Finding the willpower to become smoke-free – Shaun’s story

After previous attempts to quit smoking had lasted just a couple of days, Shaun decided to try again with support from Leeds Stop Smoking Services. Motivated by his health, he wanted to quit completely but initially felt apprehensive about accessing support.

“My main motivation for quitting smoking was my health. I’d tried to quit before, but I only managed two days before going back to smoking because I felt I lacked the willpower. When I contacted the service this time, I was apprehensive, but I knew I wanted to quit completely.”

Leeds Stop Smoking Services provides tailored support to help people find an approach to quitting that works for them. By offering the opportunity to discuss different options, access stop smoking treatments and receive ongoing guidance, the service helps people build confidence, manage challenges and work towards becoming smoke-free for good.

“I chose to use a vape to help me quit. One of the most helpful parts of the service was knowing there was someone available to talk to. Being able to discuss the different options and having the kit provided made me feel supported throughout the process.”

“Once I got started, I didn’t actually come across many challenges. One of the biggest differences compared with my previous quit attempt was finding the willpower to keep going. Having the right support in place helped me stay focused on what I wanted to achieve.”

“I’ve now been smoke-free for five and a half months, and my confidence has improved as a result. After only managing two days when I tried to quit previously, reaching this point feels like a real achievement and has shown me that I can stay smoke-free.”

“I haven’t decided how to reward myself with the money I’ve saved yet, but my main focus is continuing with the progress I’ve already made. I’ve set myself my own goals to stay smoke-free and keep moving forward.”

“Overall, I’ve found the service excellent and really helpful. Having someone available to talk to, being able to explore my options and receiving the support I needed helped me find the confidence and willpower to quit. My goal now is simple: to stay smoke-free.”