As a service, Yorkshire Smokefree have noticed a drop off in those who commit to stay quit, with a few people relapsing and starting smoking again. To try and cut this number down and help prevent relapse, we have created a new challenge called "Commit to Stay Quit". With this challenge we have virtual group sessions where the clients talk to other group members and give out their hints and tips and ways that they are quitting and preventing relapsing.
Andrew, who we previously spoke to about his quit, decided to join us for our session as a guest speaker. Andrew is 51 years old and his quit date was 10.05.21. Andrew has collected his 4 and 12 week quit certificates, his 26 week follow up will be on 8.11.21
Andrew joined the virtual follow up session today as a guest speaker and to talk about his quit journey to date. He was very supportive of the other group members and listened to what they had to say before he gave his own experiences. Not only did he give some useful hints and tips about remaining quit, but he also connected with what clients had to say and got a lot from the session himself, to the point he would like to attend again for his own relapse prevention.
The main points he wanted to get across were: -
- To be kind to yourself as in the beginning of his quit he says he ‘fell out with himself’
- To believe you can do it as because he had failed in the past, he thought it would take a miracle for him to quit, he openly admitted he didn’t think he would do it in a million years but was surprised after the first session he had over the phone at how something changed in him and he felt supported and listened to by his advisor.
- When he was presented with having to attend the weekly sessions, his pre concept of them was what a load of rubbish, but says he quickly realized that he was starting to believe he could stop smoking.
- Andrew’s whole life had revolved around smoking and when and where he could have a cigarette, he would carefully plan out his workday and meetings around them often not eating in favour of smoking, despite the fact he was diabetic and needed to eat regularly further risking his health.
- He was admitted to hospital and after a few days he asked the Nurse what the lovely smell was, it turned out to be flowers, this made Andrew quite emotional as such a simple thing as smelling flowers had been denied to him because of his addiction to cigarettes and smoking.
- Andrew keeps laughing to himself about the fact that he has managed to quit and says he feels like a fraud sometimes as has tried so many times he cannot believe he has managed to quit.
Andrew came out of the session today asking if he could come back to the group as he had enjoyed talking with people, who could relate to his current experiences. Andrew felt this would help with his own relapse prevention and plans to contact service again, at his next milestone 8.11.2021, which would make Andrew 6 months quit.
If you're ready to commit to stay quit, contact us today and you can join one of our virtual group meetings.
There are many ways we can help:
Quit online - https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/pages/quit-online
Our online quit tool will allow you to create your own personal profile and will support you on a daily basis through your quit journey.
Telephone support - our advisors are on hand to answer any questions or provide additional support as you need it. You can call 0800 612 0011 (free from landlines) or 0330 660 1166.
Visit our frequently asked questions section to find out more: https://yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions
