The Importance of Family Support When You Quit Smoking

[sheri bates]

It's a subject that smokers hate to contemplate, they hear about it
from the media, from spouses and from their children. "When will you
quit smoking?" is the dreaded refrain. Smokers absolutely hate that
question because it forces them to think about what they're doing to
themselves, and possibly to others. When you finally do decide to lay
that pack of cigarettes down, family support can be the key thing that
keeps you from picking it back up. More than patches, pills, hypnosis
or willpower, a supportive family helps keep you on track and smoke
free.
Why is family support so important? Who knows you better than your
spouse? They can tell when your willpower is beginning to weaken. They
see the cravings, sense the rising frustration levels and know when
you're just about to cave in and light up. A caring spouse can prevent
you putting that cigarette to your lips with a simple, "I'm proud of
you." That little phrase carries more weight with a smoker than all
the haranguing about health problems. Smokers know what cigarettes do
to them, but sometimes just knowing that someone sees their struggle
and is proud of their efforts is all it takes to stay quit.
Supportive family can also help combat withdrawal symptoms. They are
not going to be able to lessen the symptoms, but a patient, caring
spouse can help mitigate the situation before you snap. Letting you
back out of a stressful situation with shrieking kids, allowing you a
few quiet minutest to pull yourself together; these simple acts can
help you calm down before you blow your top. Irritability and a short
temper are two of the most common withdrawal symptoms, but if you
truly want to quit and your spouse is supportive, you can avoid losing
that temper.
An awareness of why you're irritable and an understanding spouse will
go a long way towards keeping you from picking the habit back up.
Patience, a few quiet moments to pull yourself together and
understanding are the things your family can provide; these tools are
more effective than all the nicotine replacement strategies and don't
cost a thing. Family support is crucial to your efforts, without that
support the battle to withstand the cigarette's siren call can be more
than you can take. If you're the spouse of a smoker who's trying to
lay the habit down, be kind, show that you care and let them know
you're proud of what they're trying to
do.
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