For Marie, the decision to stop smoking came after years of struggling with her breathing. Simple daily activities were becoming more difficult, and she often found herself gasping for air. But it was watching her father slowly lose his life to COPD caused by smoking that finally gave her the determination to quit for good. She decided to quit smoking with the support of Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale.
"I knew I needed to stop smoking for my health, but seeing my dad go through COPD made me realise I had to take quitting seriously."
Although Marie had tried several stop smoking methods in the past, she hadn't found one that worked for her. She initially used a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product, but it didn't suit her. After speaking with her Yorkshire Smokefree advisor, Michael, she switched to Varenicline (a medication that helps you stop smoking by reducing cravings), which proved to be much more effective.
Marie began her quit journey with one-to-one appointments before moving into a support group. She says the combination of professional support and encouragement from others going through the same experience made a huge difference.
"I found the group sessions really supportive. Everyone understood what I was going through, and we encouraged each other to keep going."
One of the biggest motivators for Marie was seeing her carbon monoxide (CO) readings improve over time. Challenging herself to achieve consistently low readings gave her a real sense of achievement and helped her stay focused on her goal.
Throughout her journey, Marie says the support from Michael and the Yorkshire Smokefree team was invaluable, saying:
"The staff understood how difficult quitting smoking can be and supported me every step of the way."
Marie also faced an additional challenge during her quit attempt. As well as giving up tobacco, she made the decision to stop smoking cannabis at the same time.
"Quitting was more difficult because I wasn't just giving up tobacco – I was also breaking the habit of smoking cannabis."
Despite the extra challenge, Marie stayed committed and is now enjoying the benefits of a smokefree life.
Since quitting, her breathing has improved significantly, she has noticed the financial savings, and one of her biggest achievements is being able to spend time around other smokers without feeling tempted to have a cigarette.
Looking back, Marie is proud of what she has achieved and hopes her story encourages others to believe that quitting is possible, even if it feels difficult at first.
Her journey is proof that with the right medication, expert support, and encouragement from people who understand what you're going through, you can overcome even the toughest challenges and become smokefree. Congratulations on your quit, Marie!
Note: stock image used to protect client's identity.
