How do you get rid of addictive behaviors?

[Anonymous]

I'm 27 and I quit nicotine after 5 years, about 5 months ago. However, since then, I've been overeating trying to fill some kind of chemical deficiency in my brain. I don't feel like I know what to replace it with, that's the problem. I have a hard time motivating myself, and it took me 9 years to graduate college, which I just did.

[snowboarder720]

This reminds me of a quote I heard the other day… it perfectly describes how I feel about the topic of addiction.


“Everybody has their own opinions on alcohol and drug addiction, but until you've been there, your opinion means nothing. You don't control addiction, it controls you. There are some lucky ones who have beat it, but don't think because they're still alive, that life is gravy. They fight everyday, all day to stay sober and clean. It's a constant battle from the time they open their eyes until they close them, and it never goes away. Most are good people who made a bad choice. Battling an addiction is a beast for the person addicted and the ones who love them.”

[Anonymous]

This is just my opinion, but I’ve worked in drug treatment centers for addicts and people detoxing. From what I’ve seen, everyone uses SOMETHING. They sort of just trade one addiction for another. Go to an Alcoholic’s Anonymous meeting and tons of people are smoking and drinking coffee.

Addiction doesn’t necessarily have to be negative though. Maybe you cleaned up off heroin or meth and got really into yoga in the process and that’s your new thing. For others it may be volunteering, going to their places of worship etc.

Eating is a tricky subject area, because unlike most addictions (smoking, drinking, doing cocaine etc.) it isn’t necessary for survival. You have to eat. Perhaps remember the old axiom, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat.”

Many people over eat from stress. Many people also eat from boredom. Food for thought.

[APrettyLittleLady87]

Cigarette smoking is usually associated with anxiety, stress, etc. The way nicotine works is it makes you relax initially - similar to dopamine but it's not dopamine or the "feel good" emotion - and why people get such intense cravings they can smoke 3 or more packs in a single day.

Given what you describe, you are likely depressed. You have all the signs - anxiety/stress, lack of motivation, and overeating.

For yourself the best treatment would be talking with your doctor for antidepressant medication.

[dustybiker]

The person has to reach a point they don’t want them anymore. It has to be up to them.

[mstbooblover]

First thing to getting fully aware the problem and the consequences. Then learning to let go, I mean learn to not be attached anymore, in the wide sense of the word. That way you'll get aware that it's actually rather easy to let go, even if that means suffering for some time. That suffering stage can be handled as the addiction itself: letting go and not be attached to it. A form of meditation. It really works: just be patient.

[genericname85]

by not conducting such behaviors anymore. but i believe to have read something about addiction being a brain chemistry thing. so some people are more prone to addicition and some are less. for people like you, who seem to be a bit more prone to it, it can often be very helpful, to just replace a negative addiction with a good one. for example starting to work out and getting addicted to the pump.

[Blueeyes81]

People often replace one addiction for another. You can either go on a journey of self discovery, not a superficial one but the face the real you without all the bullshit. Most can't and won't do that because that means looking through all the lies you tell yourself (the answer is the problem is always you, not others or this or that) and facing the real you and working on fixing yourself. Option two is to find a healthy addiction ( no such thing ) to replace it with.

[Guy13]

Perhaps you have the hand finger thing. Smoke smokers had the hand thing so they go from hand smoking to hand overeating into obesity. I have no idea in your case.

[lamaguy]

Yeah my grandfather said it took him 15 years to lose the urge to have at least an unlit cigarette in his mouth

[Guy13]

I’m probably not helping continuing to talk about it. Maybe more gym or swimming or some kind of exercise. Busy….

[lamaguy]

Yeah I’d have to agree

[HopefulGuy94]

Thankfully , I have no any addictive behaviours or any bad habits.

[Exterminatore]

Sounds like your brain is craving dopamine and willing to change the stimulus to get it.

[jimmy2]

Just move on in life