Smoking

[smile4me]

Hi.
I'm trying to figure out what to do here.
My little sister has been smoking for years. She gets stressed out and overwhelmed really easily. I know she has dealt with depression on and off as well over the years. Part of her smoking is her way of dealing with all of that. I have asked her to quit... to even slow down. And she said she would, but she didn't. We've already lost 2 family members due to smoking related illness, but she doesn't seem to care. I wonder if I should keep buggin her, let her do it on her own, or if it's so extreme that an intervention might be needed. I know cigarettes are nothing like the heavy drug addictions and disorders that are normally associated with interventions, but I'm really concerned and want to help.
I will say this tho... I have started watching that A&E show "Intervention". Have any of you seen it? It airs Monday nights on A&E at 9pm/8 central.
It deals with all kinds of serious addictions and disorders and it really outlines the addiction process for those of us that don't understand. I saw the season premiere on Monday and it was quite good. You can see the trailer for next week's episode here: http://www.aetv.com/intervention
I don't know if it's time for intervention yet with my sister, but you can bet I will keep watching this show because I know it will help me.
Have you ever had to do an intervention to a loved one?
Are you gonna watch the show?

[gabayeah]

I quit using an amazing and very simple method. I suffered no nicotine withdrawals, in fact no bother at all! I just didn't feel like smoking from one moment to the next! Maybe you can try it with your sister? The method is called EFT and there's someone out there who offers free (donate if you want) email consultations. Here is the website: http://www.info-santanyi.com/eftservice/eftforall.html

I hope it works for her as good as it did for me, best of luck!

[Davy9]

smile4me... Just to comment that nicotine addiction is as bad as hard drug addiction. Though nicotine is not a hard drug studies have shown it to be as addictive as those drugs derived from the opiate family. I have no magic cure for quitting tobacco but it is quite well worth stopping the habit. Best of everything to you and your sister.

[barbaratoo]

I don't know if this is an intervention worthy cause. All I know is
that adding walking ( I know that sounds bizaar) helps. Why?
For me it keeps depression away and that awful feeling that I
am crawling in my skin. Walking - sounds absurd I know but
it does keep the depression away. I tell myself my life depends
on it (walking that is). The smoking comes after with other support.
I don't know all I know is that's what keeps my anxiety, depression
and stress less so I don't crave a cigarette
Sincerely,
Barbara
Barb10024

[mamaliontx]

I agree that nicotine is a serious addiction. I smoked for 36 years and tried quiting several times. What finally worked was not smoking when I was away from home. I would be gone most of the day and not smoke unless I was at home. Then one day I woke up and didn't want a cigarette. That became the best day of my life. Trying to get your sister to quit might be a losing battle. Most of us rebel when someone keeps bugging us to stop something. I know I did. I even told my husband I would quit if he did. Well he quit and I kept right on smoking for another 8 years. Ask your sister, in a very relaxed way, how much she loves you. When she answers, tell her you love her very much but you can't stand watching her kill herself day by day. Then tell her that you need some time away from her and her addiction. You need to mean what you say. Because this is going to hurt both of you. Then you need to leave her to deal with her addiction by herself for awhile. Maybe, the time away will help both of you. She might realize just how much it is hurting you. And you might be able to help yourself relax and let things be as they are.

She needs to figure out a better way of dealing with stress and deal with it in a more healthy manner than smoking. The smoking only makes it worse. In fact, it can actually aggravate her problem by making her jittery and sick to her stomach, etc. But, until she is ready, no amount of prodding, bullying, etc will help. Even guilt trips don't help. I know what that does from experience.

Just love her and hope she comes to her senses before she kills herself. Sometimes that is all we can do for our loved ones is let them be. Just don't kill yourself before your time by worrying about something that you can't control.