Transcending Unhealthy Habits Support Thread

[Imzadi]

It used to be like this...



Now it's more like this...

[Moon_Glow]

hahahahahahahahaha

[Baile]

Originally Posted by Imzadi

And when I began to cultivate the ability to be in Union with the Divine Presence, the unhealthy habits themselves naturally falls away on their own.

You say in one sentence what took me a meandering several paragraphs. Hoping to kick my excessive word habit... I need support everyone!

[Uma]

Sounds like you're doing great Baile!

[Imzadi]

Uh oh, I think I may have developed and addiction to Spiritual Forums. Is it counter intuitive to get support for SF addiction by using this thread?

[Imzadi]

Originally Posted by Baile

You say in one sentence what took me a meandering several paragraphs. Hoping to kick my excessive word habit... I need support everyone!

I've been trying to work on writing things that are concise and to the point. It's difficult because my natural tendency is to ramble on and on. And now that I've discovered how to post pictures... I have been going a little crazy with it also. LOL

[Mused]

I'm thinking that if I love myself ... I can make healthier choices for my wellbeing in the long run rather than just go for the instant gratification. The only thing im addicted to is coca cola and its such a hard habit to kick sigh

[Imzadi]

Originally Posted by Mused

I'm thinking that if I love myself ... I can make healthier choices for my wellbeing in the long run rather than just go for the instant gratification. The only thing im addicted to is coca cola and its such a hard habit to kick sigh

That's not too bad of an addiction. Have you tried slowly weening yourself off of coca cola and replacing it with maybe fruit juice? Perhaps that may help.

[Mused]

^ I am trying it now. I dislike fruit juice so I'm doing coconut water or other flavored ... Waters haha. Omg you have no idea how addictive coca cola is!! I literally become a monster if I don't drink it

[linen53]

I used to drink vodka and orange juice drinks while fixing dinner. I didn't feel guilty nor did I feel like it was impeding my spiritual journey. It was merely where I was at the time.

Then I got very sick, around February 2016. And I just didn't feel the want to drink anymore. I got even sicker and was put on antibiotics. The label specifically said no alcohol while on them so I carried it over. No problems because my gut was in such a mess alcohol sounded nasty.

Now I'm off the antibiotics and the illnesses and I just don't think I want to go back to having my cocktails. I've followed that pattern for 20 years but I think I've just outgrown it. It had it's uses while I was there but not anymore.

As for quitting smoking I did that about 10 years ago. It was the hardest things I've ever been through.

I wrote this years ago on how I successfully quit smoking:

There are so many people who are trying to quit smoking this time of the year and my heart goes out to every one. Most of the people who are giving advice are delusional, saying it takes a couple of days or weeks to quit. Which is not factual for most of us. If that were the case many more would have quit successfully rather than having a list of failures.

I quit many years ago and was smoke-free for 12 years. Then one night while drinking with friends I smoked a cigarette...after 12 years!! I was hooked again and smoked for another 6 years before my husband and I quit about 10 years ago.

It was tough for me as I am sure it will be for you. This won't be another pat-on-the-back article. You've got some hard work ahead of you. Absorb this though: "It's going to be very difficult but I'm up to the challenge and it's going to work this time."

Secondly, don't pick up the first cigarette and you will never have to worry about the second. That was my golden rule.

Do not allow anyone to smoke in the house. Get rid of every ash tray. All smoking (by others) should be done outside.

Don't believe the ads that say in a few weeks everything will be hunky dorey. It takes only 3 days to get the nicotine out of your system but all the chemicals they put in cigarettes today make it very difficult to quit. There are 599 different additives added to cigarettes made in the United States. Many of these additives are included to make it even more difficult to quit. Go figure.

The first week is tough. The second week isn't any easier. Time is your worst enemy. A minute seems like five. In 30 minutes you will have thought about smoking a cigarette countless times. Then you look at the clock and only ten minutes have passed instead of 30. The thought of having to go through this torture for 24 hours causes a mild form of hysteria. And there is no let-up. Tomorrow is just as bad. It goes on day after day, with each hour of each day dragging by so slowly.

You reason that if you could just have one cigarette to stop the madness you can survive just this day. But with that one cigarette you now have to start all over again at day one. So smoking that first cigarette is a very bad idea because it will lead to the second and the third. Remember the golden rule.

Try not to think to far into the future. It can cause an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. The thoughts that you can't go through this day after day goes through your mind over and over. Instead, try to think of only this moment. Keep bringing yourself back to the now. Reassure yourself that you've made it this far and stop your thoughts from going any further.

Sleep becomes your only friend. It is the only time you aren't craving a cigarette but once you wake up the battle continues until it's time to go to sleep again.

Stay away from smokers for at least a few months as best as you can. Of course you may live with a smoker so keep in mind it will take about 30 minutes for the smoke smell to die down after your friends and family smoke a cigarette. Keep your distance for that 30 minutes.

After the first 2 weeks you will probably be saying to yourself , "Why do I still want a cigarette? I should be over this!" Not so. Remember those 599 different additives. Remember the golden rule.

The only way you can see progress is by looking BACK to where you were 2 weeks ago in your struggle to stop smoking. It is the only way you will see progress. At a month, look BACK at where you were 2 weeks ago. Continue this month after month. Otherwise you will become discouraged because you won't feel and see the results. So look BACK. Keeping a journal might help so you can look back at previous entries. A journal may also help you feel more committed to quit.

At 12 months, smoke free, I still wanted a cigarette. I didn't crave one but I wanted one. It was a weak want but a want is a want. It wasn't until 18 months that the cravings were completely null and void. Get it in your head that this may take 12-18 months to resolve.

Even now when someone lights up around me, on rare occasions it still smells good for a few minutes before I start gagging. But I've quit successfully two times and I've learned my lesson the hard way. I will never pick up a cigarette again.

Lastly, (wo) man up!! Set the house rules and don't let anyone break them and don't apologize to anyone including yourself for making them.

The rest of the advice is what you've heard or read on many occasions.

Sunflower seeds
Suck on hard candy
Gum
Exercise, run or walk
A hobby or hobbies you enjoy using your hands and mind
Niconine Patch
Crossword or Sudoku puzzles or reading
Carry a worry stone and work it
Join a support group
Pray, if you are so inclined
Get out of the house and change your schedule from your former routine so you aren't home as much
Change those smoking times, i.e., do the dishes instead of smoking a cigarette at mealtimes
e-cigarette forum.com
Keep a journal or blog
Chantix®