Craving control, addiction, and habit patterns.

[Sevrin]

First of all, this is a cool thing to watch on the subject.
The Chemistry of Addiction

Ok so, having watched that, he mentions that it's theorized that people with dopamine deficiencies can be more prone to addiction, this would explain me and my family (serious addiction problems going back as many generations as anyone can remember)
The meditation course I took through late October and early November helped me learn to observe myself a lot better, and I've started observing that I get the same amount of satisfaction from eating carrots as I do from eating chocolate, the only difference is that I have this highly reinforced idea in my mind that chocolate>carrots so my first instinct is to reach for the chocolate, but I've started learning how to manipulate my craving and mind patterns to crave carrots instead of chocolate, it isn't easy but if I keep my wits about me it seems to work! in fact I've been doing this with all junk food, and it's beginning to get to the point where any unhealthy food just looks unappetizing to me. I still need to work on my sleeping habits, and then there's a whole host of other things, but figuring out how to manipulate my own mind so that I enjoy the things I used to hate, and hate the things I used to enjoy, is an interesting challenge and fascinating to observe.

Lets hear your experiences with cravings, addictions, habit patterns, and anything you think to be related, also what are your thoughts on Hanks talk about the chemistry of addiction?

[Silvermink]

The meditation course I took through late October and early November helped me learn to observe myself a lot better, and I've started observing that I get the same amount of satisfaction from eating carrots as I do from eating chocolate, the only difference is that I have this highly reinforced idea in my mind that chocolate>carrots so my first instinct is to reach for the chocolate, but I've started learning how to manipulate my craving and mind patterns to crave carrots instead of chocolate, it isn't easy but if I keep my wits about me it seems to work!

I've found with junk food that the more I eat it, the more I want it. It's kind of self-reinforcing.

[Sevrin]

I've found with junk food that the more I eat it, the more I want it. It's kind of self-reinforcing.

That's how all craving works, people don't normally think of food as being that bad of an addiction, but it follows the same rules as any drug. Addiction is pretty much just craving that gets so powerful you can't control it.

[Nibi]

How Not to Spend Your Whole Day on Facebook


This all reminded me of this video. I also had another video I wanted to show but I can't seem to find it, but it pretty much talks about how health problems caused by addiction (in this case cigarettes) can be passed down all the way to your grandchildren, so it was a good video about more reasons not to be so addicted to things and how much it can screw up your children not directly, but genetically.

Also, dark chocolate is good for you in moderation! D: Just like how coffee and wine are also good for you in moderation, it's only when one goes overboard that it becomes unhealthy.

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/6-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate.html

:3

So anyways, my main habit that I need to break is my sleeping one. It's not really addiction related completely but it's the only thing I can think of. I don't get addicted to things easily at all, I can just stop doing something at a snap of the finger and feel nothing afterwards about having stopped it. But my sleeping schedule seems to be the only thing in my life I cannot change successfully. Dx My brain refuses to want to function before 1pm, but I would like to wake up at 11am so I have more daylight time to my day (I work night shifts so I can never be an early bird). I always catch myself walking up at 3pm and that's waaaaaay to late for me to be happy about. :< I'm also a heavy sleeper before 1pm so I generally sleep through alarms or have been known to sleep walk and turn them off. >.< My body seems to be working against me. XD Hahaha.

[Sevrin]

So anyways, my main habit that I need to break is my sleeping one. It's not really addiction related completely but it's the only thing I can think of. I don't get addicted to things easily at all, I can just stop doing something at a snap of the finger and feel nothing afterwards about having stopped it. But my sleeping schedule seems to be the only thing in my life I cannot change successfully. Dx My brain refuses to want to function before 1pm, but I would like to wake up at 11am so I have more daylight time to my day (I work night shifts so I can never be an early bird). I always catch myself walking up at 3pm and that's waaaaaay to late for me to be happy about. :< I'm also a heavy sleeper before 1pm so I generally sleep through alarms or have been known to sleep walk and turn them off. >.< My body seems to be working against me. XD Hahaha.

I feel your pain U_U

[Nibi]

Nibi what I ended up doing when I suffered from Snoozebuttonitis was get two alarms set up at the furthest points from my bed. That way it would force me out of bed. And that bit of effort to climb out of bed helped me wake up. Luckily after doing that for 2 years I managed to knock it down to one alarm :3

Just sucks something like my system wouldn't help you out. Due to heavy sleeping and sleep walking. Should get a dog if you don't have one. That helps wake you up. Since there has been the odd time I forgot to wake up and my dog pokes me to wake up.

Also am I the only one that sets alarm clocks on the weekend. To make sure I do not sleep no later then 10am?

And back on the subject of "addictions" I have tried various things. And I understand now how a person could get addicted to stuff like cigarettes, pot, drinking, junk food, etc.

