For Sheryl, the decision to stop smoking was driven by three important factors – her age, her health, and the rising cost of cigarettes. Although she had tried to quit a few times in the past, she always found herself returning to smoking and wasn't convinced she would succeed this time.
When she started her journey with Smokefree Sheffield, Sheryl chose to use a nicotine inhalator to help manage her cravings. However, she soon realised it wasn't the right option for her.
"I didn't get on with the inhalator because of the plastic mouthpiece, so I decided to stop using it and continue my quit journey without any stop smoking products."
Despite this setback, Sheryl didn't give up. Instead, she found that the ongoing support from her Smokefree Sheffield advisor, Sharon, made all the difference.
"Having Sharon monitor my progress really helped keep me on track."
The regular encouragement and accountability gave Sheryl the confidence to continue, even after deciding to stop using stop smoking medication.
One of the biggest rewards of becoming smokefree has been the money she has saved. Quitting has also had a positive effect on her health, and she has noticed that her breathing has improved.
Although Sheryl says she hasn't achieved anything specific beyond the health and financial benefits, she is proud of what she has accomplished. After several unsuccessful quit attempts, she has finally managed to break free from smoking.
Looking back, Sheryl says one of the things she valued most about Smokefree Sheffield was how easy the service was to access.
"The appointments were held in my local community, so I didn't have to travel far. That made it much easier to keep attending."
Sheryl's story is a reminder that there isn't a single path to becoming smoke-free. Even if one stop smoking aid isn't right for you, the combination of determination and expert support can still lead to success.
Today, Sheryl is enjoying the benefits of a smokefree life, with more money in her pocket, improvements in her breathing, and the satisfaction of achieving a goal she once thought was out of reach.
