Tip to Curing Addiction

I have always been a person who is easily addicted by this and that. 

In terms of computer: celebrity news checking, Tekken, mainly Tetris, having been the worst addiction ever because it also brought about semi-chronic terrible shoulder pain.

In terms of food: chocolate(Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar especially), rather expensive Sushi shop, Froot Loops, the cereal, and so on. 

And I'm proud to declare that I have either overcome those addictions or have kept them at manageable level, without having gone through major cold turkey, if any.

My tip?

Very simple. (when it comes to saying at least)

Don't try to suppress the desires. What I have learned through experience is, the more you suppress desires, the worse it gets back at you. For a very short period of time, you will think as if it's working great. But suppression never works. Instead, it just worsens the situation later, like a binge eating cycle. 

The right way to go is by substitution. Simply substitute those activities with likable and healthier ones. When it comes to what's healthy, I am sure you can decide it wisely enough. However, the crucial point here is that the substituting activity or thing should be 'likable' enough to keep you away from those (personally deemed) unhealthy behaviors. 

In my case, I substituted all the computer-related activities to blogging. It naturally kept my mind off those other activities without me having to force myself. Even though I sometimes check celebrity news or play Tetris, it's never to the point where I lose control of myself like last time.
Somehow because I know there is more worthwhile and fun activity waiting for my attention, I don't feel like wasting my time on those other activities. It even makes me wonder if all this while, I was, in fact, waiting to find an activity that would be fun and worthy, and that those addictions have been a transition period.

http://www.dailyperricone.com/2010/08/forever-young-fruit-to-the-rescue/fruit-and-yogurt/

For food, one thing is just don't cut the amount forcibly. I don't know, at least for me, it came back to me as a snowball. Instead, search for something that's healthy and yummy. For me, I substituted all those desserts and others to homemade yogurt, fruits like cherries and after meal green tea. I found out that actually when I craved those food, it was because after meal, I felt like eating something refreshing. So instead of indulging in chocolate, I found a substitute that was equally yum and healthy, and now, even though I do eat chocolates sometimes, I never feel like I am losing control. And going back to healthier choices has become a natural course.

http://www.medicalinsider.com/psychology.html

But perhaps most important part that was missing above is to be as stress-free as possible, since being stressed somehow can lead you to more self-destructive acts. (been there, done that)

And now that I am free of those addictions(which I previously have never imagined would come true) it feels even happier that I have control over myself and that I am putting energy on the things that I myself agree have value.

Hopefully this entry could help at least one person who is currently fighting agiainst unhealthy addictions in their life!