Back in April, David walked through the doors at his local stop smoking clinic based at the Sunbeam Family Hub, Lupset. Like many, he was sceptical. “I’ve tried quitting before”, he admitted, “I would stand next to the other smokers to get my fix”. Then, in 2017 due to the stress of his divorce and depression, he started smoking again. When he joined the programme, he was smoking about 15 cigarettes a day and had purchased his own vape to cut down but still couldn’t quit.
David loved spending time at his allotment, but lately, even that became a struggle. The feeling of breathlessness was a constant companion and lying on his back at night felt like he was being strangled, and he would wake up gasping for breath.
We introduced David to nicotine patches, explaining how they could gradually help reduce his dependence. He started on the strongest dose, and to his surprise, the cravings became manageable. “After the first week, something just clicked, I wasn’t constantly thinking about a cigarette, and if I did have a craving, I distracted myself and after five minutes, it had passed”. David said how coming to clinic each week to see his advisor, Julia, helped so much and being able to see his carbon monoxide reading drop after he quit was such a boost.
Now, two months on, David is a non-smoker and with his newfound energy, he can now dig his allotment without stopping every five minutes for a break and a cigarette. The frightening night experience of being unable to breathe has now gone and David’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support and tools, quitting smoking isn’t just possible, it's life changing.
David’s advice to anyone wanting to quit smoking would be “consistency and honesty - keep showing up for your appointments each week and be honest with yourself and your advisor – these are the crucial steps on the journey to becoming smoke-free”.
Congratulations on your quit David, from everyone here at Yorkshire Smokefree in Wakefield.
