Need Advice from EX-smokers

[Openly Curious]

'Giaour'

I wonder when the hostility goes away.

It sounds like you are on the verge of victory and the devil is going to lose this battle for good this time.

Smoking is a nervous habit and I know what you mean when you can't satisfy those nerves with nicotine anymore. It's going to be alright for I'm free now and you are gonna make it. Maybe stress vitamins would be good.

blessings

Openly Curious

[Giaour]

I am so angry and hostile.

Get ready to call a priest because if one more person leaves the toilet seat up, my head is going to spin around and I'm gonna spit pea soup on them.

[WayneB]

I am so angry and hostile.

Get ready to call a priest because if one more person leaves the toilet seat up, my head is going to spin around and I'm gonna spit pea soup on them.

I'm glad I ain't in your house! I gotta bad habit of leaving the seat up.

[Openly Curious]

I am so angry and hostile.

Get ready to call a priest because if one more person leaves the toilet seat up, my head is going to spin around and I'm gonna spit pea soup on them.

May some duct tape would help keep that seat down

OC

[Giaour]

who puts an empty milk carton back in the fridge?

These people need therapy.

[rfw]

Rom 8:1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,

Rom 8:2 because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Never been a smoker, but saw my parents go through a rough time quitting, so I have compassion for you.

I was pastoring in Pennsylvania, just learning about spiritual warfare. One of the members was a new Christian, struggling with tobacco. He asked me for prayer one Thursday at his home. I rebuked the power of addiction in his life under the authority of James 5:14-17 as his pastor. Sunday, he came to church rejoicing in liberty, testifying to another member he knew smoked, who also asked for prayer and was set free.

None of the things people have shared with you are wrong, but I encourage you to go to your pastor and ask him to pray on your behalf under the authority of Scripture, and see what good things God can do.

[Guest Thomas I believe]

Let Go Let God and be free forever from that addiction. He will free you trust me. Been there done that ! Only one thing you got to do ... trust Him and believe He will free you and it will be so.

[O'Dannyboy]

I can only tell you how it happened for me, and perhhaps you can gleen something of use from it.

September 2004. It was a Thrusday night. During those days I was playing Star Wars Galaxies as my thing to do in my spare time. Whenever I would play I would have plenty of beer and plenty of cigarettes handy. I can't tell you what I was doing specifically, but I did finally realise that I was living a simulated life and was adicted to things that I did not absulutely need to survive. I can't tell you how ashamed and pitifull I felt. I had a beer in one hand, a cigarette in the other and I put both down and wept. I realised for the first time, I mean realy understood, that I was my own worst enemy. As I wept I cried out inside myself for anyone, if there was anyone, to help. Without knowing it, I had surrendered to his will. I poured out the beer I was drinking, put out my cigarette and went to bed.

I went to work the next morning and did my work as usual, perhaps with a little more zest. It wasn't untill lunch time that I realised that I hadn't smoke one cigarette that day. The strangest part was that I did not wan't one. I didn't even have a craving. When I got off work, I got in the car and lit one up out of habit. I though nothing of it. I went home and, being a friday night, knew I could stay up late playing my games. It's still somewhat of a blur. Anyhow, I played the night out drinking and smoking. Call it a last fling if you will, unbeknownst to me.

After sleeping in I woke up and turned on the TV to let the reality of having a day off set in, and without a thought, lit a cigarette. I didn't smoke half of the cigarette before I suddenly felt pain in my chest. Needless to say I put the cigarette out and lie on my back for 10 or 15 minutes dealing with the pain. While I was suffering with this pain, in the back of my mind I understood someone or something telling me "we can do this the easy way, or the hard way". At that point I knew that whether or not I still wanted to quit, It was no longer my choice. I asked for help, and help is what I got. Help that I am ever so thankfull for now. Later that day I gave all of what remained of my carton of cigarettes to my roommate and have not smoked another since.

Its been over a year and a half and I have not had one craving since the night I asked for help. That night changed my life. Not only was I saved from myself, I finally believed in God. I knew that someone heard my cry for help and loved me enough to answer my prayer.

Not wanting to risk fueling any cravings I also gave up sodas and coffee and yes, the beer too. The only withdrawl I went through was the caffeine withdrawls. I suffered a week long headache when I gave up caffiene. I can tell you now that I am ohh so happy to be free of those vices.

Tips? Give up anything, chemical dependancies included, that might contribute to the strength of your cravings. Drink lots of water and chew lots of gum. I understood that it would only take 21 days before i was over the hump with these nasty habits. They are not only addictions, but nasty habits as well. Beating the chemical dependancy part was especially easy for me since God took away the cravings. The habits were harder to beat. When you decide to change a habit, you have to know that it only takes 21 days to change a habit or form a habit, as a general rule of thumb. So, all you need to do it to find something ELSE to do when ever you feel a craving. You can try, writting about how you feel whenever you get an urge. Try brushing your teeth whenever you get a craving. Whenever I found myself looking for something to do with my hands I sometimes brushed my teeth or filed my nails. There is any number of things you can do when you realise you need something to do with your hands.

Over a year and a half later I have quit smoking, stopped drinking alcoholic and caffinated beverages, vastly improved my oral hygiene and stopped biting my nails. All thanks to a God that I did not believe in.

I sure hope that helps someone.

[Guest Museed]

O'Dannyboy I know what you're talking about, when you said caffeine headaches. Went through that myself. I call it The Terminator, not even with tylenol, or advil will it go away. It's like somebody is compressing your temples toguether with a vicegrip. The thing is that you know whether caffeine is addictive or not when you give it up. For one is The Headache, two, your sleep gets better, and you can handle stress a little better!.

[Giaour]

not as angry this morning

I may let my family live today