Negative habits

[Miranda]

Statistically it is said you are more likely to be able to stop a negative habit if you can stay away from the habit for 30 days or more. I guess I am not a statistic in this case. How do you stop what you consider your negative habits?

[honeymustard02]

Spanking.

[n0Mad]

Spanking.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But that is my negative habit. :laughing

[Fierce Critter]

Beyond just S T O P P I N G, I have no clue.

I was a horrible nail biter as a child. My sister always had absolutely gorgeous, manicured nails. When I was about 18 or 19, we were in a store together and I was pushing her to buy some wild polish colors. Being conservative in her appearance, she wouldn't go for it. And I said aloud, "fine - then I'll grow my nails and buy it for myself."

And I did. I don't know how I did it. But I ended up with longer nails than her, and man did I wear some crazy colors.

I never went back to biting them. Mine break easily due to nutritional and thyroid/metabolism issues, so I will tear off a split one and then nibble the rough part smooth if I can't get my hands on a file quickly. But I don't outright bite them like I used to. (It's this nibbling behavior that actually causes me to be a bit OCD with clean hands. I don't wash them until they bleed, but if they're dirty or I've touched something like fish or thrift store clothes, I r e a l l y am uncomfortable until I can wash them) I don't grow them anymore 'cause I'm too active with my hands to keep 'em unbroken.

But that's the only habit I've managed to break that way. I have others that I'd love to stop. They say you don't just quit a behavior like that - that you replace it with another. Sometimes, the replacement can be worse than the initial behavior.

I tend towards a very mild bit of OCD. I made my living typing for many years, and got to speeds of well over 100 wpm. One of my OCD behaviors is to "type" out conversations with my fingers as I'm having them, or to replay it in my fingers afterwards. I don't do this constantly, and the movements I make are sometimes so subtle as to be unnoticeable if you don't know about it.

Another I do is this counting thing with things like fingers, toes, even facial muscles. I'll flex or pulse my muscles and count the pulses. That one is noticeable if you watch me - my sister once said, "what are you doing with your fingers?" and that's what was going on. I hadn't really even realized I was doing it.

I'd like to stop those habits. But I'm not severely OCD, and they're not harmful, so I don't worry about it really. The alternative behaviors could be much worse, so I don't want to risk it.

[Miranda]

Beyond just S T O P P I N G, I have no clue.

I'd like to stop those habits. But I'm not severely OCD, and they're not harmful, so I don't worry about it really. The alternative behaviors could be much worse, so I don't want to risk it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You make a good point, if you give up something, you may pick up something far worse to compensate for it. I suppose a negative habit would be considered relative as well. It's a matter of keeping on track for me, day by day.

[Hellion]

SMOKING :devil

[sass_in_the_pants]

Beyond just S T O P P I N G, I have no clue.

I tend towards a very mild bit of OCD. I made my living typing for many years, and got to speeds of well over 100 wpm. One of my OCD behaviors is to "type" out conversations with my fingers as I'm having them, or to replay it in my fingers afterwards. I don't do this constantly, and the movements I make are sometimes so subtle as to be unnoticeable if you don't know about it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I do the same thing! I always just chalked it up to a quirky habit and then I found out it was some mild form of OCD. But do you know what they prescribe for OCD? I asked the doctor if there was anything to make me stop and he said "There's this medicine. The side effects are nausea, headaches, dry mouth, and insomnia" Uh, yeah, I'll just keep spelling on my fingers, thanks.

[Head Wreck]

nail biting.

sarcasm.

babbling

[JaneDead]

i don't really have any negative habits other than being lazy and i just don't seem to know how to get over that one.

[kellygrrrrrl]

nail biter

smoker

pessimistic

impatient

anxious

I have bitten my nails since I grew teeth....I've tried everything....hot pepper sauce, foul flavoured nail polishes, tape, fake nails...which I chew right through...

I quit smoking for 7 months. Quitting smoking WAS the hardest thing I EVER did...but I started back up by smoking one smoke, and I have been back on the smoking train since like 9/2005

I've always had a negative outlook on things....I think as a defense mechanism...if you expect the worst and it doesn't turn out to be the worst, then I am happy....If I have high expectations, and they fail, I get dissappointed. So If I tell myself the worst will happen, I don't get dissappointed.

I've always been impatient. NOW NOW NOW! I want it now. Lets go now, lets do this now. I hate that about me. I'm working on that one........Trying to slow down.

I am anxious. I don't know what for...why? I just am. It doesn't bother me too much....I just get anxious about nothing.

ALl in all, I'd say that as far as positive / negative, I am probably 40% negative and 60% positive......although the negative seems to be weighing heavier these days......

[Fierce Critter]

i don't really have any negative habits other than being lazy and i just don't seem to know how to get over that one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jane, from what you've offered of yourself in comparison to my own depression issues, I'd say you're definitely not lazy, but depressed.

Jon and I both started wondering if I was simply just lazy. Especially when returning to Michigan didn't snap me out of my malaise and get my butt in gear.

But if you look at how I was 4 years ago before my depression really set in, I was a dynamo. Hell, I didn't spend any time online - period - except for my eBay business. I just didn't have time to do anything else.

Since I've been on the Effexxor, I'm definitely improving. Motivation is much easier to come by. Energy is still a bit of a problem, but I just had blood drawn to test what doseage of my thyroid meds I need to get back on - should talk to the doctor before the end of the week for that.

With the possible exception of Zyrtec, for which I really should receive a stipend for my advocacy , I'm not one to push someone into medications. But I know it's helping me, and it has helped Jon for 3 years now.

PM if you want to talk about any of this, ever.

[Brenda Starrr]

Smoker

Impatient

Bossy

Sarcastic.

I'm sure that there's more.

[Steven]

I smoke.

I love it, I hate it.

it relaxes me, it makes me feel like shit.

I also have a tendency to be impatient with people who have a hard time making decisions....that's jsut REALLY tough for me to deal with.

[Msterbeau]

PROCRASTINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[n0Mad]

PROCRASTINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was going to say that but I just didn't get around to it.

[CandyQuackenbush]

Back talker.

Bull Headed.

Procrastinator.

Gulit tripper.

All these I don't know I do, until it's too late.

[pharoh]

Smoker

Impatient

Bossy

Sarcastic.

I'm sure that there's more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, yes there is *hides*

[Brenda Starrr]

Yes, yes there is *hides*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hm. Tell me more.......

[n0Mad]

Hm. Tell me more.......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Curiosity?

:laughing

[kellygrrrrrl]

Back talker.

Bull Headed.

Procrastinator.

Gulit tripper.

All these I don't know I do, until it's too late.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I should add those to my nasty habits....cause I do that too.... :doh

[EvilEve]

i use to bite my nails, i don't anymore. but, they grow to a certain length, then break, then i have to cut them all off so the whole cycle can start all over again. (very little OCD right there) also, i pick a the skin around my nails when i get really anxious. i've been trying to stop, but i've been getting too worried lately, and it's a nervous habit.

other than that, no bad habits. at least none that i'm aware of yet.