Bad habits. How to get rid of them and overcome them?

Everyone has bad habits. We know about some and try to fight them, but we don’t even know about others. Some practically do not interfere with us, while others can seriously complicate life. And fighting them is often not so easy. Together with psychologist Nadezhda Pozharova

We find out how to properly get rid of bad habits once and for all, and analyze the most common mistakes.

12 bad habits that make us look bad

Content

• What bad habits does a person have?
• How bad habits appear
• Bad habits and their impact on human health
• Prevention of bad habits
• How to deal with bad habits?
• How to give up bad habits
• How to get rid of bad habits

A person's whole life is a set of habits. And the more useful habits a person has, the more effective and beautiful his life is. The more harmful ones, the harder and more meaningless life is.

Useful habits help a person realize his or her potential. Harmful ones take away time, health, prospects, strength and life!!!

At first, a bad habit seems harmless and even pleasant. But over time, the picture changes dramatically.

We will examine this question in this article in as much detail as possible. And if you want to get rid of bad habits, read the article to the end.

What bad habits does a person have?

I believe that the very definition of a bad habit does not entirely reflect reality. The problem with bad habits is that a person ends up becoming addicted to something! And it is difficult for a person to cope with this addiction on his own.

Many habits - addictions - arise from the first experience and without any repetition.

Here is the main set of addictions (bad habits) that are most common today.

-Alcohol addiction -Gaming addiction -Tobacco addiction -Food addiction -Internet addiction to a person -Addiction to emotions -Porn addiction -Drug addiction -Shopaholic -Promiscuous sexual intercourse -Perfectionism

In classical psychology, dependence is called abdication.

Abdication is an uncontrolled and difficult to manage human craving for something material or non-material, including a painful craving for a person or certain actions and experiences.

This craving often arises without clearly expressed reasons and disappears for a while, when the desired is achieved.

Alcohol

Addiction to alcohol also does not leave its mark on the body. Every day there are more and more alcoholics. Previously, the majority were adult men. But today the situation has changed radically: women and even teenagers are increasingly becoming dependent on alcohol.

First of all, it should be noted the detrimental effect on the brain; with constant consumption of alcohol, it begins to gradually deteriorate - healthy brain cells die off.

Alcoholism is also fraught with consequences for the body such as:

• Serious liver problems that can even lead to death;
• Problems with the gastrointestinal tract, increased risk of developing peptic ulcers;
• Problems with memory and attention;
• Impaired coordination of movements and balance even when not intoxicated;
• Kidney diseases;
• Increased risk of developing cancer;
• Psychological instability.

You can often hear that drinking alcohol is a way to cheer up. But this is a trap: the slight euphoria from alcohol the next day turns into a sharply depressed mood with a feeling of hopelessness and melancholy. And the more often a person drinks, the more pronounced this condition becomes. Therefore, alcohol is more likely a cause of low mood, rather than a cure for it.

How bad habits appear

At the root of any addiction is a psychological reason. The complexity of addiction is that it is supported by purely physiological processes occurring in the brain area. Dependence is often not realized by a person and has a logical basis:

“I drink because I’m tired! And I can stop drinking at any time.” “I play to distract myself and relax. And I can choose not to do this at any time.”

It seems to a person that he can give up the habit at any time and it helps him in some way. Relax, get distracted, rest, find a solution.

In fact, if a person tries to give up the habit, after a while he begins to “break” and shake, like a drug addict.

Many habits are formed during adolescence. And only part of it is mature. And this must be taken into account in the process of raising a child!

At the initial stage, a bad habit has a standard set of psychological reasons.

-Imitation of elders, strong, authoritative -Demonstration of maturity or courage -Entertainment -Relieving tension -Relaxation -Desire to experience new sensations and impressions -Take a break from problems -Relieve some psychological complexes

For example, teenagers start smoking so that everyone can see that they are adults, brave and different from the “nerds”.

Those. Smoking at the initial stage is a desire to assert oneself among the “strong” and stand out among the “weak”.

At first, smoking does not give the child any pleasant sensations, much less pleasure. But psychologically, when inhaling tobacco smoke, a child feels more confident among his peers and within his community.

Please note that it is not the cigarette! The fact is that the child is trying to assert himself! And if he wants to assert himself, then he does not feel complete! And this is a matter of education!

