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Habit Control Programs
Often times when people become stressed they
seek a quick fix or solution to their problem(s). This solution
may take the form of relaxation, going to a movie, watching TV,
gambling, eating high carbohydrate foods or taking drugs. The
latter may include over the counter medications and prescribed
anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications.
So called bad habits are just that. Habits
that may lead to illness or financial loss are indeed
counterproductive to one’s well being. We are all aware of the
dangers of over eating, particularly high carbohydrate or high
fat foods. Heart disease and diabetes as well as some cancers
are associated with this habit of over eating. Gambling, of
course, adds to financial distress which, in turn, can cause a
number of other serious consequences impacting on family and
work life. The use of moneys for gambling instead of paying
obligations such as rent or car payments alone can have
deleterious effects. Associated with the added financial
pressures of gambling are the disintegration of normal family
life and perhaps even the loss of ones’ employment (i.e. if
the afflicted person goes gambling instead of attending to his
job.)
Drug and alcohol abuse are often discussed on
TV shows, mentioned in the news media and brought up in our
schools. It is of major concern because it not only impacts
directly on the individual, but also affects innocent victims of
society. These other affected persons may include the abuser’s
family as well as strangers. The latter may be victimized by the
abuser via a mugging for money to support their habits or
accident or other crime, for example.
Drug and alcohol abuse is very costly to
society as it accounts for absenteeism at work and school and
increased risk of medical problems (i.e. HIV infection, AIDS,
TB, Hepatitis) Infectious diseases may easily be spread to
others via sexual relationships.
Treatment of substance abuse in particular
involves detoxification, follow up care and adjunctive services
such as AA, CA, NA or GA. Gambling is treated by first
developing insight into the habit and it’s consequences. Next,
specific interventions are used to evolve substitute behaviors
for the replacement of the urge to gamble. Likewise, eating
disorders incorporate both the development of insight into the
reasons for their habit and appropriate interventions to replace
the bad habit with a more acceptable one. Response cost
techniques are often incorporated into the treatment in order to
reduce recidivism. In other words, if a patient is non-compliant
with treatment they must pay the penalty. These approaches have
been found to be most valuable in eliminating bad habits. |