One thing I did for my candy addiction is I buy my stuff in bulk since I am money conscious. So when I am out and get tempted. I say "wait I am just wasting my money here. I rather eat what I already have at home." But even then at home I eat too much. So when I know my addiction is getting bad. I go outside with whatever it is and lock it in the trunk of my car. Since I know I will be too lazy to get dressed, walk outside and grab what I want. Then head back in after I am done.

Snoozebuttonitis, I really like that. XDD Hahaha. But I do try two alarms that I have to walk to from my bed and it doesn't always work. And the setting an alarm for the weekend would probably be a great idea, so it doesn't break the habit.

[Dervacor]

Snoozebuttonitis, I really like that. XDD Hahaha. But I do try two alarms that I have to walk to from my bed and it doesn't always work. And the setting an alarm for the weekend would probably be a great idea, so it doesn't break the habit.

I've had issues with alarms and sleeping in before, usually it involves procrastinating online while I have other things I also want to do before bed, so I end up staying up way too late, and then trying to cram in 5 or 6 hours of sleep.  But I can't really do that and feel alert and focused the next day, so I oversleep 2 hours and then I go on the next day in the same pattern.

I've managed to break this habit for the most part, but largely it's just allowing yourself the permission to go to bed and do something that you were hoping to get done tonight tomorrow instead.  Because realistically at the end of the day you aren't going to get any meaningful focused work in.

Today I had a 1.5 hour nap when I got home from work, but I should really be going to bed soon. :)  That way I can wake up tomorrow at 9:30 rested.

It's something I'm still working on though, because the other night I was up until 3:00 and then slept in. :<  But I've been much better lately.

[Ember]

Most of everything I can post on this topic would be against the forum rules. :p

Real addictions are pretty shitty. "LOL I eat too much chocolate, I'm totally addicted!" isn't even close.

[Silvermink]

Most of everything I can post on this topic would be against the forum rules. :p

Real addictions are pretty shitty. "LOL I eat too much chocolate, I'm totally addicted!" isn't even close.

There are different kinds of addiction, and your body getting used to junk food and craving it is similiar in some small ways to the kinds of addiction you're referring to, though obviously I agree that it doesn't take nearly the same toll on one's life. Well, for most people, at least - I think there are some outlying cases where overeating honestly has done that much damage to someone's health.

Maybe there should be a different word for it because of the baggage and the images attached to "addiction", I dunno. But it's sometimes useful to think of these things using similar language because they share some similar attributes.

[Sevrin]

Most of everything I can post on this topic would be against the forum rules. :p

Real addictions are pretty shitty. "LOL I eat too much chocolate, I'm totally addicted!" isn't even close.

there are different types of addictions, and there are different levels of addictions, you can be addicted to something without developing a physical dependency on it. Maybe the physical effects are not the same, but it's still enough to ruin someones life.

You've obviously never met someone who is bulimic, never smelled the vomit all over their house, never seen the crippling self esteem issues it causes, never seen the horrible things it does to their teeth, and especially never looked at them, looked into their eyes and seen someone who looks like they are sick, like they are dying.

[Ember]

Where the hell did I ever say anything about bulimia?

Girl: "Man, I'm addicted to using pencils!"
Guy: "That's not a real addiction."
Girl: "I use them to stab myself! How dare you say that's not a problem!?"

[Nibi]

Maybe there should be a different word for it because of the baggage and the images attached to "addiction", I dunno. But it's sometimes useful to think of these things using similar language because they share some similar attributes.

http://addictions.about.com/od/howaddictionhappens/u/addictiontypes.htm

Apparently they just call eating disorders and the like compulsive disorders. xD I guess that makes sense.

[Sevrin]

Where the hell did I ever say anything about bulimia?

Girl: "Man, I'm addicted to using pencils!"
Guy: "That's not a real addiction."
Girl: "I use them to stab myself! How dare you say that's not a problem!?"

I never said I was addicted to chocolate either. I said my family has trouble with addiction, then I went on to say that I've been learning to manipulate my mind to control cravings. You can have craving without addiction. I simply brought up my family because it's all very similar and I believe that I'm predisposed to have stronger cravings.

[Teko]

People need to distinguish between habits and addiction. An Addiction breaks into your day more than a happen. An Addiction usually follows a habit, such as waking up in the morning and having a smoke with your coffee, to break such a habit, you literally need to wake up and not have a coffee but something else cause smoking is triggered by you waking up and having a coffee because your addiction feeds on certain variables in life. Habit is achieved by a 30 day repeat. An Addiction is instantly. :P

[bloodredruby]

I've been trying to curb my dependance on pop, coke and Dr Pepper particularly. I've managed to go for 5 weeks without drinking it at work at all (it is on tap, and free to employees) and I have had pop 4 times outside of work. Two paydays, where I treat myself to a fast food lunch, once at the theatre, and once because I had a shot of vodka with mix after a really crappy day at work.

I am totally miserable. But, I'm committed. It's deffinitly not getting any easier, yet, though.

At this point, I'd rather trade my smokes in and buy a 1L bottle of coke. >.<