If you ask my uncle, he would have said that I started smoking in the womb, as my mum and dad were heavy smokers, and when you walked into our home he said you could cut air through the smoke.
I was 13 or 14 when I really started smoking at school, as all my friends were doing it. I got pregnant at 15 years old, and I managed to stop smoking for a few years back then, as every time I had a cigarette I would feel sick.
I’m originally from Germany, and I met my husband whilst he was on tour in the army, so I got back into smoking with all the army wives, as it was just what everyone did. My husband is a non-smoker and hates smoking though, so I would have to smoke in secret whenever I went out with my friends.
Stress has always been a trigger for me to smoke, as I suffer from anxiety and depression which I have treatment for. I have tried to quit a few times, and I eventually stopped for about 9 weeks a few years ago using Champix, but then something happened, and I got stressed, so I fell back into smoking as a coping mechanism.
I was smoking 20 cigarettes a day, until I decided to quit. My husband motivated me to stop, as he hates the smell of it. It has always been my dream to go to Cyprus, but due to him being away in the army we have never been able to go. Now, as motivation, he said if I quit smoking, we can afford to go, so that’s what keeps me going.
My son didn’t like my smoking either and he used to refuse to give me hugs, due to the smell too, which was heartbreaking, so this was another big turning point for me and helping me decide to quit. Now that I’ve stopped smoking, my son is happy for me, and I can have all the hugs I want.
I heard about the SmokeFree Hull service from Facebook and made a self-referral. I was working with Stop Smoking Advisor Chelsea, and she helped me get a vape to quit. I previously tried using a vape, but I didn’t like it, however this time around I’m doing fine, with no cravings. I occasionally feel like I want a cigarette, but then I think of the price of a packet of cigs and this puts me off.
I have some great support at our local veteran’s group, which I go to with my husband. Everyone there knows I’ve quit and are very supportive. I also don’t want to go backwards, I know I can do this.
I have definitely noticed the difference in my health since stopping, as I don’t get as breathless anymore, and when I visited my grandchildren recently at Christmas, I was even able to go on roller blades with them, which I wasn’t able to do before; I can run around after them too. We even noticed we had more money at Christmas this year too, without having to spend £14 a day on cigarettes.
I know stopping smoking has helped with my stress in the background as well. I’m not always thinking about when I will have my next cigarette all the time.
We’re a long way off from saving for Cyprus yet, but I’m hoping to go next year for my 60th birthday, which will be nice. I want to be fully quit for a year before we go, so I know I won’t relapse.
Chelsea has been really supportive and actually gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. There was a time when I was still having a cigarette, and she was open with me and said we can’t continue supporting you unless you fully quit. I needed to hear that from her, to make me fully focus. She then rang me every week and it was nice to talk, and go through tips on coping with cravings, and ways to help my stress and anxiety too.
It is hard at the beginning, but don’t beat yourself up if you have the odd slip up, as you will get there eventually if you’re determined enough. I just needed someone to tell me straight like Chelsea did.
I would recommend the service to anyone looking to stop smoking, as you take accountability and responsibility of your own actions. Chelsea was open and honest to talk to, and had lots of knowledge to help with stress and anxiety too.
I couldn’t have asked for much more to be honest, thank you.