My time to quit for good

[Kirstie8701]

Hi everyone, this is going to be my time to quit (I hope) I have up once for 10 months and used champix but cannot use it this time round. I'm going to try patches and a spray for the first hit on the morning. I struggle mainly the social side, most of my friends smoke and I'm moving abroad soon so I'm spending a lot of time with them. I don't want to vape as I want to kick the whole habbit. Anyone got any tips for social situations

[Quit4LifeAnna Administrator]

Hi Kirstie, well done on quitting! Many of our quitters say the same - social situations (especially when having a drink) is the hardest time. If it helps, a few of our quitters have suggested some of their top tips:

- Change what drink you drink when you go out (if you usually have wine, try a G&T for example)

- Fruit juice makes cigarettes taste less appealing (ucanquit2.org/HowToQuit/Res...

So try drinking juice-based drinks instead.

- Hang out with the non-smokers!

- Take something with you to distract you - sugar free sweets, gum, fidget spinner etc

- Pop a spare NRT spray in your handbag

- Encourage everyone to sit indoors (or in a non smoking area outside e.g. on the terrace close to the building), so people aren't smoking around you

- Remember a craving won't last long - it will be over in under 5 minutes - so do something else to distract you until it passes. Have a quick walk around, call a friend, play a quick game on your phone, go to the bar and ask for a glass of water etc. Take a deep breath!

- Every time you DON'T have a cigarette, mentally (or physically) put some cash aside to treat yourself to something nice afterwards.

If it helps we also have a 'staying quit' section on our website with more helpful tips: quit4life.nhs.uk/how-we-can...

(This also includes a plan you can print off and fill in - planning ahead makes it much easier when the time comes around, to avoid temptation.)

Good luck, and congratulations on all you've achieved so far. You CAN do it - and remember - you are stronger than your cravings!

Anna and the Quit4Life team