Smoke Free (again)

[Jeshurun]

For the better part of 30 years, I had been enslaved to a 2-pack per day disgusting smoking addiction that for many years was the sole reason I avoided Kingdom Halls.

I had a few incidents of "quitting", the most recent being 3 years ago when I made my last attempt at returning to the meetings. That's when I gained 30 pounds and felt like I was 80, even though I was practically living at the gym and playing baseball twice a week. Once I developed heel spurs (plantar fascitis) in both heels I couldn't even walk without excruciating pain. After yet another statement coming off the platform caused me to storm out of the Kingdom Hall again, my blood pressure went nuts and I went straight to the nearest place I could buy cigarettes, and continued smoking until I was finally able to stop again with the help of a new prescription drug called "Chantix". It was only what I learned at e-W and here at e-JW that gave me the strength to kick it again. And it does definitely get harder each time. Doctors have likened the addiction to that of heroin and cocaine. This new drug works on the brain receptors, supposedly, but it didn't seem to me like it was helping that much. It was still a nightmare, but it's been 6 weeks now since I've "stopped", and yet even as I sit here now my legs still tingle and I feel withdrawal symptoms. But I have no intention of ever picking up another cigarette, and by the way, my wife is thrilled.

Anyway, I owe some thanks to Robert and his e-Watchman site which made me realize that now was the time to get it done, and especially to Jehovah for helping me through some of the worst moments of stress when I would have otherwise given in. My wife is well aware that what I've been learning on the computer has given me the wherewithal to make the stand. So that in itself is quite a witness to her.

Thanks to all of you for also helping me to stay focused even though you arent even aware of it.

Love
Lou

[Cricket]

Hi Lou,

What you are trying to do has got to be the most difficult thing to do. I have family members who are still addicted to cigarettes and it is so hard to watch them try to quit. I will keep you in my prayers that you will have the resolve to stick with it and I hope it becomes a little easier as each day passes.

Hugs,

Cricket

[Nash]

Hi Jeshurun! B)

Congratulations on breaking a very bad habit! Keep up the good work.

Nash

[DoubtingThomas]

Nicotine is a tough one to kick. I've had to break a few addictions of the flesh before. And I've had a few relapses before too. It's never easy. At least it wasn't for me. But don't get too discouraged if you relapse. Just keep trying.The flesh is indeed weak. Even the Apostle Paul had a wrestling with his weaknesses of the flesh. Do they have a 12 step program for nicotine? Anyway Lou, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

[watchman]

Nicotine is a terrible addiction. I went through the whole booze/drug thing back in the early 70's and I can say from experience that cigarettes where the hardest thing to quit. Of course, they didn't have crack back then, thankfully. :o

But, you can do it. Millions of people have. Just remember, the longer you go without a smoke the easier it becomes to live without it.

[barry]

Hello Jeshurun,

Great to hear this.
I cannot talk out of experience, but from hearing the stories it must be very difficult to stop smoking.
My grandfather used to smoke about 30 years ago and he says that at certain moments he still feels like taking a cigarette.
Much strength.

Barry

[Gabriel]

WAY TO GO! fighting with the flesh is never easy. you can rest assured that your achievements has not gone unnoticed by Jehovah and Jesus christ. But also be aware that satan and is demons are also onlookers too. youre doing great!

[Jeshurun]

Thank you all so much for all your encouraging words! The best part is that I can now have a clean conscience before Jehovah. But a fringe benefit is that now I can deal from a better position when trying to convince others to quit. My sister in Florida is going to try it, so we'll see what happens. She's yet another person who would never listen to my message about the truth until now. I hate to say it but I think it's because I'm not preaching from a Watchtower perspective. It's amazing how many people would never listen to me because they perceived the organization as mind-control. Now so many of them have open ears....

