“Carn just give it a go!”

“What are you, chicken?”

Are you getting pressured to try smoking? Sometimes it’s hard to think of a comeback, below are some ways you can stand up for yourself. For others it not so much about peer pressure but another type of pressure – stress. If that’s you, check out our stress-busters further down the page. 

Standing up for yourself

Here are some tactics to help you deal with someone offering you a cigarette:

• be polite and confident and reply `I don't smoke because...';
• switch topics and talk about something else;
• use humour in your response; 
• delay - tell them ‘maybe later' (but you know you really won't have one at all);
• come up with an idea for something else to do;
• walk away;
• think of an excuse;
• don't pay any attention;
• use "I" statements and be firm in what you say; 
• practice using the word "No" and feeling confident saying it.

What's your comeback? PLAY IT NOW 

Stress-busters

Smash stress for a six with the following:

• Sleepy? Make sure you are getting enough sleep.
• Prepare –Try and avoid stressful situations when you can. E.g. if you’re going to a party and you know there is going to be smoking there, be prepared. Know what you are going to say if someone offers you a cigarette before you even get to the party (see the examples above). You could also try to avoid hanging out with people who smoke.
• Chill out – make some time to relax each day.
• Get physical – exercising and eating good food like fruits and vegetables can help you deal with stress better because your body is in good form and has the things it needs to function like vitamins and minerals.
• Treat yourself – Do things that you enjoy like hanging out with friends, shopping, skating or spending time with your pets.

For more information check out:

• How do you and cigarettes mix? (PDF 38kb)
• If people smoke around you and it bothers you, here are some ways you could raise it with them.