Stopping smoking

As any reformed/past/self-righteous/ 'used to be smoker' will confirm I remember the year, the day and the hour I had my last cigarette.

How I came to give up smoking happened by chance or luck as most people would deem it and I shall always be grateful for that lucky chance that came my way in June 2000.

I was having massage treatment for a painful neck injury from Dr. Lilly Hua. Dr. Lilly came to my home to treat me. On one of her visits I opened the door to her smoking a cigarette. I genuinely thought she knew I smoked and the look of horror on her face at the sight of my cigarette created an overwhelming feeling of guilt in me. Dr. Lilly proceeded to tell me how very very bad smoking was for me and that I must stop. My protest fell on deaf ears as she explained that next week she would give me acupuncture.

I did not argue with her, as I really did not have a clue at that time about acupuncture or indeed any other type of magic that could stop a person smoking.

I had my usual treatment and the following week at 12 o' clock noon on the 24th June Dr. Lilly arrived at my home. She saw me put out a cigarette into and already overflowing astray and said "that is your last cigarette so finish it if you want".

At this point I have to say I had not considered quitting but Dr. Lilly can be very persuasive and I promised I would work with her.

I had 6 treatments of acupuncture over three weeks. The first few days were tricky to say the least as I tended to smoke at certain times of the day and always when I was writing and driving, both of which I did a lot at that time in my life.

I have not smoked a cigarette since 24th June 2000. In the past I have used patches to stop smoking and successfully stopped for two years in the early '90s but relapsed smoking more than before quitting. I tried again in 1997 after my husband died of lung cancer but was unsuccessful.

I shall always be grateful to Dr. Lilly for (to put it mildly) bullying me into quitting with strong lectures weekly of the damage to my health.

It is now 8 years and 9 months since I had my last cigarette and I cannot begin to explain the 'freedom' I feel from getting away from my dependence on those little nicotine sticks that come in different coloured boxes with a massive price attached to health and pocket.

- Kate Murphy, 19th May 2009