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SMOKING IS THE single biggest cause of illness, disability and death in Ireland.
Almost one in four Irish people smoke, including 8% of Irish children.
Last month, the Annual Report of Tobacco Free Ireland Action Plan found that 19% of people smoke daily and 4% smoke occasionally.
Amanda White went from smoking at least 10 a day for 20 years to going cold turkey and is still smoke free 15 months on. She told TheJournal.ie that she started smoking aged 17 “because I thought it was cool”.
I always saw myself as a smoker so it was a massive task because it was something I thought I could never ever do. Obviously I’m proof now that it can be done.
White used the HSE QUIT service and explained, “They rang me every single week for the first four weeks, and every morning I woke up to a text, which was brilliant because it was really motivational – they were there for me.”
She said that because she’s single and “didn’t have that support at home” the QUIT line gave her the encouragement she needed.
The places I would smoke, like when I’m at home, I didn’t have anyone there to push me along.
White says that her father passed away when she was 34, which made her ‘look at life differently’ and when she turned 35, she set herself a five year plan.
“I didn’t want to be a smoker at 40 because, like losing weight, things get harder when you get older.
“It ended up taking me a year and three months and I thought it would take me five years. It’s the best thing I’ve ever ever done.”
Advice
When asked what advice she would give smokers trying to give up, she said, “I would just say take one day at a time and contact the quit support team. Just keep at it and it will work, your cravings only lasts for three minutes so if you can distract yourself for those three minutes you’ll get through it.”
She said she wrote out four steps – the four Ds – delay, distract, deeply breathe and drink water and stuck the notes in places where she would normally smoke.
“There were ups and downs at the beginning, losing sleep and stuff but once you understand you’ll have those challenges, if you get up again, you can continue on.
I can firmly say that I’m never going to smoke again and if I can give one piece of advice to anybody – just take one day at a time, because that’s all you can do.
“I feel fantastic, I have so much more energy and I just feel positive in general. It’s all good.”
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I thought the questions would be about the 1980s cartoon series… Very disappointing 1.
@Rafa C: my brain can’t help but sing it now!!!
@Rafa C: OK, what was the name of the original Japanese Anima? In Japanese for bonus points….
I’m sure he’s brilliant but I can’t make head nor tail of his writing.
@Bert Carolan: Try Dubliners, I found it the most accessible one. I couldn’t get far into Ulysses.
@John Smith: anyone who claims to have read Ulysses is a narcissist and up their own A. I know because my excuse for a Dad apparently did.
@Donna Fallon: absolute rubbish. The idea is ludicrous
@Donna Fallon: how many cats have you
@John D Doe: I’m more of a dog person TBH John.
@Donna Fallon: BS, I read it 5 times because it referred to many places I knew as a child. It’s very hard going at times but I loved the way Joyce painted old Dublin, unfortunately many places have disappeared or are unrecognisable nowadays.
I could have sworn he was buried in Paris.
Fantastic writer / poet, bazaar reading, and history at times. 11/12 ain’t bad. Quizzical fellow.
9 / 12
Surprised myself
Some man for the love letters.
I know it’s taken my birthday. d4amn you joyce
@edw: Happy Birthday EDW. Happy birthday to you
@Paul Somers: cheers.
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