Breaking free and taking control – Charlotte’s story

Charlotte decided to quit smoking after feeling that it was taking control of her life. Motivated by her health and her family, she knew she wanted change — but after previous attempts had only lasted a couple of days, she felt sceptical about whether she could truly stick to quitting. Charlotte reached out to Leeds Stop Smoking Services, unsure but ready to try with support.

“My motivation to quit was my health and my family. I’d tried to stop before but only managed two days. My mental health led me back to smoking, and when I was smoking, I felt imprisoned — like I didn’t have a choice anymore.”

“When I contacted the service, I was sceptical. I kept thinking, ‘Can I really stick to this?’ But I knew I needed help.”

Our team provides clinically credible support. We are trained and equipped with the latest techniques and knowledge to help you succeed. With our support, people make sustainable change that will help them improve their wellbeing, become healthier and reduce their chances of developing illnesses.

“I originally planned to cut down to quit, but I ended up stopping abruptly. I used remote support and a vape, and having a coach alongside me made a massive difference. The combination of the vape and talking things through really helped.”

“One of the hardest parts was trying not to buy cigarettes when I felt stressed. What helped was consciously stopping and thinking about what I was doing and why — reminding myself that the urge would pass.”

“I’ve now been smokefree for five weeks, and the service has been amazing — really good. I’ve even rewarded myself with the money I’ve saved by buying books and getting my hair done, which felt great.”

“My next step is to continue with my quit and gradually move down to a zero milligram vape. I feel proud of how far I’ve come. I don’t feel trapped anymore — I feel like I’ve finally taken control.”