![]() It takes time and skills to learn to how to be a person who doesn't smoke.ĭo say, “It’s normal to not succeed the first few times you try to quit. Things a person learns from a failed attempt to quit may help them quit for good next time. Don’t say, “If you try again.” Say, “When you try again.” Studies show that most people who don’t succeed in quitting are ready to try again in the near future.ĭo encourage them to learn from the attempt. ![]() If the person you care about fails to quit or starts smoking again:ĭo praise them for trying to quit, and for whatever length of time (days, weeks, or months) of not smoking.ĭo remind them that they didn’t fail – they are learning how to quit – and you’re going to be there for them the next time and as many times as it takes.ĭo encourage them to try again. ![]() Don’t give up your efforts to encourage and support your loved one. (It’s called a relapse when people trying to quit go back to smoking like they were before they tried to quit.) If a relapse happens, think of it as practice for the next time. Research shows that most people try to quit smoking several times before they succeed. Be sure they know that you care about them, whether or not they smoke. A “slip” (taking a puff or smoking a cigarette or 2) is pretty common when a person is quitting.ĭo remind the person who's quitting how long they went without a cigarette before the slip.ĭo help the person who's quitting remember all the reasons they wanted to quit, and help them forget about the slip as soon as possible.ĭo continue to offer support and encouragement.ĭo congratulate the person who's quitting for making a quit attempt, and remind them that it can take many attempts before quitting for good.ĭon’t scold, tease, nag, blame, or make the person who's quitting feel guilty. Just ask how you can help with the plan or program they are using.ĭon’t assume that they will start back smoking like before. The symptoms usually get better in a few weeks.ĭon’t offer advice. Tell them you understand the symptoms are real and remind them that they won’t last forever. You don’t want your loved one to turn to a cigarette to soothe hurt feelings.ĭon’t take grumpiness personally when the person who's quitting is having nicotine withdrawal. This may make the person who's quitting feel worse. Your faith in the person who's quitting helps remind them they can do it.ĭon’t judge, nag, preach, tease, or scold. Quitting smoking is a BIG DEAL!ĭo thank the person who's quitting for not exposing others to harmful secondhand smoke.ĭon’t doubt their ability to quit. Use air fresheners to help get rid of the tobacco smells – and don’t forget the car, too.ĭo help the person who's quitting with a few chores, some child care, cooking, running errands – whatever will help lighten the stress of quitting.ĭo celebrate progress along the way. ![]() Remove anything that reminds them of smoking.ĭo wash clothes that smell like smoke. It’s hard to give that up.ĭo make your home smoke free, meaning that no one can smoke in any part of the house.ĭo remove all lighters and ash trays from your home. Ask how they’re feeling – not just whether they’ve stayed quit.ĭo let the person know that it’s OK to talk to you whenever they need to hear encouraging words.ĭo help the person who's quitting to get what they need, such as hard candy to suck on, straws to chew on, and fresh veggies cut up and kept in the refrigerator.ĭo spend time doing things with the person who's quitting to keep their mind off smoking – go to the movies, take a walk to get past a craving (what many call a “nicotine fit”), or take a bike ride together.ĭo try to see it from the point of view of the person who's quitting – their habit may feel like an old friend who's always been there when times were tough. This is their lifestyle change and their challenge, not yours.ĭo ask the person whether they want you to ask regularly how they’re doing. Do respect that the person trying to quit is in charge.
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