Under the same pretext, a teenager first tries alcohol, and sometimes drugs, among his “like-minded people.”

Alcohol is often given to a child by parents to confirm his maturity and remove an invisible psychological barrier. “You’re an adult now, son.” A ridiculous “initiation” into adulthood! Do you agree?

Drinking alcohol itself is stupid, not only for a child, but also for an adult!!! Look at how drunk people look and behave! This is the behavior of far from sane people!

How many stupid things and mistakes are made under the influence of alcohol?

By giving your child alcohol, are you wishing him stupidity and mistakes in life?

The first intake of alcohol, just like a cigarette, does not bring physical pleasure to the child. But the recognition of his “maturity” causes psychological satisfaction.

They treat him differently!!! A certain unity and “mutual understanding” appears. And the psychological satisfaction that he experiences at this moment is a purely chemical process associated with a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

After a feeling of “maturity,” under the influence of dopamine, the brain remembers this pattern.

Cigarette, alcohol = recognition, respect, mutual understanding!

Accordingly, everything further is very simple. If you want to experience these sensations again, smoke, or better yet, drink!!!

A person does not understand that he is engaged in self-deception and any addiction-habit is not a solution to the problem!!!

Note that the root of a bad habit is not the desire to smoke or drink! At the root is the desire to assert oneself and feel complete.

You say, “what about other addictions”?

I will answer. Exactly the same!

All bad habits are of the same nature! And shopaholism, and perfectionism, and gambling addiction and dependence on a loved one and everything else!!!

A woman, buying things in boutiques, feels more complete and satisfied!

A man who sets records in bed with different women feels more confident with each successive one.

A gambler entering the game once again hopes to see him leave the table to applause and see the admiring glances of his loved ones!

A person who depends on someone feels complete next to him if he sees the necessary attitude towards him.

Please note that in all cases of bad habits there is a desire to assert oneself and become recognized and valuable! It’s just that in some cases it is expressed explicitly, in others it is hidden.

It is on this basis that they are formed and constantly reinforced by the actions of an addiction.

A person is ready to do anything to be recognized, respected and appreciated. Those. Low self-esteem is at the root of this problem.

Later, the second motive for a bad habit appears - to distract from problems and take a break from everything, switching to a harmful action!

How does withdrawal syndrome manifest?

Withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms that occurs when a person abruptly withdraws from substances to which the body is accustomed.
This could be alcohol, nicotine, medications. When it comes to psychoactive substances, withdrawal symptoms are called withdrawal symptoms, or, in common parlance, withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms in this case are divided into two groups: physiological and psychological; according to the degree and intensity of their manifestation, we can talk about a possible risk to human health.

Mild withdrawal syndrome

• insomnia
• anxiety
• irritability
• nausea, moderate abdominal pain

Moderate withdrawal syndrome

• tachycardia
• sweating
• tremor
• high blood pressure
• severe nausea
• vomit
• diarrhea

Severe withdrawal symptoms

• all of the above
• fever
• hallucinations

The intensity of symptoms and their duration depend on the overall clinical picture, the psychological characteristics of the person and the “severity” of the substances that he refuses. So, when giving up nicotine or coffee, a person can only experience irritability and headaches, and giving up alcohol can be either mild or severe with hallucinations - the infamous “squirrel”.

Bad habits and their impact on human health

Now let's look at the impact of habits on health.

I think that you yourself know about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and overeating. And are familiar with their possible consequences

But few people know about the dangers of other habits.

Vision problems for those who live in gadgets and computers do not particularly bother them. Habit is stronger than the fear of losing vision. Because the feeling of anticipation under the influence of dopamine suppresses the feeling of fear and rationality.

All addictions negatively affect the nervous system and shake the psyche! And this has a negative impact on health.

People suffering from any kind of bad habits eventually become mentally unstable. And the longer they are under the influence of addiction, the more their nervous system sways! They become hot-tempered, impulsive, aggressive and unrestrained. Especially in those moments when something happening hurts their self-esteem.

And if something doesn’t work out for such a person, or they don’t “believe” in him, he has a craving for action, which is associated with his addiction. Because this action gives him a feeling of completeness or an altered state of consciousness.

