Claire’s story
Quitting smoking is tough for anyone – but for people living with serious mental illness (SMI), it can feel like an impossible mountain to climb.
Claire from Newcastle knows this struggle all too well. Her journey shows how smoking can become a daily lifeline when you’re trying to manage anxiety, trauma, and mental health symptoms – even when you know it’s doing you harm.
“I had my first cigarette when I was 13,” Claire says. By 14, she had left home, and by 16, she was living in supported housing. “It was a traumatic time. I turned to alcohol, drugs, and smoking to cope.”
As Claire navigated the challenges of early adulthood, smoking became a constant in a life marked by instability. And while she found the strength to give up alcohol and drugs over a decade ago, quitting smoking remained the hardest fight of all.
“Even at my lowest points, the one constant was that first cigarette of the day with a coffee. Giving up drugs was easier than quitting smoking.”
For Claire – like many people with SMI – smoking wasn’t just an addiction. It was part of her routine, something to do with her hands, and a distraction from racing thoughts and overwhelming emotions.
“There’s this huge myth that smoking helps with stress,” she explains. “But it’s a false sense of relief. You feel better for a few minutes, then the cravings kick in again. It becomes a cycle you can’t escape from.”
When stress or anxiety hit, smoking was the first thing Claire turned to. Sometimes, it was the only thing that seemed to make the day manageable – even though, deep down, she knew it wasn’t helping.
“I know when my mental health starts to decline. That’s when I crave a cigarette most. I used to reach for it without thinking. Now I’ve broken that cycle – but it’s taken time, support, and determination.”
People with serious mental illness are much more likely to smoke – and to smoke more heavily – than those without. The reasons are complex: trauma, poverty, medication side effects, and social isolation all play a role. But too often, smoking is still overlooked in mental health settings.
“Smoking needs to be taken seriously. When I was unwell, it was cigarettes I turned to – not alcohol or drugs. And I’ve seen people go into hospital as non-smokers and come out addicted. If someone’s being admitted, give them patches before they even step through the door. Otherwise, you’re setting them up to fail.”
Claire has now been smoke-free for over six months. It hasn’t been easy, but the change has been life-altering – both physically and mentally.
“The biggest positive is my chest. I’m back exercising and not in the corner coughing. I barely need my inhaler now.”
“And I’ve got more money. I can go to the gym, do nice things. I’m back playing football and badminton – things I had to stop when I smoked because I couldn’t catch my breath.”
Support made a huge difference. Claire used nicotine patches and gum through her GP and found unexpected encouragement from her local pharmacist.
“I don’t think I could’ve done it without the support. The guy at the chemist was great – I used to see him every week. He kept me going.”
The early days were tough – physically and emotionally.
“In the first 10 days, I was anxious, irritable, and just wanted to be left alone. But I pushed through. Now I feel calmer and more in control. I still get the odd craving, but I’ve got the strength to say no.”
Claire’s story is part of a bigger picture. People with serious mental illness die 10–20 years earlier than those without – and smoking is one of the biggest contributors. Yet stop smoking support is still patchy in too many mental health settings.
“Smoking is one of the most overlooked health crises among people with serious mental illness. It’s time we changed that.”
Claire is hopeful about change. In the North East, NHS Trusts are now prioritising treating tobacco dependency in mental health services and working to close the health gap.
“I’m delighted that it’s becoming a priority. It’s long overdue – and it gives me hope for others who are still in that cycle.”
Her message to others is one of understanding – and encouragement.
“Quitting smoking is hard, especially when your mental health is fragile. But with the right support, it is possible. I broke the cycle. You can too.”