How to Identify and Overcome Addictions
- Date: 2007-05-10 - Word Count: 475
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When we are addicted to someone or something, it means we behave like a slave because we allow the person or strong habit to control us. It is what we do in excess in order to avoid our painful feelings (hurt, anger, fear, loneliness, emptiness, etc.). Therefore, addictions are often the symptoms and not the causes of our troubles. They make us feel better for a short period of time but then we soon need another "fix", because we still have the pain from the underlying negative feelings.
Ironically, our addictions cause us even more problems and result in additional pain. For example, an alcoholic often loses his or her job, has unsuccessful relationships, and suffers from physical problems brought on by the alcohol. The workaholic finds their loved ones complaining that they are never around. They may make more money but probably spend more for medical problems because of their self-induced stress.
The first helpful thing to do to overcome your addictions is to be honest with yourself and recognize your extreme behaviors. The following questionnaire will help you to identify your unhealthy habits.
Put a check next to the description of your behavior.
A. I eat or drink in excess:
______1. Food
______2. Alcohol
______3. Coffee
______4. Carbonated beverages
______5. Chocolate
______6. Ice cream
______7. Candy
______8. Pastry
______9. Bread
______10. Other _____
B. I feel a compulsion (not in control of myself) to do a lot of:
______1. Work
______ 2. Running/Sports
______3. Shopping
______4. Yelling
______5. Creating
______ 6. Smoking
______ 7. Gambling
______ 8. Drugs
______ 9. Cleaning/organizing
______ 10. Other ___________
C. I feel no matter how much I have, I always want more:
______1. Money
______ 2. Sex
______ 3. Affection
______ 4. Cars
______ 5. Clothes
______ 6. Material things
______7. Attention
______ 8. Machines/Tools (including computers)
______ 9. Power
______ 10. Other _____
D. I spend a lot of time:
______1. Playing
______2. Reading
______3. Writing
______4. Watching television/movies
______5. Collecting things
______6. At the computer
______7. Complaining
______8. Fixing things
______9. Joking
______10. Other _____
To further understand yourself, fill in the following statements:
E. When I am upset I:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
F. I have a habit of:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
G. I am addicted to:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
H. I wish that I could stop (a behavior):
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
Positive Behavior
Now that you understand your avoidance habits, write a check next to the following things that appeal to you to help you overcome your addictions.
When I am aware of my habit controlling me, I can do the following:
______1. Take at least ten slow, deep breaths (count to six on the inhale and exhale).
______2. Ask myself, "What negative thought am I thinking?" Then imagine that I am burning it away and replacing it with a positive thought.
______3. Listen to a self-help tape.
______4. Read a self-help book.
______5. Drink water with or without lemon.
______6. Eat a low calorie vegetable.
______7. Take a walk.
______8. Call someone I trust and share my feelings with them.
______9. Take a class to raise my self-esteem.
Congratulate yourself for being willing to identify and overcome your addictions, choose healthier habits, and take control of your life.
Ironically, our addictions cause us even more problems and result in additional pain. For example, an alcoholic often loses his or her job, has unsuccessful relationships, and suffers from physical problems brought on by the alcohol. The workaholic finds their loved ones complaining that they are never around. They may make more money but probably spend more for medical problems because of their self-induced stress.
The first helpful thing to do to overcome your addictions is to be honest with yourself and recognize your extreme behaviors. The following questionnaire will help you to identify your unhealthy habits.
Put a check next to the description of your behavior.
A. I eat or drink in excess:
______1. Food
______2. Alcohol
______3. Coffee
______4. Carbonated beverages
______5. Chocolate
______6. Ice cream
______7. Candy
______8. Pastry
______9. Bread
______10. Other _____
B. I feel a compulsion (not in control of myself) to do a lot of:
______1. Work
______ 2. Running/Sports
______3. Shopping
______4. Yelling
______5. Creating
______ 6. Smoking
______ 7. Gambling
______ 8. Drugs
______ 9. Cleaning/organizing
______ 10. Other ___________
C. I feel no matter how much I have, I always want more:
______1. Money
______ 2. Sex
______ 3. Affection
______ 4. Cars
______ 5. Clothes
______ 6. Material things
______7. Attention
______ 8. Machines/Tools (including computers)
______ 9. Power
______ 10. Other _____
D. I spend a lot of time:
______1. Playing
______2. Reading
______3. Writing
______4. Watching television/movies
______5. Collecting things
______6. At the computer
______7. Complaining
______8. Fixing things
______9. Joking
______10. Other _____
To further understand yourself, fill in the following statements:
E. When I am upset I:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
F. I have a habit of:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
G. I am addicted to:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
H. I wish that I could stop (a behavior):
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
Positive Behavior
Now that you understand your avoidance habits, write a check next to the following things that appeal to you to help you overcome your addictions.
When I am aware of my habit controlling me, I can do the following:
______1. Take at least ten slow, deep breaths (count to six on the inhale and exhale).
______2. Ask myself, "What negative thought am I thinking?" Then imagine that I am burning it away and replacing it with a positive thought.
______3. Listen to a self-help tape.
______4. Read a self-help book.
______5. Drink water with or without lemon.
______6. Eat a low calorie vegetable.
______7. Take a walk.
______8. Call someone I trust and share my feelings with them.
______9. Take a class to raise my self-esteem.
Congratulate yourself for being willing to identify and overcome your addictions, choose healthier habits, and take control of your life.
Related Tags: obesity, success, overweight, self-improvement, self-help, overeating, workaholic, addictions, shopaholic, alcaholic, sexaholic, sportsahol ic
©2007 Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, is a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, speaker, and author. The article is excerpts from her new book, "ALL YOU NEED IS HART!" She offers phone sessions, teleclasses, books, e-books, MP3 audios, tapes, posters, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
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