Quit Smoking - The Importance of Family Support When You Quit Smoking

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. Heather is a regular contributor to How I Quit Smoking and Family and Health Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_D_Brown