"Giving up smoking"

I have been smoking for 31 years and I have tried to quit on few occasions in the last 10 years without any success. Until when I moved to Scotland from London and within the 1st week I got in touch with a team in Stirling and was assigned to a support worker called Kathleen who was immense and prescribed three things 

1st is to change the routine as I wake up and wanting a cigarette . I have to get up and do something else instead. Like go for a run . Shower before the coffee or have a large glass of water or juice , also take up exercise which I did and it was hard in the beginning but gradually that urge for smoking wore off.

2- Kathleen prescribed nicotine gum which I took for three months. They weren’t great taste but great at stratifying the nicotine habit.

3- Also, she prescribed patches which I applied everyday for the first two months and gradually every other day.

The benefits are huge ;

I can have a decent smell sense now as well as taste .

When I pass any smoker or heavy smoker I can smell how and feel how unpleasant it is and remember was walking to the park with my children and my daughter said that I have smelt the same one day . And she said that I was mindful when I smoked as I smoked away from others and always tried to eat or drink something after smoking. Or at least kept a distant from others.

I can tackle majority of any physical tasks without running out of breath.

I have saved good amounts of money as I smoked cigarettes hence it was more expensive despite buying two packets every three to four days . Still added up to roughly over £220 a month that’s about £2500 . Obviously the price of tobacco was never the issue nor was that expensive in the past , however when I think about it that’s more than 100k in my lifetime without having any decent returns. So it’s bad investment. I advise everyone to start stopping all smoking products now including vapping as it does not work as it is another addiction and doesn’t work . If you give up smoking it’s another prof to yourself that you can do most of things . My advise to others especially youngsters that not to start smoking which is the best policy and look after your money , health and appearance. One day your good health will keep you alive as it has been demonstrated through COVID and we don’t know what else is around the corner.

Your money savings will help you to pay deposit for a house or open your own business. All you need is deposit and your mortgage sometimes is cheaper than your rent and before you know it that’s a house you own , rather than addiction that you have . There’s no fun in smoking apart from looking cool in front of your peers . I was very very good at football and played for a club but sadly I swapped it for smoking as it was easier than training. Giving up was really tough but it is a lot easier not to start but if you did then you must start quitting.

Thanks to everyone helping me including and especially Kathleen my stop smoking advisor and God bless you. And all the readers