Top Tips on Peer Pressure
If you’ve ever felt that a friend has tried to pressure you in to doing something you didn’t want to do, you’ll know that it isn’t a nice experience.
Peer pressure is one of the main reasons why lots of teenagers start smoking, but BEWARE - once you’re hooked on the cigs – you’re hooked! And once this happens it doesn’t really matter why you started smoking in the first place – you’re now a slave to the fags!
Think of it this way - after a month you might have realised that the friends who pressurised in to smoking weren’t true friends (how can they be if they made you do something you didn’t want to do!), but by this time you could already be addicted to those nasty white sticks!
You may think that it’s easier to just say “Go on then, I’ll have a try”, but in the long run – it’s only yourself you’re cheating, and at the end of the day – true friends will hang around, even if you don’t agree on everything. That’s what friendship is all about – respecting each others decisions!
Here’s some Top Tips to help you deal with peer pressure and some ideas about how to resist giving in to just one cigarette.
If you hang around with a group of friends, it’s highly likely that at some point you will be offered a cigarette. Why not get yourself prepared for this and think of what you are going to say when you are asked.
This could be things like:
“No thanks, you know I’ve got asthma and I don’t want to make that worse - it’s horrible having asthma attacks”
“No thanks, my Mum smoked when she was younger and she found it dead hard to quit – so I don’t think I’ll bother”
“No thanks, I’m really not that bothered about trying it”
“No thanks, I’m on the footie team now – so I want to keep my fitness up”
Then you could just try and change the subject and talk about something else. But if they do take the mick – just try and laugh it off. They’re probably just being that way because they’re insecure and weak themselves. If you stand your ground, that makes you the stronger one.
Remember - it does get easier the more times you say “No” as your mates will just get bored of asking you the same question!
The only other thing you could do is find yourself a new group of friends! Well - who wants to be hanging around in the cold every lunchtime making sure that your smoking friends don’t get caught? Not me! This isn’t the easiest option, but it’s a simple way of avoiding the peer pressure!
Don’t forget – you’re not alone! Most young people are fag free – 91% of 11 – 15 year olds DON’T SMOKE! So there will be other young people going through the same things as you – try had have a chat to them about it. Otherwise, you could always talk to your parents, your big sis, a teacher or your School Nurse.
Even if you’re friends are smoking – are they really enjoying it? Or are they just doing it to ‘fit it’? They probably wish they had stuck up for themselves just like you! They are probably secretly dead proud of you!
If you’ve got any stories about how you resisted peer pressure, please send them in to the Your Stories Section under ‘Peer Pressure’. Maybe this could give someone else the confidence to say “No” to the cigarettes!
Want to find out if you can handle the pressure?
Are you the Shepherd or the Sheep? Have a go on our Can You Deal with the Pressure Quiz to find out more.
