How Do Support Someone Giving Up Smoking?

Quam256 · 03-01-2007, 20:41

My wife

smokes and had decided to give up for the New Year.
I have never smoked so I dont understand at all how dificult it is .
What do you say or do if they have or want a cigarette ,because right now I have no idea at all.

superbiatch · 03-01-2007, 20:45

Is she using any aids? or going about it on her own?

I work for a stop smoking service in Merseyside and if people use our NHS ran service, it is proven they are 8 times more likely to quit, than willpower alone.

Lots of useful websites - do some reading www.givingupsmoking.co.uk

r00t · 03-01-2007, 20:53

Tried the chewing gum, but it tasted so vile I had to smoke a cig just to take the taste away.
Though they do quell the craving.

Quam256 · 03-01-2007, 20:55

She is going it alone,and it feels like I'm giving up aswell ,because its putting my nerves on edge .

What support is there for the people who have to live with them while they are giving up .?

superbiatch · 03-01-2007, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quam256

She is going it alone,and it feels like I'm giving up aswell ,because its putting my nerves on edge .

Please do try to encourage her to seek advice. Most areas have a stop smoking service and its nothing like alcoholics anonymous - its just we have people specifically trained in helping people to quit smoking and have lots of handy tips and advice. Patches can work wonders (god knows they worked for me!) but the also take the stress out of it (there are ost of difference auis available too now!) - sounds like she's struggling already if you're feeling the strain

If she really is against speaking to someone who can advise her - then please ask her to go to the pharmacy and buy some nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. How many cigs does she normally smoke a day? This will give me some idea of which aid to recommend and will make her quit attempt so much easier.

Quam256 · 03-01-2007, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

Is she using any aids? or going about it on her own?

I work for a stop smoking service in Merseyside and if people use our NHS ran service, it is proven they are 8 times more likely to quit, than willpower alone.

Lots of useful websites - do some reading www.givingupsmoking.co.uk

Thanks for the Link ,it will help me understand aswell.

20 plus a day.

Mr Angry · 03-01-2007, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quam256

She is going it alone,and it feels like I'm giving up aswell ,because its putting my nerves on edge .

What support is there for the people who have to live with them while they are giving up .?

Agree with her that each time she takes a craving for a cigarette you should snog. It'll take her mind off it and hopefully keep you both sane.

Good luck to you both, it's not easy.

r00t · 03-01-2007, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Agree with her that each time she takes a craving for a cigarette you should snog. It'll take her mind off it and hopefully keep you both sane.

Good luck to you both, it's not easy.

But if it goes further than a snog, she'll want a cigarette afterwards

Quam256 · 03-01-2007, 21:07

Mr Angry · 03-01-2007, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by r00t

But if it goes further than a snog, she'll want a cigarette afterwards

There's "further than a snog" in a marriage?!?!

Quam256 · 03-01-2007, 21:11

LOL
Can we get my marriage sorted out first please.

03-01-2007, 21:21

Take her away from the 'routine' and all the cues normally associated with her habit. Maybe somewhere like a spa, with all the pampering, get her feeling good about herself - but no smoking. Then be very determined to keep it up when you both get back home...

The actual physical addiction to nicotine soon goes away (less than a week) - the rest is just habit - for that reason, I personally, advise the cold turkey route, in my opinion NRT is just putting it off

**Hugh** · 03-01-2007, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

There's "further than a snog" in a marriage?!?!

There's "a snog" in marriage?!?!?

My wife told me she would get pregnant if we snogged - she did the last two times, so "no tongues", eh!!

superbiatch · 03-01-2007, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quam256

20 plus a day.

She definitely needs something like 21mg 24 or 16 hour patch - which is for the average smoker who gets through at least 20 a day

Bulky · 03-01-2007, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

She definitely needs something like 21mg 24 or 16 hour patch - which is for the average smoker who gets through at least 20 a day

i agree , i smoked for 12 years , i tried loads of time to give up , the gum , the inhalator ( i think it was called) , cold turkey , patches

she needs to make sure this is the time to give up , i eventually managed to give up using patches but was extremely determined to give up because someone bet me that i couldn't (i am very stubborn and don't like to lose a bet) , my mother in law smoked for much , much longer and she found the stop smoking plan by the nhs excellent - i never thought she would give up but seemed much easier thanks to this plan

,

as for what you can do for her , its very difficult and trust me you are going to get some grief for a good month or so , she will be very short tempered and erratic at times , i'm just lucky my wife didn't turn round and punch me at times

good luck