The tobacco in cigarettes contains 19 chemicals associated with cancer, according to "The New York Times." Despite this information, it's still a struggle for people to quit. Cigarettes are highly addictive, and unless you're a former smoker, it's difficult to understand just how strong a friend or relative's dependency on nicotine can become. If you know someone who has decided to quit smoking, helping him overcome the habit is a challenging--but rewarding--journey.
Step 1
Show your loved one support and encouragement when the subject of smoking comes up. Tell the smoker she's made a positive decision for the sake of her health and let her know she can turn to you for help, recommends QuitGuide.com.
Step 2
Offer the smoker literature that explains the challenges he will face and how to overcome such obstacles. Talk with him about the benefits associated with quitting smoking, such as improved breathing, sleep and taste enhancement, recommends Bucknell University.
Step 3
Take a trip to the supermarket with the smoker. Pick up items that will keep her mouth busy while she's trying to overcome her smoking habit. A smoker who's trying to quit often turns to hard candy, fresh vegetables and chewing on straws to help break the habit, according to the American Cancer Society. Give your loved one plenty of gum to chew when she's fighting the craving for a cigarette.
Step 4
Exercise with someone who is trying to stop smoking. Exercise can prove quite helpful in overcoming this habit, especially when he begins to realize how much better he feels. Exercising with a friend can give him that extra spark of motivation required to perform his daily exercises.
Step 5
Sympathize with the smoker when she's having a bad day. Someone who is trying to quit smoking can experience such withdrawal symptoms as anxiety, headaches, night sweats and insomnia. Simply being there and offering kind words of understanding can mean the difference between her reaching for a smoke to overcome the withdrawal or suffering through it.
Tips and Warnings
- The stress of quitting can make a smoker quite irritable. Maintain your patience--this irritability often ends when the withdrawal symptoms subside.
- Don't force your opinions on the smoker. A person who isn't ready to quit may find your words hard to hear or even view them as a personal attack. Wait until he mentions to you that he's ready to quit.
Things You'll Need
- Stop-smoking literature
- Hard candy
- Fresh vegetables
- Straws
- Gum
