Helen's Story
Since quitting on National No Smoking Day in 2005, I feel like a new person, and I'm not exaggerating! Even though I was only smoking 10 a day and wasn't experiencing any obvious ill effects at the time, I decided to quit following my doctor's advice after he'd given me a clean bill of health. He told me that I was smoking 10 too many cigarettes a day and that, even if I wasn't suffering the consequences at the time, I would if I carried on! That was the spur that I needed, the final impetus which gave me the determination I needed to quit, once and for all. Previously, I had tried to make my living room smoke-free, primarily for the sake of my cats, but it was a pretty miserable experience in the winter, sitting on a cold staircase, just to have a cigarette! Therefore, on 1 January 2005, I resolved firmly that I'd endeavour to quit on No Smoking day, i.e. 9 March.
I therefore mentally prepared myself by buying some nicotine chewing-gums from the local chemist and devising a method of gradual individual substitution whereby, instead of having a cigarette, I'd chew a nicotine gum, until, by D-day, I'd be chewing 10 gums a day instead of smoking 10 cigarettes. I thus succeeded in tapering the smoking off into nothing, without any shock to the system. The next stage was the gradual individual substitution of the nicotine chewing-gums with pieces of ordinary chewing-gum. I did so religiously until - what do you know ? - I actually forgot to take a nicotine gum at the prescribed hour! There it was - I was finally unleashed from the destructive weed, and all relatively painlessly!
A couple of days after quitting the cigarettes, I decided to go to the local pub for a pint, and was greeted by such a stench that I nearly turned back! However, I braved it, merely so as to socialise. Then, after walking back home, I happened to smell my clothes and my hair, and there it was - the lingering stink of stale tobacco - ach-y-fi! I vowed, there and then, to stay stopped for good, which I've done quite easily.
Apart from a re-sensitized nose, what other positive effects have I experienced? Well, my lung capacity has increased without any doubt at all - I'm singing better now than for decades; not only am I reaching the high notes, but I'm maintaining them! Moreover, my fingertips are warm throughout the year - in other words, my circulation has improved!
When the ban came into force in April 2007, I was well prepared - I went out for a pint to celebrate and enjoyed myself. Then, on arriving back home, I found that my hair and clothes were stench-free. I know I'll never smoke again - it just isn't worth it, and I can only look back and feel ashamed at how I once used to squander money on ..... ill health! It doesn't make sense!
