Tell me where to start - champix versus vaping versus gum versus?!

[ruthietoothie]

Gosh! Such a cliche! I used to be a heavy smoker and stopped almost 20 years ago in my late 20s. Then parenting kids with additional needs happened and the stress of trying to advocate for change when all the systems are totally broken took me to the edge! Stress levels are crazy high and I started smoking again last summer - initially just one or two a day but as it always does it’s creeped up and now about about 10-15 a day!

I really do want and need to stop but I know I’m setting myself a big task, especially given the poor state of my mental health and the daily levels of stress I am trying to deal with! It’s so bad that even when I went to the GP about my smoking they were asking if it’s the right time to stop!

where I live it’s not possible to get champix prescribed but can of course buy it privately! The stop smoking service I’ve spoken to has offered vapes but I’m worried about replacing one dangerous addiction with another.

so really just after any thoughts and advice and even words of encouragement that trying to stop is the right thing to do! I’ve got four children and one of them - my 12 year old son - has found out I’m smoking and made me promise to give up.

one other thing I’m hoping might help is that I’m a keen swimmer and obviously smoking will be reducing my lung capacity so thinking maybe about trying to get in the pool more and then perhaps a private prescription for champix?

any thoughts? Thanks so much! Need a bit of morale support I think xx

Alan Carr book, Easyway.
I don’t know what champix is tbh but i and many people i know have quite with the easy book - which is very down on using substitute therapy as it oromongs addiction.

good luck. you’ve done it already you can do it again! it’s insane how much better you feel as a non smoker. i lapsed last summer after many years without but so much happier without.

choose the right time though. i delayed stopping again twice as i felt grumpy and stressed and i knew it didn’t have to feel like that but then when i did it was actually fine.

Honestly, cold turkey, and Alan Carr if you need it.

I think the swimming is an excellent idea. I gave up at the same time as doing a sport and it makes the gains really obvious.

Champix, vapes etc. all just keep you addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is the least important thing about smoking. Yes it’s addictive but it’s the behaviour, association and your brain that create dependence.

You started again with stress. Think about why that works. Is it TRULY the nicotine? Or is it a 5 minute break, an excuse to go outside, a deep breath, a moment all to yourself? You can create these without a cigarette. If more people went outside to just breathe and look at the sky, we’d have less smokers!