I joined the Wakefield Yorkshire Smokefree service back in October, and I’ve now been smoke-free for 2 months.
I was motivated to quit for my health. I had been diagnosed with hypertension, which is now at a safe level because I quit smoking, stopped drinking, and adopted a healthier diet. I was also experiencing chest pains, and my GP strongly encouraged me to quit smoking.
I’ve attempted to quit smoking many times before—around 12 times. Each attempt lasted about 7 to 8 months, but drinking alcohol always led me to relapse.
This time, I feel much more optimistic about my quit. I no longer drink alcohol, and I’ve learned a lot from my previous quit attempts.
I recently lost my dad to bowel disease. He was a smoker and had asthma, COPD, and hypertension. Rather than turning back to smoking to cope with the loss, I’ve committed to staying smoke-free for my own health.
For this quit attempt, I used patches and lozenges, and this combination has been incredibly helpful. I feel healthier, happier, and I have more money than before. I calculated that I’ve spent around £30,000 on smoking over the last 17 years. Quitting has also significantly improved my mental health.
To anyone considering quitting, I would advise you to keep trying and to seek support from a service like Yorkshire Smokefree. I’m now committed to staying smoke-free.
