Since the start of the pandemic in the UK, more than a million people have quit smoking, with a further 440,000 smokers attempting to quit.
This is according to new research from Action on Smoking Health (ASH) and University College London, also revealing that it seems younger smokers are quitting at a much greater rate than older people.
It was found that approximately 400,000 of those aged between 16 and 29 have quit, compared to 240,000 of those aged 50 and over.
A new campaign has now been launched, urging smokers of all ages to commit to making a change - but especially those older smokers who could potentially be more at risk. Smoking-related illnesses that have been linked to worse covid outcomes include diabetes, stroke, chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder and other heart conditions.
“Over a million smokers may have succeeded in stopping smoking since COVID-19 hit Britain, but millions more have carried on smoking. This campaign is designed to encourage those who’ve not yet succeeded, to wake up and decide today is the day to stop smoking,” chief executive of ASH Deborah Arnott said.
If you’re concerned about smoking and are keen to quit, or perhaps you’ve struggled to give up in the past but want to give it another go in light of the pandemic, you might want to consider the benefits of cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy and mindfulness, which has been used successfully to help people stop smoking.
Quitting smoking is a big challenge and if you’ve struggled in the past, it’s important to remember that nicotine is very addictive and you shouldn’t give yourself a hard time. What matters is that you’re trying to ditch the habit and if you need a bit of help, there’s no failure in admitting this.
First, identify exactly why you want to quit as this will help you stick to your goals. You also need to be doing it for you and not for someone else, if you want to make sure your quitting sticks. If you’re not ready to quit, you will find it harder to achieve but the more committed you are to your decision, the more likely it is that you will succeed.
Many have found a combination of mindfulness and cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy to be an effective treatment for smoking cessation and it can really help break the cycle of negative behaviours and thinking patterns that may have established themselves in association with smoking, such as using cigarettes to relieve stress.
Your therapist will support you and guide you through the process, helping you into a deep, relaxed state, one where your mind is more open to suggestion and change. If you’d like to find out more about this treatment and how successful it can be, call Putney hypnotherapist The Mindful Therapist today.