Self-destructive behavior can be incredibly hard to break free from. It can feel like a trap, like you’re stuck in a cycle that you can’t escape. But you can break free.
When you or someone you care about is engaging in self-destructive behavior, use this list to encourage healing.
5 Practical Ways to Encourage Healing From Self-Destruction
1. Recognize the signs.
If you know what to look for, you can catch self-destructive behavior before it gets too out of control. Watch out for things like excessive drinking, drug use, eating disorders, and self-harm. If you see any of these signs, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
2. Seek professional help.
There’s no shame in seeking professional help when it comes to breaking free from self-destructive behavior. In fact, it’s often the best thing you can do for yourself. Therapists and counselors are specifically trained to help people overcome these kinds of challenges.
Need mental health support? For professional, confidential assistance, contact one of our partner agencies, like Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey.
3. Build a support network.
Surround yourself with people who care about you and will support your efforts to break free from self-destructive behavior. These people can be your emotional support system when things get tough, and they can help keep you on track in your journey to recovery.
4. Be Patient.
It takes time and effort to break free from self-destructive behavior. Don’t expect to change overnight. Be patient with yourself and take things one step at a time. You’ll get there eventually!
5. Learn more about self-destructive behavior.
In Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior, renowned psychotherapist Richard O’Connor, PhD, reveals exactly why our bad habits die so hard.
Using new research and knowledge about how the brain works, the book clears a path to lasting, effective change for behaviors that include:
- Procrastination
- Overeating
- Chronic disorganization
- Staying in bad situations
- Excessive worrying
- Risk-taking
- Passive aggression
- Self-medication
By learning valuable skills and habits—including mindfulness, self-control, confronting fear, and freeing yourself from mindless guilt—we can open ourselves to vastly more successful, productive, and happy lives.
Struggling with self-destructive behaviors? Learning mindfulness, self-control, confronting fear, and freeing yourself from mindless guilt can open you up to vastly more successful, productive, and happy lives. Click To TweetBy following these steps to healing and getting equipped with understanding, we hope that behaviors will be changed and lives will be improved.
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