Helping a Spouse Quit

You are watching your husband slowly destroy his health with smoking and you just wish he would quit. You’ve tried coaxing, bribes and ultimatums and nothing you do is working. The fact is that until your spouse is ready to quit on their own, there is little you can do help them. After they have made the decision to quit, however, there is much you can do to aid their success.

• Be supportive but not pushy. Be his or her cheerleader and when your spouse succeeds, rejoice with them. And instead of demeaning them for failures, stay positive and encouraging. Tell them that you know they’ll do better next time.
• Remind them that you love them no matter what. Even if all they do is cut back, letting them know you are there for them makes the change easier.
• Make their lives as stress free as possible. Although living with a new non-smoker is most times very stressful for the whole family, try to manage that stress by getting adequate sleep and exercise yourself, as well as making sure both of you eat healthy meals.
• Take a quit smoking class together. This gives you a heads up on what to expect.
• Offer encouragement when they succeed and understanding when they fail. Quitting smoking is a process, and it can ruin the process if you short circuit it with demeaning remarks, but a kind word works like a salve on an open wound.
• Research options. You might want to clear it with your spouse first, but taking the time to find solutions shows you care and are willing to help. Be careful where you get your information as well, and clear any medications or supplements with your doctor first.
• Encourage them to try a new sport, hobby or craft. This way they are concentrating on doing something instead of concentrating on not smoking. You could even stop a bad habit of your own and start a good habit together.

Though it is not easy to watch your spouse, know that being supportive, and forgiving, is the best way to help them quit.