Maria moved from Egypt to Australia over 15 years ago, never expecting that a casual decision to try smoking would turn into a long-term dependence.
As a mother of four and a kindergarten teacher, she found herself smoking up to 10 cigarettes a day until her health gave her a real wake-up call.
Struggling with worsening asthma and her overall wellbeing, Maria knew she had to make a change and quit smoking.
""At first, I thought it was cool. Then, it became exhausting.
I just wanted to try it, and at first, it felt good. Over time, what began as an occasional social thing turned into a daily necessity.
After years of smoking, I began to feel physically drained. I started feeling tired all the time and my asthma started flaring up all the time.
It reached a point where I was having asthma attacks every week. I also had a family history of heart disease, which added to my worries about my overall health and wellbeing.
I tried quitting several times, but it never worked. I always went back to it.
It got to this point where I was really determined to quit, but I knew I needed a different approach. I had tried quitting cold turkey, but that didn’t work for me. I even tried vaping and shisha as substitutes, but they didn’t seem help me really kick the habit.
I took it slow, one step at a time. Instead of 10 cigarettes a day, I cut it down to five, then three, until I finally stopped. It took time, but that’s what worked for me.
The process wasn’t easy. At first, I was irritated and upset. I had headaches for a couple of months, but I knew it was all temporary. I knew it was part of the process.
I found support through online communities. I joined Facebook groups where people were also quitting. It was really encouraging to see others going through the same journey as I was. I got really involved and started checking in daily, commenting on posts and I even shared my experience. That helped me stay on track.
"Music, meditation and a little distance helped me keep going."
To manage cravings and withdrawal, I turned to meditation, yoga, and music. Music had always helped me feel better throughout my life, so I listened to a lot of it during that time. Yoga and meditation were recommended by others in the Facebook group which I had never tried. That ended up really helping calm me.
When I felt tempted by family or friends smoking around me, I took a simple approach. I would take a step back and keep my distance until they finished. It wasn’t my intention to pressure anyone else to quit, but I also didn’t want to relapse.
Now, my health is so much better and it turns out that I’ve saved heaps of money. I’ve now been a year smoke-free! I feel the benefits in my body and in my pocket every day. My husband still smokes, but he was actually the one who encouraged me to quit because of my health.
My children are really happy that I’ve quit smoking too. They know it’s bad for you and I hope they see me as a role model now. That’s all I ever wanted.
For others thinking about quitting, just take it slow. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Everyone is different, so find what works for you and stick with it.
"Stay positive, keep trying and don’t give up."
The journey can be tough, but the benefits are worth it. Today, I still check in with my connections on the Facebook online support groups. They keep me on track.
I don’t want to relapse and staying connected with them all helps me remember why I quit. For me, quitting smoking was not just about breaking a habit, it was about reclaiming my health, setting an example for my children and proving to myself that change is possible.
I feel better now and I know I made the right choice.
