Published on 26th February 2026
I started smoking when I was 11 because of peer pressure, and before I quit, I was smoking minimum 20 a day – about 20 to 40 a day.
My reason for stopping smoking was that I was ‘blessed’ with emphysema. I’d often thought about quitting but didn’t have the willpower. Finding out you have emphysema; you realise your expiry date is not as long as you thought. My reasons were 50/50 health, and the fact I’d often thought about giving it up before. Both of those things put together made an 100% decision to stop.
I had tried to quit before this, I lasted 3 months once, but then in the pub with my brother, we were having a laugh – then before you know it, I look down and I had [a cigarette] burning in my hand.
The minute you tell your brain that you want to stop smoking, you want a cigarette. To stop cravings, I distracted myself. I would pick up the box [of tabs] and play with it in my hand and then realised that I didn’t actually want one.
You have to do something else – just make the bed, take out the bin, fold a towel – anything like that – and you forget you even wanted one.
Also, what helped was talking to you guys [Newcastle Stop Smoking Service]. When you talk to your mates about it they say ‘yeah whatever’, or offer you a cigarette, because they don’t think you will really quit, but talking to you wasn’t like that.
You guys don’t tell me to give up smoking, you encourage and help with ways to stop smoking instead. You make it my idea. It helps to have someone really listening.
I am now over a month smokefree. I tripped over twice, and when I had one, I felt a little bit disappointed in myself, but felt encouraged not to do it again. The taste actually reminded me of why I’m not smoking anymore – it tasted horrible. The most important thing is do not tell yourself, or anyone else, that you have failed. You’ve had one, but you focus on what to do now. [The advisor] made me think of what I wanted to do, without turning negative on myself.
The nicotine products I used were the patches and the spray. I had the spearmint and the wild cherry spray. At first, you get a cherry blast, and then it tastes like an ashtray. Even though it tastes bad, it reminds you of what you are doing.
When you smoke, the first thing in the morning – you sit down and have a cigarette. But now, you are motivated first thing in the morning. I used to have a cigarette, a coffee and a full English breakfast, but now I can actually taste my breakfast!
Now [that I am smokefree], my attitude has changed: I feel clearer if that makes sense. I feel mentally positive. Your thoughts and physical attitude are clearer. You also notice financial benefits – it is £15 a day for cigarettes. Now, there are more numbers in the bank account.
If I could say anything to someone wanting to quit, I would say go for it – try it.