Statistics show that more than a third of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, many of which focus on eliminating bad habits.
Whether it’s smoking, overeating, drinking excessively, or “scrolling social media instead of sleeping,” 72% of American adults report at least one unhealthy behavior, according to data from the United Health Foundation.
Dr. Adi Jaffe, a California-based psychologist, knows firsthand the dangers of unhealthy habits, having suffered from drug addiction same.
“I was trapped in a world Drugs and alcohol“From mid-high school until a few years after college,” he shared with Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview.
Dr. Adi Jaffe, a California-based psychologist, struggled with drug addiction in his youth, and now helps others overcome unhealthy habits. (Adi Javi, Ph.D.)
“Addiction is not segregated by gender, age, race or income, but rather affects people from all walks of life.”
Eventually, Jaffe spent some time in prison before recovering and returning to school, earning master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology.
“I wanted to understand what had happened to me, and then what I’ve done over the last 15 years, I hope, is offer those lessons to others who are struggling.”
“Addiction does not discriminate by gender, age, race or income. People from all walks of life are affected by it.”
Today, Javi focuses on helping people overcome addiction and improve their lives Mental health. In his upcoming book – “Unhooked: Free Yourself from Addiction Forever” – he shares a step-by-step program to help people free themselves from harmful habits.
Jaffe shared with Fox News Digital some of his tips and insights.
Behavior recognition
While many people think addiction is related to drugs or alcohol, Jaffe noted that it can take many forms.
Many people think the behavior itself is the problem, psychologist says, but there is always an underlying reason for those unhealthy or harmful choices. (Istock)
“If you engage in behavior of any kind over long periods of time, it robs you of your ability to be fully present in your life — and it bothers you, but you can’t find yourself stopping it, even though you’ve tried. Over and over again — to me, that qualifies “.
In the case of drug addiction, addictive behaviors may include “scrolling on your phone for hours a day, Binge eatingOr gamble or indulge in other unhealthy activities.
Severe health risks from vaping and e-cigarettes, especially for young people, experts say
Jaffe noted that people can become addicted to work and success, too.
“When things get tough, they want to go to work,” he said. “They think success or performance will make them feel better, but it can cause harm like other addictions.”
The psychologist noted that “deadly scrolling” on social media is a potentially addictive behavior. (Istock)
Social media The expert said that this is another form of addiction.
“When your phone rings or makes a sound, you don’t know what’s there, so it’s something new and interesting, and it releases dopamine,” he said. “You almost can’t help yourself.”
Define “hooks”
Many people assume the behavior itself is the problem, but there’s always an underlying reason for those unhealthy or harmful choices, Jaffe says.
“This behavior was actually a panacea of sorts for a problematic undercurrent.”
“The reason you do this is because at some point in your life, there was pain or struggle or emotional discomfort,” he said.
“And I discovered that when I engaged in that behavior, that discomfort went away. So this behavior was actually a panacea for a problematic undercurrent.”
Statistics show that more than a third of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, many of which focus on eliminating bad habits. (Istock)
For Jaffe, when he was 14 or 15, his “hook” was “the hook.” Social anxiety.
“And when someone gave me a bottle of vodka at one of the sleepaway camps, I drank it because I didn’t want to look embarrassed,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Once I started drinking, I didn’t feel anxious and I felt like I belonged. I felt like I could talk to people. So I realized that alcohol had ‘solved’ this problem.”
“Once I started drinking, I didn’t feel anxious and I felt like I belonged. I felt like I could talk to people. So I realized that alcohol had ‘solved’ this problem.” (Istock)
Everyone has different hooks, but there are similarities and patterns, Jaffe said.
“We start living our lives trying to escape the discomfort caused by the hooks.”
Habit replacement
Once people recognize an unhealthy behavior, one of the biggest mistakes they make is trying to stop it without a plan, according to Jaffe.
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“We try to prevent ourselves from doing what we don’t like,” he noted. “Especially at the beginning of the new year, people might say: ‘I’ll stop eating bad foods’ or ‘I’ll stop being lazy,'” he said.
However, research has shown that the most important aspect of breaking a bad habit is replacing the negative behavior with another behavior One positiveThe psychologist noted.
The most important aspect of getting rid of a bad habit is replacing negative behavior with positive behavior. (Istock)
“We have to stop trying to get rid of bad habits, it doesn’t work,” Jaffe said. “We have to replace them with something else.”
For example, if someone wants Quit smokingThey might keep gum or sunflower seeds in their pockets, he said.
“You just have to keep going.”
Or, if someone is too focused on work, it may mean giving up some tasks and delegating them to other people.
Jaffe also stressed that the process of breaking a bad habit is not always perfect or smooth, and that slipping up from time to time does not mean failure.
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“It’s okay to fall on your face a few times while you’re working to change this,” he said.
“You just have to keep going.”
Jaffe’s book “Unhooked: Free Yourself from Addiction Forever” will be available January 7.
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