CWP Staff Wellbeing Magazine - August 2022

By Stuart Robertson, senior communications, marketing and public engagement officer

“Quitting smoking is the best thing I’ve ever done. It was also one of the hardest. But two years since my last cigarette, I guess I’m doing well.

“My name is Stuart, I’m 32, and I’ve worked in the communications team here at CWP for the past five years. This is my story.

“At the time of quitting, I was a 20 cigarette a-day smoker. The kind I’d always told myself I would never become. If you asked me when and where my first cigarette was, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. I was definitely 16 – I know that much.

“When I turned 30, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to be a smoker when I was 40. Was it for health reasons? Not really if I’m honest. I’d worked out I was spending north of £3,000 a year on cigarettes. Plus I just didn’t like the feeling of being addicted to something anymore.

“I’d tried a couple of things half-heartedly. Gum was first and then patches soon followed. But neither sustained me enough to truly work. E-cigarettes came and went but I found all that achieved was transferring my nicotine addiction to something else.

“I then found out that you could get medication to help you quit. Through searching online, I also heard that peer support was invaluable. I contacted my local stop smoking service and was assigned a peer support worker. In the middle week of February 2020, I would have my last cigarette.

“Then, the world imploded. The COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest only a couple of weeks later. My peer support sessions ended. I was going it alone and during truly unprecedented and very stressful times.

“The 12 weeks I was on medication were among the hardest weeks of my life. I experienced withdrawal in a big way, and through the medication, I experienced depression like I’d never felt before. But I found a few things that helped me along the way.

“Firstly, a water bottle. It sounds simplistic but it really helped. The aim is to replicate the inhaling of air and the act of sucking on a cigarette. Plus, it also gets you to drink more water!

“Secondly, stay mentally active. The times when I experienced cravings the most is when I was bored. Find things to occupy your mind that you enjoy. For me, I got into sudoku puzzles, video games, listening to podcasts and cooking.

“Thirdly, block out the negativity. Most people I knew were smokers too and they didn’t think it was possible to quit, but I also had friends who gave encouragement (yes, they were the nonsmokers!). You have to believe in yourself, so listen to the people who believe in you too.

“This brings me onto my final point of how much others can help. In the working world, it’s so important to have the support of your line manager. It can get difficult and we spend so much time in the workplace, so there needs to be understanding of what you’re trying to do.

“My manager was great. If I ever needed to talk she would make herself available and she more than made up for the peer support sessions ending. Without her support I wouldn’t have been able to quit.

“I don’t think you ever fully kick the addiction, but the cravings definitely decrease over time. I don’t get cravings much these days, only as a passing thought. I’ve replaced the need-to-have with nice-to-have and it’s a very good feeling.

“Good luck to anyone who is trying to quit or thinking of quitting. It’ll be hard but I promise you won’t look back.”

Get help quitting with Better Health’s Quit Smoking app!

The NHS Quit Smoking app allows you to, track your progress, see how much you’re saving and get daily support. Download Quit Smoking on the App Store or Google Play.

You can also scan the QR code below for more advice on quitting smoking.