Prayer for those of us trying to quit smoking

[bigsierra]

Since coming to the Catholic faith, I've felt an urgency to quit smoking, but haven't been able to. Now, time has passed, and it doesn't feel urgent, even though I'm cognizant that the same issues are at hand.

Anyway, I thought it might be good to have a thread for those of us, trying to quit.

[bigsierra]

PRAYER FOR STOPPING SMOKING


O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Through the grace of your purity, may this unclean habit cease.

From the stench of smoke, the foul taste in my mouth, the stains on my hands and teeth, pray for my release.
Hail Mary . . .

From coughing and phlegm, from polluted blood, from heart and lung disease, pray for my release.
Hail Mary . . .

From habit and slavery, pray for my release.
Hail Mary . . .

From tension, fear, and anxiety, pray for my release.
Hail Mary . . .

For health and calm and peace, pray for me.
Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that, by Christ redeemed, we choose to live in purity. Amen.

I'm not sure what to think about all the visualization stuff on this page, but it seems like a good prayer. http://chastitysf.guidetopsychology.com/stopsmoking.htm

[Stephany]

I am two months pregnant and I decided to quit smoking so there will be nothing wrong with my baby. It has been a little over a week and I am craving one SO bad. Anyway...I just thought I would come in here and say that people should stop while they are ahead because it is more a habit then anything and habits are hard to break.

[AdJesumPerMariam]

Smoking is a very hard habit to break. It has been over 10 yrs since I quit (my father died of lung ca @ 56, wanting to smoke til the end) I made up my mind that I didn't want to smoke, and got rid of eveything that smelled bad, painted my home, and I would tell myself when the craving would come, that I never smoked! I did many prayers, too, especially when I was afraid of giving in. Praise God it worked

love-n-blessings
dee

[bigsierra]

Thanks for all your prayers.

I will be praying for you and your little one, Stephany

Great ideas Dede. :)
I've forced myself to outside only. The hardest part is being at work and not going outside, for a break, and staying at my desk. It's easy to say to myself "I deserve one now."

[Missy Baby]

SMOKING is extremely hard to quit especially if it is a habit that has been going for years. It smells bad, gives you bad breath, your clothing and hair smells, etc. Your close one wouldn't like it as well, especially if they do not smoke.
:prayer: i pray that you are all able to quit smoking...
For those who have successfully quitted, CONGRATS

[bigsierra]

I had been cutting down. I finally stopped entirely 29 hours ago. So far so good, just a bit stir crazy.

[AdJesumPerMariam]

bigsierra, you can do this! When that craving happens, say a prayer & drink a glass of water. The actual craving lasts about a minute, and then goes away til the next time. Water, believe it or not, cuts the craving. Kinda like contractions when you're in labor (not you-but your wife ;) ) but the reverse because you want the cravings to become farther apart.

:pray:
Love-n-Blessings
dee

[bigsierra]

Thanks for the ideas, and the prayers. I find myself thinking "oh, it's time for a smoke" and then looking for the pack just as naturally as if I was still smoking. It's quite disappointing to remember that I don't have any cigarettes. The further away I get, the better I feel, because "time" seems like a real division from the habit. I will try the water Dee. :)

[AdJesumPerMariam]

Hi bigsierra! Sometimes the old 'one day at a time' boils down to 'one minute at a time', but you are doing it! Keeping you in my prayers!!!!

[Remy12]

BigS......I'm trying to quit as well, and I have yet to be successful....I shall pray that you succeed where I have failed.

In Christ,
Remy

[mcb1998au]

I smoked for around 14 years. I gave up the day i found out i was pregnant and have not started again (my son is almost 6), although i used to have cravings up until 12 months ago. I ended up having a puff (not recommended) and that killed the cravings once and for all. PS. hubby is a smoker but he goes outside and wont smoke in the cars. Good luck to all trying to break the habit. God Bless.

[AmeriLovesJesus]

Im trying to quit too.. I have changed the brand of cigarettes I smoke.. Im praying so hard I will get out of this pattern.. I have been smoking since I was 14.. Im now 21.. I hope I can do it.. it was one of my new years resolutions!!!