Poor nutrition

An unbalanced diet and lack of eating habits are a serious problem that can destroy your health in a short time.
The most common errors in nutrition and diet are:

• Eating food before bed. This significantly complicates the work of the gastrointestinal tract and leads to interruptions in the functioning of the digestive system.
• Excessive consumption of sweets. Sweets are fast carbohydrates that sharply increase blood sugar levels. After a sharp jump, an equally sharp decline occurs. Frequent surges can cause disruption in the body's endocrine system. In addition, people with a sweet tooth often overeat, because... A drop in sugar levels causes an acute feeling of hunger. In addition, excess sugar consumption causes oral diseases and disrupts digestion.
• A large amount of salt in the diet. Excess salt has a detrimental effect on the kidneys and urinary system as a whole. It can also cause musculoskeletal problems.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia deserve special attention. Anorexia is a refusal to eat or a significant restriction of food, and bulimia is an uncontrolled overeating, after which a person feels shame and vomits. Eating disorders lead to vitamin deficiency, anemia, exhaustion, and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. These are life-threatening conditions that require mandatory consultation with a nutritionist and psychiatrist.

Prevention of bad habits

For prevention, it is important: First, admit to yourself that habit is guiding you. The second is to see at what moments it appears. Third, understand what motive guides you at the moment when the desire to perform a habitual action appears. Fourth, start consciously giving up the habit.

The task of prevention is to realize, see and analyze the problem into details.

Learn from mistakes

We are all not without sin. If you mess up, just accept what happened and think about what you could have done differently. Write down your ideas in a plan of salvation that will become more perfect over and over again. Each mistake will become a stepping stone to breaking the habit.

I am not saying that the method I have proposed is simple, but many of those who ignored these ideas ended up sticking to their biases. You definitely don't need this. Immerse yourself completely in the process, find a strong enough motivation and replace the bad habit with a good one, with which you will respond to every irritant. You can do it, I promise.

How to deal with bad habits?

Breaking bad habits is very difficult. Those people who try to resist them fall into the territory of psychological stress.

This leads to internal tension and resistance. And the more a person fights, the stronger the internal protest against violence against oneself becomes.

Many hold on with their last strength so as not to succumb to the motive that forces them to return to their usual course. And they often break down. And this can last forever!

In the case of habits and addictions, you need to move carefully.

To begin with, you can make it a habit to reward you for doing something useful. “I’ll do this useful task and allow myself to become a habit.” Later, you reward yourself with a habit for two useful actions. Then you move the habit to the end of an effective day.

Then you move the habit as a reward for an effective week at the end of the week.

And over time, you will realize that you can give it up completely!

Fight your weaknesses

Having discovered alarming symptoms of addiction, work on yourself and try to overcome dangerous weakness in all possible ways. The sooner you find negative tendencies in yourself and begin to fight them, the more effective your efforts will be.

How to find a way to unlearn bad tendencies and is it possible to overcome them? It is possible and necessary. Experts say that with the help of addictions, people close the voids that form in their lives.

It is necessary to find an activity that will close this gap forever. Find a hobby that can replace your weaknesses. At the very beginning of the struggle, it doesn’t hurt to learn how to develop willpower. Perhaps bad habits have already gotten the better of you, and they will definitely encourage you to return to them.

Don’t give in to temptations, stop giving in to them. Destroy anything that encourages you to give in to your addiction. Do not visit places that encourage you to perform old, unnecessary rituals. Find an unpleasant detail in the habit that turns you off.

Shopaholism

Shopaholism is a passion for acquiring things. A person with such a tendency does not think about the need for purchases or about his own wallet. He is obsessed only with the desire to own something new. Experts say: shopaholism is an addiction. It is similar to alcoholism and drug addiction, but you can fight it.

In the most complex and advanced cases, the passion for shopping must be treated. Major medical intervention will be required. In the early stages, you can catch shopaholism by the tail and throw it away.

The fight against shopaholism

1. Always determine in advance the amount you should spend.
2. Pay for purchases in cash, without using credit cards.
3. Don't attend sales.
4. Forget the addresses of online stores.
5. Don't watch TV programs like TV Shop.

Binge eating

Overeating is considered a psychological problem. Stress eating and bad mood are common causes. It also happens that food is consumed uncontrollably. This usually happens when watching movies or reading an interesting book. The person begins to eat constantly.

A friend of mine dreams of losing excess weight. But at the same time, she is unable to give up snacks and cannot get out of the habit of chewing continuously. You can understand her - she is nervous. The lady is of retirement age, and she works in a beauty salon.

