Sarah's* Smokefree Journey
For Sarah, the decision to stop smoking was about more than just her own health – it was about protecting her son.
Living in a flat meant she couldn't always leave him alone while she went outside to smoke, so she often smoked in her bedroom. Over time, she became increasingly concerned about the effect this was having on him.
"I knew smoking in the flat was affecting my son, and I wanted to change that."
Sarah had tried to quit before. She stopped smoking while she was pregnant and had also attempted to quit when she was younger, but she always found herself returning to cigarettes. Because of those previous experiences, she wasn't convinced she would succeed this time.
With support from Smokefree Sheffield, Sarah began her latest quit attempt using nicotine patches. Although she experienced some skin irritation, she found the patches very effective in helping her overcome her cravings.
Alongside nicotine replacement therapy, Sarah made another important change. Instead of focusing on smoking, she started practising meditation and mindfulness at home, helping her manage cravings and develop healthier coping strategies.
Since quitting, Sarah has noticed several positive changes. One of the biggest differences is feeling fresher and more confident.
"My breath no longer smells, and I don't have the yellow stains on my fingers anymore."
Sarah says she has gained some weight since stopping smoking because she is enjoying food much more than before. Rather than seeing this as a setback, she views it as her next health goal.
Although she doesn't feel her health has improved significantly yet, she says she simply feels better overall now that she is smokefree.
Throughout her journey, the support from Smokefree Sheffield made a real difference. Sarah particularly appreciated the regular phone calls from her advisor, Kefeya, and found the face-to-face appointments highly motivating, telling us:
"The phone calls from Kefeya really helped, and having my carbon monoxide breath tests at my appointments kept me motivated."
Looking back, Sarah is proud of how far she has come. Her story shows that quitting smoking isn't just about giving up cigarettes – it's about creating a healthier environment for the people you love and taking positive steps towards a better future.
Today, Sarah is enjoying life as a non-smoker and is looking forward to continuing her health journey, one step at a time.
* name changed at the request of our client who wanted to protect her identity, stock image used.