[Glynnw]

AmeriLovesJesus, :pray: I'm asking St. Therese to pray for you. You should ask her for help. She is always there and has helped me in the past.

IN CHRIST NAME, GlynnW

[bigsierra]

Thanks for all the prayers. I'm typing this at a time I would usually be heading out to the smoke area at work. I've made it for qute a few weeks now, but I still have cravings.

I will be praying for you Remy and Ameri. :pray:
I started praying about quiting months before actually doing it. Don't dispair. That was actually my first request and pray to Mary as a recent Catholic convert. I'm sure her intercession helped, as I'm sure St. Therese's will also :)

May Blessed Mary, ever virgin pray for you all as well

[ukok]

I filled out a whole sheet of A4 and itemised the reasons that i wanted to give up, i then stuck it on the kitchen cupboard (i smoked mostly in the kitchen)..i also ate olives (and other things)everytime i fancied a cigarette....i gained a pile of weight so i might die form obesity but not lung cancer anymore!

being there for my kid's really was priority number one...i couldn't in good conscience continue to slowly kill myself with tobacco...or more to the point, the chemicals that are contained within cigarettes.

I pray for your success.

[AmeriLovesJesus]

AmeriLovesJesus, :pray: I'm asking St. Therese to pray for you. You should ask her for help. She is always there and has helped me in the past.

IN CHRIST NAME, GlynnW


Thank you!!!!

[RadicallyTransformedMom]

Please pray for me to quit smoking! I am so mad at myself. I stopped while i was pregnant. Then i stupidly started again a week after the baby was born. Every day since then i WANT to quit and kick myself for starting back up! This has been going on for 7 mos now. I dont smoke around the baby..but i must reek like smoke . I am constantly changing my shirt so he doesnt have to breathe it in. Please pray to your patron Saint, To Mary, ask intercession for me from everyone and anyone!!I need to quit sooo bad!!! HELP!
karen

[bigsierra]

Praying for those considering quitting. :pray:

[kimber1]

i've only had 2 today and feel like i'm losing my mind.... :(

[bigsierra]

I will be praying Kim. It can drive you out of your mind for a while, but then it stops for the most part.

[furkidsmom]

:groupray: Prayers for everyone trying to quit! Good luck!!! :groupray:

[D'Ann]

Since coming to the Catholic faith, I've felt an urgency to quit smoking, but haven't been able to. Now, time has passed, and it doesn't feel urgent, even though I'm cognizant that the same issues are at hand.

Anyway, I thought it might be good to have a thread for those of us, trying to quit.

I'll keep you and others in my prayers. I know how difficult it is trying to quit smoking... don't give up and try not to be too hard on yourselves... it takes time and when the time is right... with and through God's grace and love... you will quit smoking... don't loose hope.

God's Peace,

Debbie

[kimber1]

well i'm down from smoking close to a pack a day, to only smoking around 4 so i'm getting there slowly. i just dont have the ooomph i guess to go cold turkey.

[bigsierra]

That a good big jump. :thumbsup:

[CoreyZallow]

okay, I will pray for you big sierra and kimber.

[bigsierra]

Thanks :) Hopefully, I'm past the hard part. It's been over a year for me.

It did take me a few goes at it. Several weeks of cutting back and then relapsing. It was my the first time I prayed to the Holy Mother though. :)

[bigsierra]

.

[kimber1]

well i backslid last week. :( it was a rough week and work and rather than hurt someone there ;) i had my smoke. i felt awful afterwards though. i don't seem to have too much trouble giving the cigs up at work usually though. it's been so hot and i don't want to have to stand out in the blazing sun to smoke at break anyway. my hardest thing is at home bc hubby still smokes and it's really hard to quit when it's right there in your face at home.
i'm still trying though. my kids stay on me so that helps and yesterday, i noticed that wheezing sound first thing in the morning and knew i'd slipped too much the previous few days so i'm back at it again cutting back more, i just stay so nervous....but my house is getting clean :thumbsup:

[bigsierra]

That's the thing. Don't give up, because you will make it. I fell many many times before I was completely free of it. Don't be too hard on yourself when you fall. :thumbsup: