To mark Mental Health Awareness Week we asked ex-smoker Laura Mochan to describe her quit smoking journey and how giving up has made her happier and healthier.

The impact quitting smoking has had on my mental health, is profoundly positive. I feel mentally stronger, happier in myself and more aware of what I am capable of when I put my mind to something.

Smoking was my only stress reliever, but now that I have quit, all forms of exercise help me with that. I don’t need to go stand out in the cold garage to light up so that I can feel some relaxation anymore. I can take a brisk walk, a run, an hour at the gym, an exercise class, a long stroll with the dog, do some crafts, catch up on the soaps, take a soak in the bath, meditate, read my book with some music on.

All of these things helped take my mind off the habit I had broken. I decided to stop smoking because I felt guilty (on my little boy), I wanted to become healthier, I was sick of being out of breath after just running up the stairs and since working with a new volunteer who smokes, I became very aware of how disgusting I smelled, too.

I was initially concerned about how I would handle not being able to lean on that cigarette for stress relief, but I dug deep and found strength I never even knew I had – and a whole heap of stubbornness, too. I made sure my fridge and cupboards were filled with healthy snacks, that I had things to keep me as busy as possible over the first couple of months and a new routine where I was allowing myself more sleep. I also slightly changed my daily routine so that I didn’t have pockets of free time where I knew I would be thinking about a cigarette.

Now, at 16 months later, I rarely think about smoking. I still have the odd urge here and there (and they pop up out of nowhere – not sue to stress etc, just totally random), but they don’t bother me.

My mental health has vastly improved. I am so proud of myself it’s unreal! My family and friends – (most of them) and me, included – didn’t think I could do it. My best friend and son were the only ones who believed in me, and after the first two weeks of quitting, I found belief in myself, too. It was a brilliant feeling and I still smile about it all now.

I am FREE of sucking deadly chemicals down into my body… the only body I will have in this life… and it’s just a fantastic feeling. I have achieved something I never, ever thought I could, and the effects of this on other areas of my life is noticeable, too.

My advice to anyone who wants to give up, is that you have to WANT to give up. There is little point in putting yourself through it if you don’t really want to. I loved a cigarette and I miss them when I think about them (which isn’t often nowadays, thankfully), but now that I am on the other side of it, I can’t believe the damage I was intentionally doing to myself for something that is not a necessity, very unhealthy, very expensive, very smelly (especially your breath and fingers) and is ultimately a drag on your subconscious.

No one ‘wants’ to harm themselves by smoking, none of us want to fork out money we can’t really afford for cigarettes, when it can be much better spent elsewhere (I’ve saved almost £500 by putting my ‘cig money’ in a jar when I can afford to – which isn’t all the time, but I try so that it will come in handy for Christmas). The quiet worry in the back of my mind that I might become very ill through smoking, has gone – it’s a great feeling.

I feel calmer, healthier, stronger and able to try things I never thought I would. Those first three days are excruciating. The following couple of weeks are really hard. The two to three months after that are a lot easier, and by six months you’ve broken the back of it and need never have to look back. I’ve said it a million times over and I am absolutely adamant: if I can give up smoking, Anyone can!