Everyone needs a pick-me-up once in a while, especially if you have had the day from hell, or have been going through a bit of a rough patch generally. You must do things to boost your mood and show yourself a bit of TLC, but what if the things your doing aren’t truly that good for you? When turning to your habits for comfort, consider whether or not they are only making things worse for you in the long term. Below are 4 examples of unhealthy habits that you shouldn’t be using as a crutch.
1. Binge Drinking
Who doesn’t love a drink after a long day? Enjoying a cold beer, cocktail, or a glass of wine on occasion won’t do you much harm, but how often are you turning to booze to help you feel better? A lot of people consider going on a night out with friends to get wasted as a good way to blow off steam but drinking too much alcohol will only make your mood worse in the long run, as alcohol is a depressant. If your first instinct is to open a bottle of wine when you’re feeling blue, it might be time to reconsider this and choosing a healthier comfort instead. The range of CBD products that are available on websites such as https://www.lancohemp.com/ could be the healthy alternative you consider, as they can have multiple benefits, from easing stress or pain to uplifting you on a not-so-great day. So ditch the wine and pick up the CBD!
2. Binge Eating
Another common way people like to comfort themselves is by indulging in takeout or other junk foods. Again, eating a bit too much once in a while is OK, but if you have noticed that you have had significant weight gain and that you eat so much that you begin to feel sick or uncomfortable regularly, it could be a sign that you’re moving towards binge eating disorder. This is especially true if you can’t seem to control yourself when you’re in these situations, and you are experiencing feelings of guilt when you do. If you’re concerned about this, speak to your doctor about getting some binge eating therapy as a safe, healthy treatment for binge eating disorder.
3. Smoking
Smoking has certainly decreased in popularity, but there are still a lot of people who are addicted to this bad habit. Often people feel that smoking a cigarette will help them when they are feeling stressed, but studies have shown that this isn’t the case. Considering that smoking tobacco has been linked to a higher risk of various diseases including heart disease and cancer, it’s clear that using this as a form of comfort or stress relief simply isn’t good for you, and it’s a bad habit that needs to be kicked.
4. Toxic Relationships
Is there a certain person you always turn to when you want to talk about your problems? Do they make you feel better, or do they undermine your feelings and encourage you to engage in unhealthy activities to cope with them instead? Speaking to a good and supportive friend is a great source of comfort, but if you are involved in a toxic relationship, they might not be helping you as much as you think. As hard as it might be to move away from this person and cut them out of your life if they are only making your problems worse or acting like your issues aren’t valid, they could slowly chip away at your self-esteem and leave you feeling isolated and helpless.
If you use any of these unhealthy habits as a way to try and comfort yourself, consider moving away from these things and forming better coping mechanisms instead.