Stop Self-Destructive Behavior For Good

Stop Self-Destructive Behavior For Good

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re probably doing at least one thing every day that would be classified as self-destructive. Loosely defined, this behavior is something that harms you or makes your life harder in some way.

Maybe you refuse to let someone take on a big task at work, or maybe you spend your days counting the minutes until you can have your first glass of wine in the evening. These are just two examples of behaviors that can be physically and emotionally destructive if they continue for long periods of time! These strategies below may help get you on the right track. [Remember that serious self-destructive habits like drugs or alcohol should be remedied with the help of medical professionals.]

Start Small

One reason that these behaviors are tough to break out of is that doing so can often feel like an insurmountable task. If a behavior is deeply engrained in your personality, the best way to tackle it is to choose one aspect to focus on and move on from there.

For example, if your habit is binge eating after a stressful day at work, try gradually reducing the amount you eat or swap out some of the unhealthy foods for healthy ones. Over time, your mind will stop associating stress with so-called “comfort foods,” and you’ll be on your way toward a healthier lifestyle.

Build a Support System

Having others around can help you recognize self-destructive behaviors and stick to your plan of combating them. Your support system can come in the form of friends, family, an organized support group, or even people online whom you’ve never met in person. No matter what type of network you choose, it’s important that those people are honest with you and can hold you accountable to changing your behavior.

Turn Failure Into Success

People with self-destructive tendencies thrive on failure and use it as fuel for burrowing deeper into those behavior patterns. Break out of that mold by evaluating what obstacles prevented you from succeeding and determine how you can overcome them next time. Eventually, you’ll come to realize that failure is not a bad thing but rather an opportunity to learn and grow from your mistakes.