How to Help Someone Quit Smoking

We all love our friends and would do anything for them. Sometimes that includes dealing with them when you would rather push them off of a chair and laugh. If a friend comes to you in need, you would certainly never turn them down. But, you really must know how to help someone quit smoking, and what you are in for before you commit. Your friend is facing a very tough battle, and if you have agreed to help, so are you.

First, know your role in this process. You cannot stop smoking for your friend, you cannot make him stop. He has to be the first step in the program or no matter how much you want it to work, it will fail. Your role is as a secondary player, a support person. The smoker has to make the decision to quit, and must follow through with all of the steps. You, as the friend will have to guide and help him along these steps.

Second, do your research. Your friend should do some research to know what methods he would like to try and which might work for him. Your research will be on these methods and how to help someone quit smoking. Read the firsthand accounts and advice so you know what to expect from your friend. Think about this friend on their very worst day. Now double that day and seriously consider whether you can help in any way.

Know that no matter how bad things are for you, it is far worse for your friend and that may help you overlook being shouted at, cursed at or threatened. If you have never smoked yourself, you probably do have at least one bad habit that you have had to deal with. Think back to the struggle that you went through with that and try to have some sympathy.

Something that is probably overlooked when you are trying to help someone quit smoking is the need to take care of your own needs. Caregivers tend to minimize themselves which does not benefit anybody at all. Make sure that you have someone you can vent to when your friend is at his most difficult.  Get proper rest, nutrition and exercise. Take a break from your friend, even if you have to unplug or turn off your phone for ten minutes at a time. (If your friend cannot make it ten minutes on their own they are either not ready to quit or need more help than you are qualified to give them.) Have someone else in place that your friend can call if you are not available or advise your friend to call the hot line number.

Knowing how to help someone quit smoking is more of a process- you have to have basic knowledge of several methods as well as of your friend. You have to know when to speak up and when to keep quiet. And you have to know that eventually your friend will succeed and you will no longer have to secretly plot his demise.