6 Things to Do to Help Your Friend Quit Smoking

Smoking kills. Smoking is responsible for six million deaths around the world each year, according to the World Health Organization. This number could rise to eight million deaths by 2016 if there is nothing done to stop the 3,000 or so new smokers getting into the addiction each day. And, it is wrong to think that a cigarette or two will not hurt. Addiction to nicotine can be overwhelming and before you know it, you have been smoking for years. If you have a friend who smokes heavily perhaps it is time to do an intervention. Help your smoker friend to quit. He/she needs your help. But, before you do just that here are some things you should do to help.

Learn about the addiction

If you are a nonsmoker you will need to brush up on the concepts and information about nicotine addiction. Withdrawal from nicotine addiction can be tough. Among the symptoms are irritability, nausea, headache, palpitation of the heart, anxiety and stress. This is the reason why smokers who are able to quit already fall into a relapse. The brain runs wild and throws its weight around just to get nicotine. For some smokers, quitting cigarettes is like losing a best friend. If you know what it feels like to be in a smoker’s shoe undergoing withdrawal, you will be more sensitive and caring. You will gain more patience in dealing with your smoker friend. You will be able to understand why your friend is going through the emotional ordeal.

Observe your friend’s habits

Triggers are environmental or situational cues that drive smokers to smoke. The fact is that smokers do not smoke at their behest. Often, the smoker’s urge to smoke are triggered by certain situations and the environment. For example, if a person, even if he is not feeling the stress and anxiety, would end up smoking after a meeting. Some might be smoking after a meal or before going to bed. Studies show that stress levels do not drive people to smoke as claimed, it is about the triggers that make the brain feel stressed and thus driving smokers to light a cigarette. Learning about the triggers can help you help your friend in the form of reminders and awareness.

Get more physical

If you are into fitness then this next thing to do will be a cinch for you. You need to constantly push your friend to exercise. Exercise is not only the best way to improve one’s health, but it can also help alleviate stress. During the first few weeks of withdrawal, the symptoms will be overwhelming. Exercise can help by releasing feel-good chemicals like endorphins to replace the lost nicotine that makes the brain feel good. Exercise also can help lower the blood pressure and strengthen the heart that has been weakened due to smoking.

Avoid being an enabler

If you really care about your friend, resist being the one that can trigger his smoking habit. Since addiction is triggered by certain events, try not to go with him/her to the bar. Adult-themed bars that allow smoking can trigger the addiction. If you can, try to invite your friend in an al fresco café or to workout in a gym during spare time. You can help your friend to keep his/her mind off smoking by taking a hike during weekends or enjoy a great scenery along a bike trail. Push your friend out from situations that can be harmful.

Reward your friend

The reward is a good way of motivating your friend for a job well done. It doesn’t need to be expensive. A simple popcorn and some Netflix would do. A nice turkey dinner would be fine.

Don’t force your friend

Ask your friend if he/she needs help. Don’t force yourself into the situation. As a friend who is concerned, you are limited on what you can do. Ultimately, it will be the friend’s decision to quit smoking. But you can sway him/her to that best decision by constantly discussing the consequences of getting into the addiction.

A friend in need is a friend indeed, as the old cliché goes. Seriously, you need to help a friend avoid smoking for good. Think about the added years: more birthdays, more Thanksgivings, more Christmases and more New Year’s Eve celebrations. Add at least 10 years more in your friend’s life by helping him/her to quit smoking.

About the Author

Ryan Rivera loves to help smokers quit such nasty habit by giving them tips that will help make it easier for them to say goodbye to nicotine addiction.  You can also check out his Calm Clinic Google+ account for more tips.