Habits & addictions
There might be something you keep telling yourself you’ll cut back on, stop, or get a better handle on – tomorrow, next week, soon.
These patterns can take hold quietly, through small justifications that add up over time. They relate to compulsive behaviour where a person loses control over the use of a substance or the engagement in an activity, despite negative consequences. They include substance use disorders (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, smoking) as well as behavioural addictions (e.g., gambling, food, sex) and related compulsive habits like hoarding and body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs).
Specific issues you might suffer from include:
Addictions (General category)
describes the compulsive engagement with a rewarding stimulus, despite adverse consequences, marked by a loss of control and a preoccupation with the substance or activity.
Alcohol abuse
involves a pattern of drinking that is harmful to one’s health, relationships, or ability to work, and can escalate into dependence and addiction.
Trauma
is a deep distressing or disturbing experience, or a physical injury, which can cause lasting emotional and psychological harm if not processed effectively.
Body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs)
re a group of self-grooming habits, such as hair-pulling (trichotillomania) or skin-picking (excoriation), done repeatedly to the point of causing physical damage.
Drug addiction
is a chronic disease characterized by the compulsive seeking and use of a drug, despite harmful consequences to the individual or those around them, and involves changes in the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory circuits
Disordered Eating
are serious mental health conditions involving severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions, examples include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Food addiction
is characterized by an intense craving for certain foods (often high in sugar, fat, or salt) that mimics the brain’s response to addictive drugs, leading to compulsive consumption despite the desire to stop.
Gambling addiction
(or compulsive gambling) is a behavioral addiction where a person feels an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling, regardless of the personal or financial toll it takes.
Hoarding
is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value, due to a perceived need to save them, leading to clutter that interferes with the ability to use living spaces.
Obsessions and compulsions
are core symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), where obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress, and compulsions are repetitive behaviors a person feels driven to perform to reduce that distress.
Quit vaping
is the process of overcoming nicotine dependence delivered via an e-cigarette, involving managing cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the habit.
Reduce drinking
is a goal-oriented approach to cutting back on alcohol consumption to a healthier level, rather than complete abstinence, often used by those concerned about their intake but not fully dependent.
Sex addiction
(or compulsive sexual behavior) is characterized by persistent and escalating sexual thoughts, fantasies, and behaviors that are pursued excessively and compulsively, causing distress and negatively impacting one’s life.
Stop smoking
is the complete cessation of tobacco use, primarily involving the cessation of nicotine consumption, which is notoriously difficult due to the highly addictive nature of nicotine.
Sugar addiction
is a problematic dependence on sugary foods, where consumption can lead to withdrawal symptoms when cut off and a pattern of continued use despite negative health consequences.
You don’t have to keep trying to manage this on your own.
Hypno-CBT combines the practical, structured tools of CBT with the calming, focused state of hypnotherapy – helping you address both the conscious triggers and the subconscious patterns that keep these behaviours going, with the aim of building a stronger sense of control and space for healthier habits.
If you’ve experienced any of these issues and would like support, [Find a therapist] to see practitioners who can help.