Finding healthier ways to manage stress – Jane’s story

Before accessing Smokefree Norfolk, Jane had been smoking for a few months and wanted to quit for her health, finances and children. Stress was one of her biggest triggers for smoking, so having the right support to develop alternative ways of coping was an important part of her quit journey.

“I wanted to quit smoking for my health, my finances and my children. I had tried to quit before, but stress would often lead me back to smoking. I knew I wanted to quit and wanted support to help me make that change.”

Smokefree Norfolk provides free, specialist support to help people quit smoking. Through personalised guidance and access to stop smoking treatments, the service helps people manage cravings, understand their smoking triggers and find healthier ways to cope, increasing their chances of becoming smoke-free.

“I received one-to-one support over the telephone and chose Zyban medication to support my quit attempt. Having someone to talk to helped me work through the challenges I faced and understand how I could manage stressful situations without turning to smoking.”

“Stress was one of the biggest challenges for me. I learned to think about my reasons for quitting and had conversations with my coach about other ways I could manage stress. Having that support helped me stay focused on why becoming smoke-free was important to me.”

“I’ve now been smoke-free for four weeks and three days. Reaching this point has shown me that I can make a positive change and keep working towards a healthier future.”

“I’ve also decided to put aside the £15 I would normally have spent on smoking each day and save it towards a family holiday abroad. I’m really excited to be able to enjoy that experience with my family, knowing it has come from the money I’ve saved by quitting.”

“Moving forward, I’m planning to stay smoke-free and set a good example to my family. Quitting has given me something positive to work towards, and I want to continue building on the progress I’ve already made.”