An addiction is a behaviour that is used repeatedly to numb out or cope with life, to help avoid or at least delay the life lessons that have been presented.
Whether that be watching TV for hours on end, overeating/undereating, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gaming, gambling or buckets of ice cream, an addiction is for the purpose of relieving ourselves from the symptoms of the classroom of life.
Senior Behaviour Specialist Tanya Curtis from FABIC has devoted her life to bringing lasting behaviour change and thus, simply shifting from one addiction to a seemingly less harmful or socially more acceptable one (say from smoking to overeating), cannot be the answer. It might be regarded as a short-term solution, but whenever a person uses a repetitive sequence of behaviours as a way of managing life, it is still an addiction. Which means it does not truly support lasting behaviour change nor greater independence and increased capacity.
This video may be useful for those searching for the following:
- Overcoming addiction
- Coping skills for addiction
- Addiction support
What to watch next:
And for a deeper dive into all things LASTING behaviour change with FABIC:
For a downloadable quote on all behaviour including addictions click here.
Episode 8 in the Mental Wellness series deals with addictions and you can find it here.
