If you're thinking about quitting smoking or vaping, sometimes it helps to hear from people who have done it before.
Here's what others have to say about their quit journey.
It's never too late.
"I smoked for decades and barely escaped a heart attack. But with help from a nurse I made a quit plan. Now I am grateful for how my health has improved – I've even taken up biking. I'd say it's never too late to quit, no matter how long or how much you've smoked."
Address stress.
"I used to vape to deal with stress. To really quit for good, I had to find healthier ways to cope. My advice is to plan ahead how to handle the stess and negative emotions so you can stay in control."
Take small steps to build confidence.
"I think it's important to set small goals. That's why I built my quit plan with 24-hour practice quits. Going a full 24-hour period without smoking helped me learn what to expect. And boosted my confidence too – I proved I could stop smoking. Then I wanted to do it again."
Find motivation.
"My drive to stay smoke-free dropped a few weeks after I quit so I joined an online support group. Our facilitator gave us tips to stick with it, and everyone talked about the things they do to stay motivated. It helps to hear real tips for quit day and get ideas for staying smoke-free in the long run."
Quit medicines make a difference.
"It was hard for me to quit smoking because nicotine is so addictive. I tried to quit many times. I finally stopped smoking with support from a pharmacist. They prescribed quit medications and helped me choose NRTs to cope with urges to smoke."
Remember that you're are not alone.
"When I quit smoking I told my family and friends what I was doing. I asked them to distract me when I got the urge for a cigarette. Reaching out was so helpful! If you don't have someone to talk to I would suggest calling the AlbertaQuits Helpline."
Try more than one tactic.
"Using NRT and getting help from a quit counsellor helped me stop smoking cigarettes. I even signed up for motivational texts from AlbertaQuits. Using several quit methods at the same time really worked for me."
Stay positive.
"I tried to quit several times before I stopped. It was hard not to dwell on the times it didn't work. But the truth is those experiences helped my learn what to do differently next time. Whether you last a day, a week or a month without smoking or vaping – you'll get there. Just keep at it."
