STOP stigma from getting in your way!

[NDC_Team]

Let’s face it- non-smokers are often not very nice to those who do. Smokers get judged, ignored, and even called names.  People who smoke are often the target of stigma and stereotypes. This stigma can have devastating consequences. Stigma is associated with reduced treatment adherence, potential delays in asking for help, getting treatment, and can increase the risk for depression.  Stigma can cause one to feel guilty and shameful. What can you do to prevent this stigma from getting the best of you?

1. Understand that most people do not have any understanding of the addictive properties of tobacco and the difficulty involved in quitting.
2. Stigma and stereotypes have been around for a long time and most likely will not go away – do not let them get in your way!
3. Focus on YOU – what is in it for you? How will you benefit if you were able to quit? 
4. Give yourself credit for what you are doing.
5. Quitting smoking is hard work, it can take a few times before one is able to quit for good.

Think about how stigma may be playing a role in your efforts to quit.  Having the awareness of it may impact how you  react to it next time that you are faced with the  stereotypes or stigma associated with quitting.

Therese Shumaker, MA

Supervisor/ NDC Counselor/ CTTS

[AnnetteMM]

Is this really a thing?  In all my 45 years of smoking I never encountered one bit of judgment, name-calling, or stigma of any kind.  In fact it was just the opposite.  I'd be very interested in hearing if anyone has experienced this.

[TBenyi]

I have encountered the stigma and ridicule from non-smokers whom have never smoked. However, that was while I was smoking.

[AnnetteMM]

What did that look like?

[maryfreecig]

In my experience, smokers have been enabled or ignored more than anything else.

[karenjones]

It was the depressive aspect of smoking which really encouraged me to quit , it was like a monkey on my back that smoke with me, the depression, which all addicts have, nobody likes being and addict. The stigma should be there, smoking is an abbarent and weird thing to do. People only do it because they are addicted. And for years government made taxes off of cigarettes and tobacco but the point of diminishing returns was reached and now nobody except the extreme addicts are smoking. cigarettes that is, I hear that other forms of nicotine delivery are being pressed upon young people.  Addiction is a depressing thing, nobody wants to be addicted.  The depression will go away when cigarettes are taken out of the equation. They are a huge contributing factor to depression. No matter what happens in my life now, I at least, don't smoke and that is something to be thankful for.  There are no stigmas or stereotypes associated with quitting, there are stigmas and stereotypes with continuing to smoke.  

[dashquit52]

When I have tried before I felt the great pressure of 'You can't quit, you will buy a pack. Now I find support on the Ex, I should say and hear , " I can quit smoking" Thank you to everyone so much.

[Gma_Bernie]

I experienced this stigma, but it was mostly unspoken. The smokers, an ever shrinking group, would go out on the loading dock at work to smoke. It might be something as subtle as someone sniffing in the elevator and moving away from you. Or someone asking where someone else is and someone saying oh they're probably out smoking. But I really felt the pressure after the company installed security cameras on the loading dock. Which meant that the IT department could look at us anytime they wanted. It just felt creepy.