[By: Davion Wong]

You must have wondered, at some point, how to help someone quit smoking. It is very difficult and painful to see someone you love puffing away on a dozen cigarettes a day. You cannot force them to quit, but there are ways to help them.

Remember that you cannot make their decisions for them. Smokers understand the risks. They have to decide that they want to quit. Once they do make that decision, you have to know how to help someone quit smoking. There are some things you can do.

1. The first thing you have to keep in mind is that they cannot quit all at once, so you have to be patient and encouraging. Cutting two or three cigarettes a day will be quite difficult. Agree that what they are doing is not easy, and that you admire them for it. Encouragement without impossible expectations is very important when you think about how to help someone quit smoking.

2. No matter what you think, you do not know exactly how to encourage them. Unless you are a smoker who has quit, do not tell them that you know how it feels. Instead, ask them how you can support them first. Asking them what they need from you is very important in answering the question how to help someone quit smoking.

3. There will be times when the person is very low on confidence and feels that it is just too difficult. Make it very clear that you have faith in them. Your confidence in them can let them find the strength they need.

4. When you think of how to help someone quit smoking, there are some simple things you may not even consider, but they can contribute to the process. Sit in non-smoking sections. Spend more time with the person. They need a good exercise regime when they are trying to quit, so go for walks. And stop nagging about how horrible the habit is!

5. Rewards are important. Even small achievements are difficult when you are trying to quit. Reward them for each small step. Waiting till you think there is something big enough that deserves a reward does not work.

Remember that only a quitter knows how hard it is to deal with the pangs. You can think about how to help someone quit smoking and do everything you can, but ultimately, it is their decision and their triumph when they succeed.