Treating Self-Defeating Habits in Florida

While we all know that we should try to do what’s best for ourselves and our health, it’s much easier said than done. Even in typical daily life, there are frequent obstacles that make it difficult to make the best or right decisions, sometimes ones as simple as choosing a salad instead of a cheeseburger or being polite to coworkers when you’re in a bad mood. For those who struggle with more than just these small, mundane challenges, though, things can quickly spiral out of their control.

Difficult life events — like trauma, grief or stress — can make it infinitely harder for a person to put themselves and their well-being first. The emotional impact can lead a person down a path of self-defeating or self-destructive choices, whether they realize it is happening or not. They may be too focused on dealing with their pain or processing what they’ve been through to understand the potential consequences of their actions, or to care what the consequences might be. Soon, these behaviors become habits or patterns, and they begin to take their toll on physical and mental health. They may also begin to impact an individual’s family, friends or other loved ones. At this point, seeking professional treatment to help address the behaviors and their underlying causes can be the best — and possibly only — way to help a struggling person regain their health and happiness.

Substance Abuse

Everyone has vices — something they know isn’t good for them that they can’t resist, like a sweet tooth or a taste for cigars. But the mechanism in the human brain that allows us to indulge responsibly is incredibly fragile. The feelings of pleasure and reward that we feel when we treat ourselves can spiral out of control, especially when something like trauma, stress or grief interferes. It’s easy to gravitate toward the things that make us feel good when we struggle to feel good on our own. Substances like drugs or alcohol are often used for this express purpose; being drunk or high produces artificial happiness that makes it easier to mask underlying problems like emotional pain, social anxiety or burnout.

But relying on these substances to feel good is a fast and slippery slope to substance abuse, dependence and addiction. Developing a drug or alcohol habit is incredibly harmful to mental and physical health, and frequently has negative impacts in many areas of life, including family dynamics, careers, finances and legal arenas. It’s crucial that an individual struggling with substance abuse receives professional help to heal and find healthier, more productive ways to cope with life’s difficulties.

Mental Health Concerns

Just like physical health, mental health must be carefully maintained. And, like the body, the mind can be “injured” — a sudden event or trying situation can cause disruptions in brain function. Trauma, burnout at work, loss of a loved one or stress at home might trigger a downward spiral in mental health that comes with a host of self-defeating behaviors. The affected individual might show signs of mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, phobias or compulsions, including:

Constant negative thoughts or sadness
Lack of interest in hobbies or usual activities
Loss of appetite or poor nutrition
Poor hygiene
Irrational worries
Control issues
Repetitive, possibly harmful behaviors

While these behaviors develop as a result of mental health concerns, they have repercussions on overall health and on many aspects of an individual’s life. Untreated or unmanaged mental health disorders can have serious consequences, from damaged relationships to suicidal thoughts. Learning effective and healthy ways to keep your mind balanced and in control will help prevent the harm that comes from negative behaviors associated with mental health concerns.

Treating Self-Defeating Habits and Behaviors at The Guest House

The Guest House focuses on guiding you as you discover the underlying causes of your actions and behaviors, and the outcome of this mission is to reduce and reverse any harm that your self-defeating habits have caused. Whether the effects have been mental, physical or both, we know that it’s possible for you to regain your strength and replace these damaging habits with healthy ones. We are an open and welcoming community of people who are simply seeking respite and recovery from the difficult hands that life sometimes deals us, and no matter what your concerns or background may be, we can help you heal. Contact our admissions team today to find out if our programs are right for you or your loved one — call us at 855-483-7800.