Compulsive behaviors are recurrent, physically painful and unbearable, yet impossible to shake off. What to do?

Hopefully, my answer can be of some help to you.

It's normal for addictive behaviors to come back, but we can only change them if we find the root cause. There's a need behind the behavior that we've been satisfying, which is why we keep repeating it. But now that we know this behavior hurts our body, we need to see if there's a way to replace it with something that's better for our body and mind.

My advice to you is this:

Know yourself and know your addiction. First, understand why we're hooked on certain behaviors.

Our brain has a reward system, and we stimulate it in various ways to get a "high," or a sense of pleasure. That's why we become addicted—repeating the behavior stimulates our reward system to secrete dopamine, which gives us pleasure. But some pleasures are only temporary, and some are even harmful to the body.

But the brain doesn't distinguish between these things. It just wants to be happy. So we feel like we can't control it, even though we know it's harmful to us. We still feel unable to get rid of it. This is the mechanism behind things like smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, and gaming addiction.

To break out of this cycle, we need to be aware. When you want to continue with this behavior, be aware of it, not the feeling in your head. Ask yourself, what need am I trying to satisfy by doing this?

Can I find something that's better for my physical and mental health? When you become aware, change becomes possible.

2. Take action, gradually, and replace behaviors that harm the body with those that are better for physical and mental health.

It's also worth noting that the brain's reward mechanism can be activated in many healthy ways, leading to feelings of happiness and enjoyment. For instance, regular exercise has been shown to activate the reward system and release dopamine. Similarly, immersing yourself in activities you enjoy can also trigger the reward system. Accomplishing small goals within your abilities through your own efforts can also be rewarding. Building positive relationships with others, expressing yourself, and gaining understanding and support in interpersonal relationships can also contribute to a sense of happiness and enjoyment. Finally, doing work that aligns with your values can also make us feel happy and enjoy ourselves.

It's important to fill our reward bucket in different ways every day. If we don't use healthy ways to activate our brain's reward system, we'll become addicted to unhealthy ones, like overeating, playing games, smoking, and drinking. Instead of indulging in unhealthy habits that damage our physical and mental health, it's better to take the initiative every day to replace these unhealthy methods with healthy ones. Over time, your state and emotional state will improve, and you'll become more and more appreciative and satisfied with yourself. At that time, getting rid of addiction will just be a matter of time.

I've tested these things myself and found them to be effective. My life is full of exercise, learning, housework, good interpersonal relationships, positive self-appreciation, and other things that can make your reward system secrete dopamine. You can feel sweet and happy even if you don't drink milk tea or eat desserts. This is a state of inner abundance, and I believe you can do it too.

This is just a reference for you. Best of luck to you!

Dear Sir/Madam, I am honored to be able to answer your question. I hope that my suggestions will be of some assistance to you.

In general, when an addiction or habit is described as such, it is important to understand that these terms are typically used in the context of a disease, which is a severe and debilitating condition.

For example, we are meticulous about maintaining cleanliness and orderliness. In ordinary circumstances, we are, in fact, relatively tidy and organized.

However, if an individual reaches the level of being a germaphobe, it will be more serious, and the individual will be unable to tolerate the slightest bit of contamination, which will cause inconvenience to those around them.

In a state of normalcy, certain habits may be accepted, provided they do not inflict harm upon the body or cause distress or inconvenience to others.

If self-awareness reveals that the situation will affect one's physical and mental health, or cause significant inconvenience or harm to those around them, then it may be reasonable to conclude that the situation has reached the level of a disease.

In cases of a more serious nature, it is imperative to seek medical attention in a timely manner. This will facilitate the necessary examinations and enable a scientific perspective to be applied, thus allowing professionals to assist in understanding the current situation. It is crucial to ascertain whether the situation is as severe as initially perceived and whether it has reached the level of a disease. With the help of professionals, intervention and treatment can then be sought.

It is important to recognize that while psychological disorders or certain unhealthy habits may be amenable to change, they can potentially have adverse effects on the body in certain circumstances, necessitating the involvement of trained professionals.

In conclusion, it is advisable to seek prompt medical attention and professional counseling to address the underlying behavioral issues. Early identification and intervention are crucial for restoring physical and mental health.

I extend my affection to the world and to all of you.