Everyone has good and bad habits. The problem is that some bad habits such as smoking, drinking, drugs, overeating and compulsive shopping can take a toll on your health and possibly lead to serious long-term medical conditions or, worse, death.
Beating Your Drug or Alcohol Addiction
A drug or alcohol addiction generally starts out slow. Maybe you wanted to remain with the “in” crowd in high school or college so you went to parties and indulged in whatever was the flavor of the day.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to develop a reliance on the high achieved from either drinking excessively or doing hard drugs. Before you know it you can’t go more than a few hours without using or sneaking a drink.
The good news is that if you are serious about kicking the habit and getting a fresh start there are places like inpatient alcohol rehab centers or drug rehabilitation and therapy centers where you can get the encouragement and the professional help you seek to finally put an end to it.
Overeating
Over half the adult population (age 20 and over) is either overweight or obese. These are some pretty alarming numbers. Some of this is due to technology and the lack of exercise. However, many people simply overeat.
The fast-food chains don’t help the situation much by offering mega size burgers, fries, and beverages. But, in the end, what you eat is totally up to you and only you.
Being overweight doesn’t simply mean that you need to wear the larger size clothing. The extra pounds take a toll on the body and its ability to function properly, particularly the liver and blood.
Many people have type 2 diabetes only because they are overweight. And, many more may develop liver disease from eating the wrong types of foods, like processed and those with high sugar content.
Luckily, if you get serious about shedding the pounds and go on a doctor-approved diet and exercise regime, you can, in most cases, restore your health.
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is one of the most difficult habits to break. There are more than 4,000 chemicals in a single cigarette and nicotine, which is highly addictive. With all the information released to the public in the past decade on the risks of cigarette smoking, people are trying to find ways to finally quit lighting up.
The list of diseases, cancer, and chronic conditions is seemingly endless. Smoking is not just bad for you, it can literally kill you.
Thankfully, if you are serious about quitting, there are numerous ways to do so. You can use non-prescription patches and gums or see your doctor and get a prescription to suppress your desire. Getting to the root of why you smoke is also helpful, and many find that also going to therapy helps with the transitioning process.
Compulsive Shopping
Compulsive shopping is a real problem for some people. Whether there’s a sale or no sale at all they shop. If you think about it you can always find something you need. However, most people have their priorities in order and know that there’s a time and a place for everything. With a compulsive shopper, they get a sudden urge that overwhelms them and they need to buy something now.
They often run up high debts on their credit cards and have no savings to fall back on. Once you start to fall behind on your bills the stress takes over and then you can’t sleep, you may overeat and have trouble in your relationship. If this goes on for a long period of time, your health will suffer.
Some have an addiction to online home shopping channels and rarely even open the boxes. In order to stop the madness, you first have to find out why you shop on impulse. Talking to a therapist is definitely a good first step on the road to a full recovery.
Every person has bad habits. However, when your bad habits take away your good health, it’s time to get serious about quitting.
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