This Friday, World No Tobacco Day, put away the ashtray. The harmful effects of tobacco are well known to all of us, but have we ever stopped to think about the effects that tobacco has on relationships? has done some research and has interviewed psychologist Dr. Wiebke Neberich to know the vision of an expert in the field.
Many people worry about the health of their partner. Both young and old think about the consequences of smoking, and are scared or worried about losing the person they love. The British Heart Organization carried out research among people who were in a relationship with a regular smoker.
In the research, 1,426 men and women were asked about their opinion about the health of their partners. The results showed that 79% of participants wanted their partner to cut down on tobacco use Or remove it entirely. More than half of those who were concerned about their partner’s health believed that the best way to support their partner in changing was to be honest and ask them to change their smoking habits.
According to Wiebke Neberich, honesty can help when it comes to cutting down on tobacco use: “We are often willing to do almost anything for our partner. Be honest, open and able to communicate why it is so important to you that your partner quit smoking can be a very motivating factor. But remember: this habit is extremely addictive, for most people quitting is usually very difficult.
How does smoking affect your relationship?
When you’re in a relationship with a smoker, you may feel like there’s always something going on between the two of you. Many smokers are unaware of the unintended effects What can smoking do to your relationship? But what are the effects that could get in the way of your relationship and even cause rifts?
For some men and women, the most annoying thing about having a smoking partner is the smell of tobacco that stays in the house or on clothes. They also don’t like kissing their partner and often use expressions like “kissing you is like kissing an ashtray.” This could create rifts in the relationship and even cause you to avoid or reject intimate moments with your partner.
Should love be enough to quit smoking?
Neberich explains: “Quitting smoking can be a very hard process because many smokers are addicted to nicotine. ‘Smoking behavior’ of course varies from person to person, but most would surely agree that, In addition to chemical addiction, smoking is also a habit and has a social function. Many people think that this social factor is just as important as chemical addiction. A smoker who wants to quit needs to be prepared to overcome these two addictions or barriers. It is the smoker’s willpower to quit that is tested, not his love for his partner.”
How can you help your partner?
For a non-smoker it can be difficult to understand what it is that a smoker likes about tobacco or why it seems so difficult to live without it. “The smoker often has ambiguous feelings about smoking. On the one hand, they are aware that this habit will probably reduce their life expectancy. On the other hand, the smoker has had so many good experiences with tobacco that quitting can make him feel like he’s parting ways with an old friend,” says Neberich.
If you want to help your partner quit smoking, you need to be understanding of her conflicting emotions. Wiebke Neberich explains how to support her: “You need to keep in mind that smoking is an individual decision that everyone makes for themselves.
It takes motivation and will by the smoker to finally say: “I want to quit. Also, don’t forget how important it could be for your partner to feel loved and supported. It has to be there to remind her that she will stay by her side to support her through difficult situations. Congratulate him and offer him lots of encouragement throughout the process.”
Dr. Neberich suggests three things you can discuss with your partner to help you quit successfully:
1. It’s a good idea to plan well and look ahead. Identify the difficulties that may arise, what should you consider?
2. When you identify difficult situations, it will be easier to deal with them. Try to come up with alternatives to smoking and plan how you will resist the temptation. People who smoke are used to having something in their hands, and it is convenient to have something to replace the cigarette.
3. Find a realistic date to start quitting.
Dr. Neberich emphasizes, “Although you will likely run into obstacles along the way, as a couple it is important that you constantly show how much faith do you have in the person you want so that you are able to stay away from tobacco.