Every attempt to stop is an opportunity for learning and gives the person’s body a break from tobacco. Remind the person who smokes that the majority of people who stop smoking try to quit many times before succeeding. What to do when someone goes back to smoking You could also encourage them to speak to their doctor or pharmacist, as they may not be using their stop smoking medications in the right way, or at the right dose. Quitline counsellors can help people to manage their triggers and cues to smoke and can help the person to stay on track. Remind the person of supports such as Quitline (13 7848). Encourage them to focus on the future and what they will do differently to prevent them getting into the same situation. Commend the person quitting for how many days they went without a cigarette and remind them that any break from smoking is good for their health. A couple of ‘sneaky smokes’ isn’t something to be ashamed of. It is completely normal for someone to have a cigarette or even a few while they are trying to stop smoking. Suggest catching up in non-smoking venues such as a restaurant or a cinema.If the person has decided to take up exercise, offer to join them to keep them motivated.Encourage the person quitting to get out and about with you, doing healthy activities such as going on a hike, taking the dog for a walk or going for a bike ride, to distract them from their cravings and feelings of withdrawal.These might include chopped up fresh fruit and vegetables, a jug of water or toothpicks to chew on. Keep ‘craving busters’ on hand for the person trying to quit.There are plenty of practical ways to support someone who is stopping smoking and being supportive in these ways helps to show someone just how much you care about them. Keep in mind that the person has probably tried quitting previously so has built up their own experience about what it takes to quit. It is best to simply ask how you can support them with their quitting plan. While it can be valuable to share your experience, try to avoid claiming your approach is the best way. If you have previously smoked yourself, don’t assume that what worked for you will work for the person trying to stop smoking. Then when you talk to them, you will have knowledge of cravings and withdrawal feelings and symptoms and will be able to communicate an appreciation of how difficult quitting can be for some people. If you have never smoked and don’t fully understand tobacco dependence, read up on it so you have a better idea of what the person quitting is going through. Even if the person returns to smoking, they haven’t failed – stopping smoking for any length of time is a great achievement. Remind them that any time spent not smoking is good for their health and every attempt at stopping smoking is arming them with more knowledge about quitting that they can use in the future. Be positiveīe encouraging and let the person quitting know that you believe in them. Keep in mind that they may change their mind over the course of their quitting journey and that is ok. Perhaps ask them whether they want to be asked regularly about how they are going or would prefer not to be pestered about it. Ask them how they would like to be supported. It is a good idea to speak plainly with the person who is stopping smoking and ask them what they need rather than guessing. Talking to someone about their smoking Speak plainly
#Quitter smoking how to#
How to talk to someone who has had a ‘couple of smokes’ A person’s relationship with cigarettes can be quite complicated.
Sometimes people who smoke can be defensive about their smoking because it has been such an important part of their lives and they may even feel it has helped them from time to time. But it can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is trying to stop for fear of ‘getting it wrong’. People who are trying to stop smoking need support. Talking to someone who is stopping smoking
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