How can I get my mom to stop smoking?

Question

I'm 17 and I have a 9yr old brother...she just started back with graduate school so needless to say shes been getting more stressed lately which means more smoking...it's getting bad and no one likes it. Me and my dad have tried to get her to stop and it seems useless...

What should I do? This needs to go away..

Answer 1

well it takes her wanting to quite before it will happen. Maybe write a letter to her stating how much she means to you. Maybe suggest that she try gum, or nicotine patch to help her out. ?? good luck and hope you can help your mom.

Answer 2

You can't. Though it impacts your entire family it is her choice to make. It took me a long time to come to terms with that as both of my parents are smokers. It would help if you express your feelings to her, especially if you are concerned about health related issues. She may make the choice to smoke outside or only when you are not in the area. My Father does this now as my Mother is trying to quit (6 months in...)
If she does choose to quit she has to be ready or she will get discouraged and start back up. Don't send her on a guilt trip or make her feel bad about it, just deal with it until she is comfortable giving it up.
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances out there, more than heroin, so give her a break. My Mom has tried a few times and right now she hasn't had a cigarette in over 6 months (I'm proud of her). But even if she does quit try not to put a lot of pressure on her, especially with the stress she has from school. What she needs is support from you, your brother, and especially your dad.

Answer 3

If your mother is in graduate school, it means that she is an intelligent woman. No one can make her stop smoking unless she wills it herself. In this case, she needs to see that risks outweight the benefits-- both for herself and her surrounding loved ones.

Cigarette smoke not only does harm to the smokers themselves, it also damages the health of second hand smokers. The studies are now underway whether it does the same to the third hand smokers (meaning when people smoke it leaves a residue on items or fixtures around them, then when other people come into contact in that same area they are dealing with third hand smoke).

If your mother is committed to quitting smoking, have her talk to a healthcare provider prior to buying any smoking cessation aide products. The primary care doctor or pharmacist, for example, can offer your mother advise, helpful tips, and the "correct" way of using the gum, patch, inhaler, or the medication to get the optimal response. There are also smoking cessation programs which can provide your mother with group support. (They also teach you how to deal with stress in a more productive manner.)

The bottom line is when your mother is ready, have her talk to a healthcare provider so she is aware her options and how to go about it.

I wish you good luck. :)

Answer 4

First let me say how much I appreciate herring how much [you "Superman"] in showing that you care about your mother. It sounds as though you’re older than you should be with that much weight on your shoulders.
There allot of things everybody can suggest that you say or show your mother but if this is stress related.... then.... First … (?) Where this stress coming from and what is can be done to either remove the stress or alleviate some of it?
My first question would be to find out what is "making her stressed out? Talk, Talk, Talk, Talk, Talk. Having time for family should be first and foremost the most important thing. Because what one family member experience ... the others almost always feels as well. Her stress is also showing up in you & your younger brother & dad. Reason for that is basic "YOU LOVE HER". If you didn't ... we would not be here talking about it and you and your family would be doing better things than asking "Question" about this. Everybody goes through some stress all their lives. But one thing is for sure ... it "STRESS" finds some way of leaving.
I know all to well as to what smoking will do to ones health. I started while playing in high school "band". And found out either I had to quit band or smoking because I started getting short of breath and could not breathe and march at the same time.
Another is to think about people who smoke for a long period of time...years after years.... Most usually have a short life.
My main thing ... is that I wanted to live to someday hold my child or grand children. I've heard that for every cigarette one smokes that they loose about one whole day of their life that they normally would have lived.
Something for which your mother should ask herself.
Doesn’t she someday want to be …. A grandmother? … And to be able to hold her grandchild or grandchildren? … Maybe be around to see them born?
I have one son… He’s in college… He’ll be 25 this coming June. I was by his mother’s side when he was born. And that something for which I’ll never … never forget. A gift from God.
The last thing that I would suggest… Would be to pray. There’s power in prayer and don’t let anybody tell you any different.
I too will keep you in prayer for you and your family.
I hope for you and your family that this will pass and that she should weight out ... What is most important her life? I hope having God in her life and then family…. May God Bless….

Answer 5

IF she's in graduate school, then she is an intelligent woman who can handle stress without smoking. You also have a better chance at talking with her about it. SHow her some pictures of ugly lungs or studies of how lung cancer is the fastest growing disease in women. Ask your dad to demand that she go outside to smoke if she can't quit, if you are in a cold climate she just might get sick of it. Otherwise, I suggest nicorette but if she is using this as an excuse to smoke then, nothing but counselling will help.

Answer 6

I started smoking just before I turned 16.

I was in health class one day and the teacher brought this poster that had a headshot of a girl on it and the tagline was "What if the effects of smoking were shown on the outside" the picture was so disgusting I nearly threw up. After class I tossed my pack that day and went cold turkey.

Now the smell of cigarettes makes me want to throw up.

Answer 7

If you find out, tell me. My dad had a stroke (because of smoking) and is now confined to a wheelchair with lost use of his left hand. The minute he came home from a three month hospital stay he started smoking again. Nothing's worked thus far.

Answer 8

Buy her some Smoke Away. The stuff actually works, and she will get the hint. My husband smokes and We got him that. He hasnt used it yet, but the boys told him that that is waht they want for Christmas. FOr him to stop smoking, The Smoke Away worked on my uncle. He hasnt smoked for a couple of years now since using it. Good Luck!

Answer 9

My mom smoked for years and then one day she went to a seminar that taught her what was in cigs. They showed her the poisons and examples of what it was doing to her body.

Look into truths about smoking.

It is not just a habit, its an addiction. Like eating candy, drinking, smoking or whatever vice one uses to fill an empty void. Take it easy on her and just try to educate her on the subject.

It is initially up to her to quit.

I would just pray that the taste of cigs began to make her so ill that she couldn't stand to even smell them, not just smoke them.

God Bless you and your dad in your endeavor.

Answer 10

i have the same exact problem and with those ads about not smoking like the one that says you dont always die from tabacoo..... makes me upset and if im watching tv with my mom i will like nudge her and she gets the point, one time she said she was quiting and i went out side to get something from the car and she was smoking and on the ride home i started like crying getting mad at her for lying, my friend poked holes in the cigarettes, i never did it but i want to roll up paper and put things like Stop for ...
my graduation, wedding, ect.. if you find something that works tell me

Answer 11

if being logical doesnt help her, use the emotional way.

here's what you can do:
- make a presentation
- print out horrible pictures of the people who smoke (holes in neck, scary lungs)
- research on statistics
- tell her that you and your brother and your father NEED her to be there with you guys
- tell her that you care and your brother is too young to face the risk of losing a mother

THIS WILL WORK! *SHOCK* her way out of it! be sincere... and i'm sure you are =)

Good luck to your family!