When quitting smokign really is life saving... a massive congratulations to Matti who has worked hard to become smoke free and has made a lasting impact on the Doncaster team. Read his truly uplifting story and hopefully it inspire you to quit too!
Please tell us approximately when you started smoking:
I started smoking at 23 years old and I’ve been smoking for 21 years… nearly half my life!
Do you remember why you started smoking?
I started smoking when I first came to this country because all my friends smoked, I started and have never been able to stop
How many cigarettes per day were you smoking on average?
Before I quit, I would smoke up to 40 cigarettes a day.
What were your reasons for quitting?
I couldn’t sleep, my eyes were red raw all the time, I wasn’t healthy and didn’t want to move – I had no motivation. I was always upset and didn’t want to live. I hated waking up.
How did you access stop smoking support?
I received one-to-one support and a prescription of Champix, the service from start-to-finish was 10 out of 10. The medicine and support I received from the team were invaluable.
Has your health improved since you quit and, if so, in what ways?
My health has improved immensely, my eyes are so much better. I feel much happier and now feel alive. I want to live. I won’t go back to smoking ever.
Have you achieved anything since quitting that you could do whilst smoking?
Despite being disabled, I have so much more energy than I did before. I can walk further than ever and I feel like a new person. I have a new life.
Do you know how much money you have saved by not smoking?
I am saving around £80 a week since stopping.
What would you say to anyone who has recently started smoking, or, if you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self before you smoked that first cigarette?
I tell everyone now to stop smoking. I know its very hard, but if you stop, believe me I am so very happy. People ask me how I look so happy now and I tell them it’s because I quit smoking with the help of Champix and Yorkshire Smokefree and so should you. STOP NOW.
If you feel inspired by Matti's story and would like support in quitting smoking, register for a Callback Request today.
