If you are wondering how you can help your husband quit chewing tobacco, you are in the right place. Although—these may not be the answers you were looking for.
How You Can Help
Nicotine is one of the hardest things to quit. For most nicotine users, using tobacco is a long-term addiction that they began when they were less than 18 years old. No matter how long your husband has been using nicotine, the process of trying to quit is a difficult one and the best thing you can do to help is to be supportive and patient. More specifically, here are some things that you can do to help your spouse quit dipping:
Don’t Nag.
Quitting nicotine is difficult, especially during the first few days and weeks, do don’t push your husband or constantly remind him about the very thing he is trying to quit. If you’re worried about how well he’s doing or that he might relapse, try to direct his focus onto something else instead of resorting to harmful nagging.
Don’t Make It All About You.
In order for your spouse to quit chewing tobacco successfully, he has to make the decision himself and do it for himself. Don’t imply that he should quit for you, as withdrawal has already put him in a bad mood and putting extra pressure on him can lead to resentment or added frustration.
Don’t Smother Him.
Be supportive without constantly asking how he is doing, and instead let him come to you. If you have kids, consider letting them sleep over at a friend’s house or with their grandparents in order to give your spouse some space from children who don’t understand what he’s going through.
Be Patient.
Your spouse will probably be on edge, cranky, frustrated, and, in the first 72 hours of quitting smokeless, not capable of thinking straight. He’ll need to vent, so let him complain to you without taking what he says personally. Remain calm and try not to frustrate him more with your reaction to his words and actions during this difficult time.
Wondering how to help your husband quit dipping?
Provide Alternatives.
Gum, hard candies, and sunflower seeds provide a physical substitute for dip that can be helpful during the first few weeks when he quits chewing tobacco. Increased eating is a side effect of nicotine withdrawal, but this effect should decrease after a few weeks.
Be Flexible.
Everyone deals with the effects of nicotine withdrawal differently. Some people want to be alone, while others want to be surrounded by people and distractions. Your spouse’s mood may change from day to day, so the most important thing you can do is to stay flexible so that you can provide him the support he needs to quit dipping.
