How To Convince A Smoker To Quit: Timing

Smoking is an addiction.
That sounds like a simple statement that can be taken as read, but when you are
trying to convince a smoker to quit, it’s something you really need to
understand. Smoking is often referred to as a ‘habit’, when in reality the
stronger term ‘addiction’ is far more realistic. Smokers become physically
addicted to nicotine, the chemical found in cigarettes, and can experience
uncomfortable and often painful physical symptoms of withdrawal when they try to
quit.

The reason this is pointed out is that convincing someone
to quit smoking for good is a difficult road, and only by understanding what you
are actually dealing with can you have a chance of beating it. A tiny percentage
of smokers – less than 10% – manage to quit on their first attempt. Most will
take three or more attempts, and some may take over 10 attempts over a number of
years to finally kick the addiction for good.

If you are
struggling to support a smoker who continually goes back on their word – in your
eyes – and starts smoking again, try and keep positive. Acknowledge, both to
them and to yourself, that this is a marathon rather than a sprint, and by being
continually upbeat your smoking friend or family member can be assured of your
support.

Never, ever cast doubt on a smokers desire to quit just
because they have failed before – doing so can make them angry, defiant and less
likely to quit than ever before. Keep things in perspective, and see every
failed attempt as one step closer to the final, successful, smoke-free life.

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