Quitting smoking after years of cigarette use can be a very difficult and frustrating process. MedlinePlus says that the nicotine in tobacco causes a variety of troubling withdrawal symptoms, including headache, drowsiness, anxiety and irritability. If your mother wants to quit smoking, you can provide emotional support while she goes through the withdrawal process, and remind her of the benefits of quitting smoking when she is tempted to smoke just one more cigarette.
Step 1
Offer to help with household chores, shopping or other tasks if your mother is feeling irritable or unwell after stopping smoking. If you perform these tasks, you can help relieve some of the stress your mother is feeling as she goes through the withdrawal process.
Step 2
Cut up carrot sticks, peppers and cucumbers, and place them in your mother's refrigerator. Vegetables are a healthy snack, and act as a substitute for the feeling of a cigarette in the mouth. Supply your mother with candy or flavored toothpicks if she does not want to snack on vegetables.
Step 3
Take a nightly walk with your mother, suggest a bike ride or accompany her to the gym. Exercising can help relieve stress, and will help reduce weight gain if your mother worries about gaining weight after quitting.
Step 4
Talk to your mother everyday, and let her know how proud you are of her efforts. Offer to provide support and encouragement in person, over the telephone or by email whenever she needs it, no matter what the time.
Step 5
Offer your mother a reward after she stops smoking for one week, and continue to offer small rewards as she hits milestones after that point. Brown University Health Education suggests using cards, flowers or gifts of foods as rewards.
Step 6
Tell friends and family members that your mother's home is a smoke-free area, and ask other smokers to smoke outside. The California Smokers' Helpline reports that being around other smokers, drinking alcohol and experiencing strong negative emotions are the most common reasons that people start smoking again.
Tips and Warnings
- Quitting smoking may reveal an irritable and cranky side to your mother. Try not to take it personally if your she snaps at you. Change the subject, or suggest that she take part in a relaxing activity, such as enjoying a warm bath or going to a movie.
- Don't be surprised if your mother starts smoking again. The American Cancer Society suggests thinking of a relapse as practice for the day that your mother stops smoking for good. Praise her for trying, and let her know you will support future efforts to quit smoking.
Things You'll Need
- Vegetables
- Candy
- Flavored toothpicks
- Cards
- Flowers
- Gifts of food
