QUIT IT! - Marj Williams - Quit Smoking Therapist

Who wants to be a social outcast? 70% of smokers want to quit but say either they can’t or just haven’t got round to it yet. You could join the 10 million plus ex-smokers in the UK who have found out what a great life they can have without cigarettes.

What’s good about smoking?  Does it really make sense?

Do you really enjoy:

1. Waking up after a good night out and having twice the hangover - booze and cigs?
2. Having to check whether you’ve any cigs before you go out, or even before you go to bed so you’re ready for the morning? Making a panic trip to the supermarket?
3. Smelling stale smoke on your hair and clothes
4. Standing outside the office in the rain puffing on a fag, looking a bit sad...
5. Spending over £35 a week if you smoke 20 a day - that’s nearly £2000 a year. What else could you do with the cash?
6. Drying out your skin - early aging lines and wrinkles make those expensive creams a must.
7. Feeling controlled by the only people that really benefit from you smoking - cigarette manufacturers.

   Marj has been involved in stop smoking programmes for eleven years, having worked as a counsellor and trainer for the charity QUIT and clinical therapist for the Maudsley Smokers Clinic. She is now course facilitator of the Stop Smoking Intensive 6 Week Programme which is a new anti smoking initiative formed and developed by The Third Space Medicine, London’s leading integrated medical centre, and Life Works , leading experts in addiction treatment. For more information see www.stopsmokingintensive.com .

What’s holding you back - let’s demolish some of the myths:

"I feel too stressed to quit"

Smoking itself makes you more stressed.  Very soon after you’ve stubbed out, your body starts missing nicotine. As you start to feel uncomfortable you fell stressed. Light up and you think that you’re relieving stress for whatever the situation is - work, social unease, boredom.

In reality you’re feeding an addictive habit and it’s the nicotine withdrawal which creates stress. Having another fag feels pleasurable because it helps relieve withdrawal. It’s like having an alien creature nagging in your head, but telling you it’s a friend. Quitting allows you to deal with situations for yourself and feel proud of it.

"I don’t have the willpower to quit"

We’ve all done difficult things at some time and succeeded because wereally wanted to.  Develop a positive attitude to quitting and draw on the success of other attempts or tricky situations and this will help you to feel stronger. Remember what worked for a while last time and build on that.

"My friends are bored with me trying and I can’t do it alone"

There’s lots of help available - check it out. The NHS is running free support groups and one to one sessions all over the country, daytime and evenings. It’s really good to be with others when you’re quitting - you can understand and help each other. And a bit of healthy competition can be a plus! Your local chemist also may be offering support.

You may feel uncomfortable at first but there’s ways to help that  and think of the long term benefits -

Stopping smoking reduces risk of  50 different illnesses and conditions , (Ash website) many of them life threatening.
When quitting totally you may initially feel restless, irritable, frustrated, or have difficulty sleeping. This doesn’t last long! You start feeling benefits very quickly. Not blocking your system with carbon monoxide and tar will give you more energy, better breathing running up stairs or in the gym, and your skin starts looking clearer and brighter.

Withdrawal

The third or fourth day may feel the worst, as you are free of the nicotine from your fags. Don’t panic! You can relieve withdrawal discomfort by choosing a Nicotine Replacement Product or one of the drugs available for quitting.

NRT is designed to gradually wean you off the effects of nicotine without any other harmful chemicals. It’s not just about patches - choose from a range of products to suit your personal lifestyle and habit to be more effective.  E.G. gum lovers enjoy tasty Freshmint NRT. 

If chewing is not suitable at work, use a day patch plus gum when you’re out socialising. Check the options. All NRT works when used properly and research shows it doubles your chance of success. Get professional support and you triple your chances! See guide to treatments. 

Other prescription medications:  Zyban (although not suitable for everyone) and new Champix, recently in the press. This is especially for quitting to help reduce cravings while blocking any nicotine satisfaction if you feel tempted! Despite press reports, it is available now. If you want Champix but your own doctor can’t prescribe it yet, check with a specialist NHS Quit Smoking Clinic. Some have it available. Don’t mind paying? Then go to a private GP for a prescription, but you will pay for the 12 wk course as well. Think of saving on a lifetime of fags...

Do you prefer a more holistic approach? Hypnotherapy and acupuncture can help you to relax while quitting. The private quitting course www.stopsmokingintensive.com  includes this with conventional treatments, plus a luxury gym to unwind.

Still looking for an excuse to smoke? Worrying about your weight?

It’s true some people put on a few pounds because your body’s energy use (metabolism) slows down slightly without nicotine. Many smoke instead of eating and find they enjoy food more on quitting. But not everyone gains weight, so prepare beforehand. Plan your diet and healthy snacks. Reduce alcohol for a while - it will help you to quit anyway because you’ll stay more focused. Plan more exercise to keep weight off and boost your endorphins to feel good. Even if you put on a little you can always lose it later, and it’s worth it when you quit. See QUIT’s guide Quit smoking without putting on weight