Finding freedom from smoking – Paul’s story

Before accessing support through Leeds Stop Smoking Service, Paul had several reasons for wanting to quit smoking. Rising costs, concerns about the impact smoking had on those around him and a growing frustration with the habit all contributed to his decision. Although he had tried to quit before and managed around two weeks without cigarettes, he always found himself returning to smoking. This time, however, he was determined to make a lasting change.

Leeds Stop Smoking Service provides personalised support to help people quit smoking and stay smoke free. Through one-to-one coaching, behavioural support and access to stop smoking aids, participants receive tailored guidance and encouragement to help them manage cravings, overcome challenges and build long-term confidence in their quit journey. Our Health Coaches work closely with participants to develop strategies that support lasting success.

“My motivation to quit smoking came from several places. Smoking had become too expensive, I knew I probably shouldn't be doing it and I was increasingly aware of how smoking and smelling of smoke affected the people around me. had tried to quit before and managed to stop for about two weeks. The problem was that, despite knowing the negatives, part of me still liked smoking and that often pulled me back into old habits.”

“When I was smoking, I felt conflicted. On one hand it felt comforting, but on the other I felt angry with myself for becoming a smoker in the first place. When I first contacted the service, I felt apprehensive. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I knew I needed support if I was going to succeed long term.  My goal was always to quit completely. To help me do that, I used a combination of nicotine patches, spray, an inhalator and regular coaching support.”

“What worked for me was having access to a range of support options. One thing on its own wouldn't have been enough because I need to keep changing things up to keep them working. Having different tools available really helped me manage cravings and stay focused.

The biggest part of my success was the support from Lucy. She was absolutely amazing throughout the entire process. She wasn't just knowledgeable, she was easy to talk to, funny and genuinely listened to what I had to say. I felt like I could be completely honest with her about everything that was going on in my life. For me, that's incredibly important because if I keep thoughts bottled up, they just go round and round in my head and eventually the addiction gets louder. Lucy listened, understood and always left me feeling positive and ready for the week ahead. Having someone who treated me with respect rather than talking down to me made a huge difference.”

Leeds Stop Smoking Service provides flexible, personalised support, including one-to-one sessions and access to free nicotine replacement therapies, helping people build the confidence and tools needed to quit for good.

“One of the challenges I faced was slipping up after having a drink. For a moment, I felt like I had failed, but instead of giving up, I got myself back on track and continued with the programme. Overcoming that setback showed me that one mistake doesn't have to mean failure. I focused on my goal and reminded myself why I wanted to quit in the first place. I found the service to be a breath of fresh air compared to previous experiences. I felt respected, listened to and supported throughout, which gave me the confidence to keep moving forward.”

“I'm now approaching five weeks smoke free since my slip-up and I feel proud of the progress I've made. Even though times are tough financially and I haven't treated myself with the money I've saved, one pressure I no longer have is the constant cost of cigarettes.”

“My next step is to keep going, continue reducing the strength of my patches and nicotine replacements and eventually become completely free from nicotine addiction. Being smoke free feels good. I've realised that I'm no longer attached to cigarettes in the way I used to be, and that's a powerful feeling. The support I've received has helped me build confidence in myself and shown me that lasting change is possible.”