The profession forces you to follow the fashion for slimness, but new trends are difficult for a woman. This is where the stress comes from, which she tries to “eat away.” For example, she may be on a diet all day, wake up at night from hunger and eat to satiety.

And overeating often causes insomnia. After all, the body is busy with the process of digesting food, and it is difficult for it to fall asleep. It would seem that the easiest way out for our heroine is to accept the ideas of body positivity and not torment herself needlessly. But she continues to dream of losing weight, eating up at night.

Fighting overeating

1. Eat only when you feel hungry.
2. When going to the store, make a list and buy only the products you need.
3. Avoid confectionery and other sweets.
4. Note how many calories you need to live and how many you actually consumed.

Internet addiction

Our contemporaries tend to search the Internet for films, videos and correspond with friends on social networks. Sometimes the need to stay online takes on the nature of addiction.

A person loses all real communication skills, pushes away hobbies and hobbies. He wants to be constantly online and is annoyed by the possible long absence of an Internet connection. This addiction is put on a par with alcoholism and drug addiction. It can cause withdrawal.

An Internet addict neglects his appearance. His sleep becomes disturbed, he becomes irritable and loses touch with reality.

Fighting Internet addiction

1. Block the sites you spent most of your time on.
2. Don't turn on your computer unless necessary.
3. Do something that interests you.
4. Determine for yourself days without the Internet.
5. Lead an active lifestyle.

Telemania

Replaces reality. Its main symptom is considered to be a lack of interest in real events and the outside world. Lonely elderly people often become victims of the passion for television. A young person who has no personal life can also be subject to TV addiction.

Children are also caught on the fishing rod. Their parents are too busy to engage their child in interesting activities. For example, they don’t have time to go hiking with their child. So the kid is immersed in cartoons that lead him into a fairy tale and adventure.

Fighting telemania

1. Look at the TV program, determine what you would like to watch and pay attention only to these programs.
2. Start small, reduce the time you spend watching TV.
3. Don't start watching new movies and shows.
4. Give up TV programs, meet with friends and family, communicate.
5. Go to a bookstore and choose interesting books there.

About healthy lifestyle

The main goals for those seeking to wean themselves from unhealthy tendencies are:

• giving up alcohol and smoking;
• healthy eating;
• maintaining a daily routine;
• sports activities.

All this is included in the concept of a healthy lifestyle - healthy lifestyle. When fighting addictions, it is recommended to find a hobby that can distract you from harmful passions. A healthy lifestyle will help you overcome dangerous weaknesses. Sports often become a useful hobby.

Modern gyms will offer complexes for developing physical abilities. Excuses related to age or body capabilities are not popular here. Instructors will select suitable workouts. All that is required on your part is the desire to improve yourself. It all starts with him.

My best friend had bad luck with her marriage. She married an alcoholic. Meetings with friends and celebrations of special occasions took place regularly. This was accompanied by drinking strong drinks.

For the first few years, a friend supported her husband. But the realization that libations had become too frequent prompted her to radically change her lifestyle. A friend took up yoga and became interested in it.

The girl quickly weaned herself off alcohol-containing liquids. She found something to replace her incipient alcoholism. Its place was taken by training and familiarity with spiritual practices. In winter and summer she visits a Buddhist monastery and admires the beauty of nature.

How to give up bad habits

The word abandon in relation to addictions is appropriate at the initial stage.

It is precisely to refuse, and not to confront the problem. It is much easier to refuse than to fight.

If you have realized what triggers the habit, then you know at what moments, under what circumstances and under what conditions it turns on. And at the moment the “trigger” is pulled, you see it. At this point, you first consciously give up the habit.

It is important to understand and experience in advance what you will feel when you give up the habit. What feelings, what mood, what attitude towards yourself will appear with refusal?

This must be realized and felt in advance, so that at the moment of attack from the habit there is something for which you give it up! From this moment, a conscious refusal of the habit begins, during which dopamine is produced from the refusal.

Beware of irritants

What situations triggered bad habits? A habit is not formed by itself, it is always reinforced by something from the outside: you smoke when everyone around you smokes, go shopping when you are nervous, eat all sorts of rubbish when you are bored, turn on porn when you are lonely, and hang out on social networks when need to kill time. Observe yourself for a few days and determine what your triggers are. Include them in your rescue plan and try to avoid provoking situations.