[Kenneth]

Hi Jeshurun

Yes I have been trying to give up smoking for years, in my final attempt I think I cracked it but it still early days, that was 22 years ago. I can real sympathise you would as the struggle is never ending. However, I rarely think about smoking anymore but I have my moments when I visualize myself with a bottle of wine and having a smoke in some beaten down joint in Cuba, :winko: and if it wasn't for Jehovah I think I would. After all what did Paul say if there were no resurrection to eat and be merry and for me that would include having a smoke.

The best way forward is think about what Jehovah wants for you, and after all the craving only last for about five minutes. Six mouths into giving up I nearly cracked one evening due to the fact I was in the company of one who was smoking. The craving past and I was so glad I never gave in as I was making good progress in the truth. However, the moral of the story is 'bad association spoil useful habits', so be weary of keeping company of those who smoke.

"Smoking kills. If you&#39;re killed, you&#39;ve lost a very important part of your life" :hot: </span>
</span>

[ellieharp]

:38786-6:

[ellieharp]

whoops, that didnt work. lets try again. hello jeshrun, i gave up smoking just before i was baptised and it was really hard cos i really enjoyed smoking actually especially with a nice glass of red but i havent smoked in about ten years now. i did try one a couple years ago when i was feeling abit low and it make me so ill i thought i was dying so i just have the wine now instead. :winko:

[patience]

Well done Jeshrun! I&#39;ve never had a problem with smoking myself but I think that the things I have learnt through Robert King is that I want to do everything I can to please Jehovah now, so I guess we all realize that we have to give up or stop doing certain things that are a problem for us.

Thankfully I don&#39;t have to give up wine or chocolate except when i&#39;m dieting! Hopefully the new order will mean an end to all diets!

[jehovahisgod]

For the better part of 30 years, I had been enslaved to a 2-pack per day disgusting smoking addiction that for many years was the sole reason I avoided Kingdom Halls.I had a few incidents of "quitting", the most recent being 3 years ago when I made my last attempt at returning to the meetings. That's when I gained 30 pounds and felt like I was 80, even though I was practically living at the gym and playing baseball twice a week. Once I developed heel spurs (plantar fascitis) in both heels I couldn't even walk without excruciating pain. After yet another statement coming off the platform caused me to storm out of the Kingdom Hall again, my blood pressure went nuts and I went straight to the nearest place I could buy cigarettes, and continued smoking until I was finally able to stop again with the help of a new prescription drug called "Chantix". It was only what I learned at e-W and here at e-JW that gave me the strength to kick it again. And it does definitely get harder each time. Doctors have likened the addiction to that of heroin and cocaine. This new drug works on the brain receptors, supposedly, but it didn't seem to me like it was helping that much. It was still a nightmare, but it's been 6 weeks now since I've "stopped", and yet even as I sit here now my legs still tingle and I feel withdrawal symptoms. But I have no intention of ever picking up another cigarette, and by the way, my wife is thrilled.Anyway, I owe some thanks to Robert and his e-Watchman site which made me realize that now was the time to get it done, and especially to Jehovah for helping me through some of the worst moments of stress when I would have otherwise given in. My wife is well aware that what I've been learning on the computer has given me the wherewithal to make the stand. So that in itself is quite a witness to her.Thanks to all of you for also helping me to stay focused even though you arent even aware of it.LoveLou yep I smoked 32 years 45000$ worth of cancer sticks, 20000$ in marajuana 50000$ crack cocaine besides the fact that it would take 2 semi trailers to hold all the tobaco and dope I smoked its a blessed miricle from jah that I live ! yep dont even think that miricles are dead because it took one just for me to be able to write this paragraph after all that smoke! have you ever thought about just how much poison we have inhaled and still live? yes brothers and sisters proof beyond all doubts that our god jehovah does indeed still does miricles!

[Thinking]

Good on you jeshurun......I too had this demon to fight all those years ago.....having a smoke was like having a Valium for me...I missed it bad.....so happy that Jah helped me when I needed it....as he has you......keep up the good work...you can do it,,,,,!!!!!!