertaking it is.
Step 5
Give your friend the benefit of the doubt. If your friend is grouchy or crabby, accept her feelings, and remember that they have little to nothing to do with you. If she backslides and takes a puff of a cigarette, do not assume that she will go back to smoking the way that she was.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask your friend if you can lighten his load a bit while he is under the stress of the first few weeks of quitting smoking. Help him tidy up his house, offer to return overdue library books or pick up his dry cleaning or invite his children to spend a few hours at your house.
