Venting I think addictions are inevitable for me unless my life situation improves

[Topaz111]

Since I was about 11 I've been addicted to various things in my life, though almost never substances, just self destructive, maladaptive coping mechanisms; video games, social media, mobile games, youtube, various forms of self harm and more..
I keep quitting one thing and jumping into yet another dopamine trap or repapsing into one of the old ones. I've tried it all, the ways to calm down, soothe myself, journal, go on walks in nature, hot bath etc.. they are nice and can help keep me clean during better periods, but when shit gets extra stressful I come back to the harmful habits because the healthy ones do not come even close to how effective the maladaptive ones are (in short term).

I think I am doomed to stay like this unless my life situation improves and I am not constantly triggered by shit. My biggest issue is my physical health and honestly if I get the surgery and it works it would make it 50x easier to stay clean.
For now though, I think I should accept this is how I am and have grace given my circumstances (especially since ny genes don't help either)

 

[Lost in a Nightmare]

I get what you mean about having addictions, I have them too and they do include substances like weed and alcohol. My physical health is going downhill and is one of the reasons I want out of this life, on top of a whole other mountain of reasons that I also have. I hope your surgery can help you feel better so your life gets better. Sorry your post didn't get any replies, but I wanted to stop by and say I get it. Best of luck to you.

 

[iguazo falls]

i think harm reduction is underrated over going cold turkey; its hard to choose something that doesn't feel as good or guarantees a fix over something that has a better possibility of working at the expense of time/health. if its more achievable for you to reduce maladaptive coping mechanisms in response to less triggering events opposed to more triggering events/stressors than that is still amazing progress. even if the coping is maladaptive its still coping/survival. the fact you've tried a lot of other things too and have identified that they work while you are in a better place is still awesome too, i find i still do a lot of maladaptive coping mechanisms but also have added in healthier ones and i think that is better than relying purely on maladaptive ones or going batshit insane. and i know if i cold turkey anything i'll want to do a final bender or go ham before i "run out" of the item or time to do that item so leaving the option is sometimes the lesser evil.

 

[lastappleonearth]

Since I was about 11 I've been addicted to various things in my life, though almost never substances, just self destructive, maladaptive coping mechanisms; video games, social media, mobile games, youtube, various forms of self harm and more..
I keep quitting one thing and jumping into yet another dopamine trap or repapsing into one of the old ones. I've tried it all, the ways to calm down, soothe myself, journal, go on walks in nature, hot bath etc.. they are nice and can help keep me clean during better periods, but when shit gets extra stressful I come back to the harmful habits because the healthy ones do not come even close to how effective the maladaptive ones are (in short term).

I think I am doomed to stay like this unless my life situation improves and I am not constantly triggered by shit. My biggest issue is my physical health and honestly if I get the surgery and it works it would make it 50x easier to stay clean.
For now though, I think I should accept this is how I am and have grace given my circumstances (especially since ny genes don't help either)

I do basically the same thing, I develop constant obsessions to certain things just to distract myself I guess. I hope your life situation will improve

 

[thelostautistic]

I'm in a similar cycle. I said to my therapist recently that I can't move through live without some form of addiction. As I tackle one another takes its place.