Smoking is an unhealthy habit and it puts your parents at risk for heart disease, heart attack, cancer and stroke. Unfortunately, those risks may not register with parents who are addicted to smoking. You may think that you don't have the power to change your parents' behavior, but a concerned conversation with someone who loves them may be just the wake-up call they need to stop smoking once and for all. Be their biggest supporter so they know you care enough to help them quit.
Have a Conversation
Sit your parents down for a frank and calm conversation about their smoking habits. Be prepared for some hesitation and even anger. KidsHealth points out that no one likes to hear accusations of bad habits. Instead, try giving them straight facts about the dangers of smoking, like how it's bad for their health and how secondhand smoke can affect your health as well. Express your love and concern and ask your parents if they would consider quitting with your help. Offering your love and support can help relieve their defensive feelings and think about quitting seriously.
Set Goals
If your parents seem open to the idea of quitting, set goals together that can help them set out on the road to quitting. For instance, you might pull out a calendar and choose a quit date together. HelpGuide.org notes that a quit date can help give your parents something to work toward slowly, rather than quitting cold turkey. Work out a plan in which your parents slowly decrease the number of cigarettes they smoke daily until they stop needing to smoke altogether.
Distract Them
Remember that nicotine is extremely addictive, which is why your parents want to light up so frequently. While going through the withdrawal process, your parents may experience what's called a "nicotine fit," notes the American Cancer Society. Have a list of activities that you can suggest to your parents when they are experiencing an intense need for cigarettes. They could take a walk with you, go for a bike ride, go to a movie or play a game to occupy their minds so they aren't thinking about how and when to get their next cigarette.
Offer Support
The National Cancer Institute estimates that over half of quitting smokers experience at least four withdrawal symptoms, like depression, anxiety, weight gain, jitters and irritability. These symptoms can make quitting an emotional roller coaster for both you and your parents. If your parents lash out or even slip and start smoking again, offer support over nagging and disappointment. In the event of a relapse, your parents will likely already feel guilty and upset. Help them by making another quit plan and starting again, suggests the American Cancer Society.
