Is it a Bad Habit or a Problem? (E28)
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Gill discusses bad habits versus problems. It’s hard to accept that our drinking is a problem, so many of us will claim it’s a bad habit and just needs to be replaced with something else. She explains what habits are, how they’re formed, and the brain structures involved. She contrasts this with what we’ve learned about addiction to show you the difference between a bad habit and a problem, and explain why we can’t replace alcohol with anything else. You'll learn a bit about her bad habits too!
Key Takeaways
The American Psychiatric Association describes addiction as “a brain disease characterized by compulsive substance abuse despite harmful consequences.” That’s the main difference between a bad habit and a problem, if the outcome of a bad habit becomes negative, then we will work to change the habit. When our drinking only brings suffering and misery to our lives, we continue to drink and believe that alcohol is wonderful.
With a problem, you can’t change it just by deciding to. We don’t crave our bad habits. Stopping a bad habit doesn’t cause intense stress and anxiety over not being able to do it. Stopping bad habits doesn’t make us physically ill or have intense cravings.
The habit loop changes for a problem. It becomes more of a spiral. You're triggered either externally or internally by something, which sets off a craving. The craving is relieved by drinking. When you drink you get some kind of reward, but there are also negatives that come with it which will usually trigger us again.
Cite this page
Tietz, G. Episode 28: Is it a Bad Habit or a Problem? Sober Powered. 2021
Sources
Joye, D. New Year, New Me: The Neuroscience of Habit Formation. BrainPost Life. 2018
Andrusca, A. Basal Ganglia. Ken Hub. 2021.
Addiction Help. Difference Between Habit and Addiction. Continuum Recovery Center. 2020
