Do you wake up in the morning and think about having a drink or taking drugs to get started?
In our day to day life we adopt practices that can be defined as habits. Some of these are functional habits that help provide structure and become rituals that we perform regularly.
A cup of coffee, first thing in the morning with breakfast to start the day. Tea at 11am, with a biscuit or pastry, maybe followed by a cigarette. Lunch at one, coffee at three. Home by 7pm after the gym, glass of wine then bed by 10:30pm and repeat the next day. Most of our lives involve structure and routines that enable us to function in auto mode. The majority of habits formed are just part of daily life.
FrIday night is wine time! Unwind from the hard or stressful week at work. Saturday out with friends at the football or shopping, then out for a meal and a few pints, wine and a spliff or two. Sunday a bit of a hangover, good to have Sunday lunch down the pub and hair of the dog. Taking time out from the weekly grind of work is essential to help relax and unwind. Life stressors can be over intrusive and damaging if not managed.
Habits
Most habits are formed around all aspects of life, they help us function and are only problematic when they are classified as harmful. For example drinking alcohol, smoking or taking drugs more often than is healthy to do so. Regularity and quantity can have an impact on your functioning, your physical and mental health.
Some habits can become dependancies, particularly if they are psychoactive and are used to cope with daily life.
Even if we consider some substances to be not very harmful, developing a dependancy can become problematic in our functioning and can lead to psychological, physical, financial, mental health or relationship difficulties.
Habits can become harmful, may creep into life without us being aware they are becoming problematic. Indications could be: hints from friends or family, finding it difficult to function as well as usual, relationships with family, friends, work colleagues are effected, even the way you see and feel about yourself. These may highlight a problem is/has developed, that is having a negative impact on your life.
5 Questions you need to ask yourself
1. How often do you use alcohol and/or drugs ?
2. How often do you think about using alcohol and/or drugs ?
3. How much of your income do you spend on drugs and/or alcohol ?
4. Do you feel that you need to use alcohol or drugs to function or cope with day to day life ?
5. Do you find your relationship with people being damaged by your behaviours?
