Addictive activities, such as gambling, eating, playing video games, and even sex, are hard to break out of. Many of them are designed in a way that makes them appealing, engaging and very difficult to stop. They often make us work hard and give us frequent rewards that make us continue with them, so we can end up with constantly compulsively searching for the best bonus offers 2019 over and over again.
One of the best ways of controlling your indulgence in addictive activities is knowing when to stop. However, that can be easier said than done, especially if you have an addictive personality. Oftentimes, people with addictive personalities develop a new addiction when they break away from the old one. Here are some tips on how to make sure this does not happen to you.
1.Know Your Triggers
A lot of people engage in addictive activities as a way of dealing with other things in their lives. These things are known as triggers, so it is extremely important to understand them and to be able to recognize them. Playing video games because you are bored and doing it because you are feeling anxious about disappointing your parents by failing at school are two completely different things. By knowing what triggers your addictive behavior, you will be able to have more control over it.
2.Set Guidelines and Stick to Them
Another good way of stopping an addictive behavior is telling yourself when to stop. Create a schedule and write down for how long you are allowed to do an addictive activity. If your addiction involves gambling, you can also limit the amount of money you want to spend. Once your allocated time or money runs out, stop and start doing something else.
3.Ask for Help
Some people are able to deal with their addictions on their own, whereas others need other people’s help. There is nothing wrong about it, so do not be afraid to ask for help. Telling other people about a problem that you have will make the problem much more manageable. Issues often get inflated in our head and talking about them with your friends, family, or a professional can help you understand them and scale them better.
4.Find a Source of Gratification
The main reason we indulge in addictive activities is because it feels good. Therefore, eliminating that activity will make us feel crappy once again. The trick in successfully controlling your addiction is by introducing another source of gratification. Try taking up a hobby that is good for you, such as running, cycling, weightlifting, cooking, learning a language, or anything else that will benefit you in the long run.
5.Have Compassion for Yourself
People who find it hard to stop doing an addictive activity are often very harsh on themselves. Learning how to understand your addiction and having more compassion for yourself is an important step that you need to take. You need to accept that nobody is perfect and that everybody makes mistakes. Mistakes are part of the process, and the goal is to keep them on a minimum.