Quit Smoking Help From Family and Friends

How You can Support and Help Someone Quit Smoking

Is your loved one trying to quit smoking? Are you unsure of what you can do to help and support them? Do you wonder why they can't just get over it and move on?

When a person quits smoking, the release from nicotine addiction is a gradual process over time. It just doesn't happen overnight, as much as we'd all like it to.

Give your quitter lots of hugs, lots of room, and unfailing support for as long as it takes.

The following letter was written by Gaylene, a moderator for the About.com Smoking Cessation Forum. She wrote this to help family members understand what their loved one is going through as they quit smoking:

To the ones who live with us while we embark upon the journey to save our lives:

This quitting smoking is a VERY hard thing. Smoking is an addiction that is much harder to whip than drinking or drugs. There are so many stories here from both alcoholics and former drug users. They all say that nicotine addiction is "by far" the hardest fight of their lives. Sometimes our personalities seem to change for awhile, and not always in our (or your) favor.

I know it is hard for you spouses and loved ones to put up with us, but please, please try to understand.

We are fighting for our lives.
We want to spend more time with you on this earth.

We won't always be our "now selves". Once we get our addiction whipped, we'll feel so much better that you will be thankful for all you must put up with now. It's a terrible feeling not to be able to get the amount of oxygen we need. It robs us of being able to function properly both physically and mentally.

Please "loved ones", try to be tender with us. Give us all the encouragement you can. We love you and want to be with you. But if we can't quit smoking, we will not be around to do that. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

~Gaylene~
Gaylene's Quit Smoking Story
Gaylene's One Year Smoke Free Milestone