Causes of Addiction to Habits

Causes of Addiction to Habits

Note: It's been about 1.5 years since I posted anything here. It's about time I updated this blog. All the best, Craig

Using EFT, addictions can easliy be overcome. Drugs never do it. Positive thinking doesn't do it. One of the only things that works is changing your emotional charge you have to your substance. If you are wondering what the other technique that works with addictions – that is getting all processed foods out of your diet.

Whichever route you want to take, we can help you. Write us today to get on your way to recovery.

The Stimulation - Depression Mechanism

from "Overcoming Compulsive Habits"

The Secret of Habits

Whenever we change a long-standing habit, a new pattern is at first unpleasant. After short time it becomes tolerable. After we become accustomed to it, it becomes enjoyable.

Finally, after a time, the new habit becomes dispensible and as strong and habitual as the placed previous undesirable habit was.

The Stimulation and Depression Mechanism

The key which unlocks the mystery of why most habits are difficult to break lies in the understanding of the stimulation and depression mechanism. Once this is thoroughly grasped, we are greatly strengthened to cope with the reactions and feelings which occur as soon as we begin to try to change a habit.

Coffee Addict

As an analogy, let us take a look at what happens when a coffee addict tries to give up this habit.

He arises in the morning, feeling tired and sluggish. Without the cup or two of coffee, his "eye opener", nothing feels right. He just doesn't feel quite "himself". Why does he feel so letdown? If he doesn't have his "fix" within a couple of hours, he may feel a headache coming on. Why is this happening?

Caffeine Elimination Battle

The explanation is as follows:

Whenever any poison is ingested into the body - in this instance it is the caffeine in the coffee - the presence of this dangerous enemy in the vital domain is spotted by the autonomic nervous system. The nervous system sends a warning signal to the appropriate brain center, which tells the body that an enemy has invaded the household and to prepare for battle.

Since the caffeine is a poison and can damage the body, the brain center which is concerned with the survival of the body against internal enemies sends a signal to the heart, telling it to pick up speed so that the blood will circulate more rapidly to the organs of elimination and thus discard this caffeine as soon as possible to avoid internal injury.

When the heart beat (or pulse) accelerates in tempo, this increases the blood circulation and it registered in the mind as a feeling of exhilaration or wellbeing, such as the excitement we experience when we engage in sports or any vigorous exercise. This "high" feeling is enjoyable and exciting and quickly becomes addictive and we crave its repetition more and more often.

The Trap – Fatigue

Now here is the catch or trap:

In its struggle to cast out the enemy, the body (through its increased heart and circulatory effort) has expended an enormous amount of nervous energy which it subsequently attempts to recuperate in order to preserve life. The heart which was overactivated now slows down, the blood circulation decreases and the nerves begin to rest. This registers in the brain as fatigue, weariness and mental depression. The more rapid the heart beat or pulse was, the more accentuated these feelings of depression are which follow as an inevitable consequence.

Rest Must Follow Overstimulation

Every stimulation or overactivation of the heart must be followed by a corresponding rest, if life is to continue - every high must be followed by a corresponding low. Just like the pendulum of a clock - the further it goes to the right, the further it must go to the left until the body is fully recharged and equilibrium or a state of normalcy is reached.

After Stimulation – Depression

The physiological law which is involved is called the Law of Dual Effects, which states that "all agents which are taken into the body or which come in contact with it from without occasion a twofold and contrary action the secondary action being the opposite of the primary one". (If the primary action is stimulation, the secondary effect is depression).

Hangovers and Fatigue

It is supposed by Hans Seyle and Randolph who wrote on stress, that the stimulated alert state results from the release of stimulating adaptive adrenal hormones. As fatigue or the wearing out of the adrenal responses makes the hormones less available, hangovers (letdowns and loss of energy) begin to predominate.

Children get overactive - adults get depressive

Children and adolescents when adapting show mainly the overactive, stimulated side of the reaction presumably because their hormonal adaptive responses are more vigorous than those of older people, in whom the picture of failing adaptation is more depressive, dopey and withdrawn.

INDEX TO ABOVE

(1) Stimulated, alert

(2) Active, keyed up, nervous, irritable, clumsy, panicky

(3) Overactive, intoxicated, negative

(4) Uncontrolled, wildly excited

(A) Tired, absentminded, sniffy, itchy, queasy

(B) Mentally fatigued, achy, puffy, wheezy, may have rashes

(C) Confused, dopey, morose, withdrawn or panicky

(D) Depressed, disoriented, amnesic, or stuporous.