Compulsive behaviors resulting from a physical or emotional dependence is commonly knows as addiction. You may be dependent on a substance, such as drugs or tobacco, or an activity, such as overeating or gambling. Despite your cravings, simple treatments may help your habit. However, severe addictions often require professional help.
If you associate an activity with pleasure or with the relief of stress or uncomfortable feelings, you may find that you fall into the habit of doing it whenever times are tough or when particular events in your everyday life easily lead to it. Certain addictions, such as smoking and excessive drinking, are always physically damaging.
However, any habit that becomes the dominant feature of your life can take a toll on your physical or emotional health and may even be dangerous to your family and others.
Such substances as narcotic drugs and the nicotine in tobacco are highly addictive; most of those who consume them become physically dependent on them. Research indicates that some people are genetically predisposed to addiction because they have a particular balance of chemicals in the brain. Depression or anxiety for example, can be associated with an imbalance of hormones (such as epinephrine) and neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) that makes the cravings leading to addictive behaviors more likely. Nevertheless, behavioral, emotional and social influences are equally important. With determination, persistence, and support, patterns of addictive behaviors can often be changed.
PREVENTION
If you have a tendency towards addictive behaviors, try to recognize the warning signs that a new cycle is about to begin, and find alternative, less self-destructive ways of behaving. For example, if you react to stress by reaching for a drink, a cigarette or the biscuit tin, you need to find a better way of meeting your underlying needs and managing the stress by reaching for a drink, a cigarette or the biscuit tin, you need to find a better way of meeting your underlying need and managing the stress in your life.
Increasing self-awareness
Buy a notebook and fill it with list of alternative, life –enhancing behaviors – such as phoning a friend, having a scented bath or going for a walk –which you can substitute for your habit. Any time you feel that your addictive behaviors is about to breakthrough take out the notebook, write down, and choose one of the alternative activities from your list.
TREATMENT
Support groups: Find out if there is a local support group for your type of addictions.
Massage away cravings
Self-massage may help reduce some withdrawal symptoms and ease tension when you are trying to resist a substance or activity.
- Sit somewhere comfortable and give each foot a firm massage , using a tablespoon of sweet almond oil mixed with two or three drops of lavender, geranium, neroli or jasmine oil.
- Using the same blend of oils, stroke your lower legs, working with long, slow sweeps from your ankles up to your knees.
- Gently smooth moisturizing cream over your face and neck with your fingertips
Yoga and Meditation:
Studies show that yoga exercises, meditation and visualization can help break addiction and enable you to attain more positive attitudes towards your health. A daily session of yoga postures, breathing exercise and relaxation may calm you down, reduce the withdrawal symptoms and increase your willpower. Exercise of any type tends to lift mood and improve self-esteem, thereby providing a valuable weapon a valuable weapon against addiction.
Diet:
If you are a compulsive drinker, include in your diet foods rich in beta-carotene, magnesium, chromium, zinc, and vitamins B, C, and E to help meet your body’s increase need for vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, and to reduce cravings. Addiction to alcohol or tobacco may associate with low-blood-sugar. Maintain a steady blood-sugar level by eating regular, small meals and keeping foods that contain sugar to a minimum. Follow a diet that is high in protein and complex carbohydrates, such as whole meal bread and pasta and brown rice. Drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids; dehydration can trigger addictive behaviors.
Other therapies: seek professional help from counselor who uses cognitive techniques-approaches that hail you understand what you are doing and why, and enable you to discover other ways of meeting the same needs. Even when stress is not the trigger for addictive behaviors, therapy can help, Acupuncture, Holistic Aromatherapy treatment, hypnotherapy and biofeedback can all be effective.
When to get medical help
- You realize that a habit is out of control
- Addictive behaviors causes emotional or physical problems
- Addictive behaviors start to severely affect your relationships.
Get help right away if:
- You have taken overdose of an addictive substance
- Addictive behaviors make you a danger to others and yourself.
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