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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE "POWER" OF HABIT EXPLAINED
"This Law (Law of Dual Effects) explains the power of habit. The temporary "relief" from symptoms and the short period of exaltation are followed by worse symptoms and depression, so that the individual resorts to the drug for more relief and more exaltation. He cannot tolerate the depression of power that inevitably follows the added impulse of power induced by tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, opium, or other drug.
"The heightened sensibilities, pleasurable sensations, joyous emotions induced by opium soon pass, leaving the terrors of hell in their wake. The "brilliancy" of thought and intellect and ecstacy of enjoyment give way to languor, stupidity and horror unutterable. The user resorts again to his drug to revive the former state.
"His body does not need and does not demand more opium. It needs and demands rest. But he craves more opium as a means of temporary "relief" from his intolerable suffering. The "relief" produces more suffering, which calls for more relief" which produces more suffering which calls for more relief and so on until death brings complete and lasting relief. As the drug habitue becomes weaker and more nervous, he requires more frequent doses, or stronger doses of his poison.
"What temporarily strengthens permanently weakens. Tobacco steadies the nerves only to produce unsteadiness of them; alcohol weakens permanently because it temporarily strengthens; tonics produce temporary strength and permanent debility; a cup of coffee relieves a headache only to fasten the headache upon the user; it relieves depression of spirits only to double the depression when it "wears off". This is the reason cathartics, that seem to strengthen the bowels weakens them.
"Let any habitual user of any drug discontinue his drug for a few days and he will experience in their fullness all the secondary effects - only to find that these may all be made to disappear by a return to its use. Coffee "cures" the headache it has caused; whiskey restores the feeling of strength it has wasted; tobacco the steadiness of nerves it has destroyed."
"The heightened sensibilities, pleasurable sensations, joyous emotions induced by opium soon pass, leaving the terrors of hell in their wake. The "brilliancy" of thought and intellect and ecstacy of enjoyment give way to languor, stupidity and horror unutterable. The user resorts again to his drug to revive the former state.
"His body does not need and does not demand more opium. It needs and demands rest. But he craves more opium as a means of temporary "relief" from his intolerable suffering. The "relief" produces more suffering, which calls for more relief" which produces more suffering which calls for more relief and so on until death brings complete and lasting relief. As the drug habitue becomes weaker and more nervous, he requires more frequent doses, or stronger doses of his poison.
"What temporarily strengthens permanently weakens. Tobacco steadies the nerves only to produce unsteadiness of them; alcohol weakens permanently because it temporarily strengthens; tonics produce temporary strength and permanent debility; a cup of coffee relieves a headache only to fasten the headache upon the user; it relieves depression of spirits only to double the depression when it "wears off". This is the reason cathartics, that seem to strengthen the bowels weakens them.
"Let any habitual user of any drug discontinue his drug for a few days and he will experience in their fullness all the secondary effects - only to find that these may all be made to disappear by a return to its use. Coffee "cures" the headache it has caused; whiskey restores the feeling of strength it has wasted; tobacco the steadiness of nerves it has destroyed."
THE MORE STIMULANT - THE MORE REST NEEDED
But each increase in dosage leads to a further expenditure of energy, thus necessitating a greater need for recuperation or rest. As the deficit in rest accumulates mote rapidly, this inexorably leads to a greater let-down, thus forcing the addict to increase the amount of the dosage more and more until the whole body - mind system collapses from exhaustion. This is why it is so difficult to give up an addiction. No one likes to go through the feeling of "down" with its attendant depression.
Yet, it is during this recuperation or "down" phase that the body, nervous system and brain, recharges with energy. It is absolutely essential that we realize that this stage MUST be gone through if we are to restore structural, physiological and vital integrity to the body - if we are to restore our feelings, emotions and mind to a state of normal tone and wholeness.
Yet, it is during this recuperation or "down" phase that the body, nervous system and brain, recharges with energy. It is absolutely essential that we realize that this stage MUST be gone through if we are to restore structural, physiological and vital integrity to the body - if we are to restore our feelings, emotions and mind to a state of normal tone and wholeness.
THE LAW OF VITAL ACCOMODATION
"The response of the vital organism to external stimuli is an instinctive one, based upon self-preservative instinct which adapts itself to what ever influences it cannot destroy, or control, or avoid".
"Serious misinterpretation of the fact of toleration has led to grievous errors in practice. Because a habit does not seem immediately destructive, we must not be deceived into believing it is non-injurious, or even beneficial. The steady non-violent resistance to nicotine, for example, that the body must keep up, when tobacco is used, constitutes an equally steady drain upon the vital resources and keeps the user always below par."
"It is now easy to understand the phenomenon of depression. It is merely the lessened activity or inactivity, the fatigue, of an organ or an organism that is exhausted from previous activity, particularly from over-activity. The over-activity may be that of intensity or that of duration."
"Serious misinterpretation of the fact of toleration has led to grievous errors in practice. Because a habit does not seem immediately destructive, we must not be deceived into believing it is non-injurious, or even beneficial. The steady non-violent resistance to nicotine, for example, that the body must keep up, when tobacco is used, constitutes an equally steady drain upon the vital resources and keeps the user always below par."
"It is now easy to understand the phenomenon of depression. It is merely the lessened activity or inactivity, the fatigue, of an organ or an organism that is exhausted from previous activity, particularly from over-activity. The over-activity may be that of intensity or that of duration."