Did you know that specialised, flexible stop smoking support is available for free to all residents in Leeds?

Leeds Stop Smoking Services can provide you with 8 weeks of personalised support with a stop smoking advisor, as well as a course of free nicotine replacement products, and e-cigarettes.

Appointments can be face-to-face, over the telephone, or a mixture of both. We have clinics located in Beeston, Middleton, Hunslet and Holbeck, with friendly advisors waiting to support you. Your appointments will include regular carbon monoxide checks, so that you can see your score improve in front of your eyes!

Stoptober is the annual campaign where smokers are encouraged and supported to give up smoking in October. There couldn’t be a better time to begin your quit journey – if you can give up smoking for 4 weeks, you are 5 times more likely to stay quit for good!

If you’re ready to quit and reap the health and wealth benefits of a smoke-free life, please get in touch either by calling us on 0113 336 7978, or by completing a referral form on our website at www.leedsstopsmoking.co.uk

We spoke to Peter from LS10 about his journey:

Why did you decide to contact Leeds Stop Smoking Service?

Peter said he’d smoked for most of his life and that growing up for him always involved having a cigarette in his hand.

“You never questioned why people were smoking because everyone did it”. Times have changed, he said, and he now recognises that smoking has had a huge impact on his health.

“What’s scary about smoking is that there is no immediate consequence on how it can affect you; it can take years before you see the damage it can cause.”

Peter knew it was time to stop as he was finding his tasks at work harder and becoming more breathless. He also has grandchildren and said he wanted to be able to play with them for longer periods without getting as tired.

Were there any challenges during your quit journey?

Peter found that being around other people who smoked was initially challenging but said that once he shared with them that he was stopping, his work colleagues in particular respected this and didn’t smoke around him.

“Using the vape has been a good way to transition from cigarettes; it helped me understand that a lot of my addiction to smoking was the habitual behaviour rather than the substance itself”.

What did you learn from your quit journey?

“I’m stronger than I think and I have a lot of determination.” Peter reported that sharing his quit journey with family and friends has been invaluable as they have supported him all the way. “The biggest thing I have learnt is that if you want to change something enough, you can, and a lot of it is mind over matter and believing in yourself”.

What benefits have you discovered from stopping smoking?

Peter says he has more money which he plans to use to get some dental work done. His partner also wants to sign up to the service as they both plan on visiting family abroad and want to be smoke free before then.

Any recommendations for anyone who is still struggling with smoking?

“Believe in yourself, be open and honest and anything is possible. Change is real and there is great support out there.”

 

This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds Stop Smoking Services

Photo: Shutterstock

 

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