It relaxes me and gives me confidence

This is the worst fallacy of all about smoking, and for me it ranks with the ending of the slavery, the greatest benefit from quitting - not to have to go through life with the permanent feeling of insecurity that smokers suffer from.

Smokers find it very difficult to believe that the cigarette actually causes that insecure feeling you get when you are out late at night and running out of cigarettes. Non-smokers do not suffer from that feeling. It is the tobacco that causes it.

I only became aware of many of the advantages of stopping months afterwards, as a result of my consultations with other smokers.

For twenty-five years I refused to have a medical. If I wanted life assurance, I insisted on 'no medical' and paid higher premiums as a result. I hated visiting hospitals, doctors or dentists. Icouldn't face the thought of getting old, pensions and so on.

None of these things did I relate to my smoking 'habit', but getting off it has been like awakening from a bad dream. Nowadays I look forward to each day. Of course, bad things happen in my life, and I am subject to the normal stresses and strains, but it is wonderful to have the confidence to cope with them, and extra health, energy and confidence make the good times more enjoyable too.