Theresa, Hinckley
When 54-year-old magazine contributor, Theresa, gave up smoking six years ago, she found that her cigarette use crept back up. This time around, however, the situation was different:
“Because of the coronavirus lockdown, I’m not mixing with anyone who smokes at the moment as I’m not at the office, so the temptation to join others for a cigarette break isn’t there. It seemed like a logical time to quit smoking, so I found Quit Ready through Google and made the call.”
With the help of her specialist adviser, Hilary, Theresa embarked on a programme of weekly telephone advice and support sessions, alongside a 12-week course of Champix tablets.
“I’m about halfway through the programme and it’s brilliant! The tablets are working well and it’s really nice to have somebody checking in regularly.
“It’s also good to know that the nicotine will be out of my system after 12 weeks, and that I can always get back in touch with Quit Ready at a later date if I need to.”
Asked how giving up smoking has changed her lifestyle – both in regard to the lockdown and more generally – Theresa replied:
“I wish I’d done it sooner as I feel so much better now! I’ve recently been for a socially distanced meet-up with a friend who smokes, and it didn’t bother me at all when she smoked in front of me.
“Another change is that I hate the smell of cigarettes now! I found that I had to wash everything – bedding, towels, clothes – to get it out.”
So, would Theresa recommend the Quit Ready service to others?
“Yes, definitely. The support I’m receiving is fantastic, my adviser always calls at the time we’ve arranged, and the whole process of stopping smoking is made as easy as possible.”
Finally, Theresa’s advice for those struggling to give up smoking is as follows:
“Firstly, you’ve got to really want to quit deep down. If you’ve got this determination, tablets such as Champix are an effective tool that will enable you to resist the urge to smoke.
“I’d also suggest trying to avoid situations where you may be tempted to smoke and choosing the right time to quit – like lockdown!”
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