Emotional Addiction
We frequently equate the word "addiction" with "drug or alcohol dependence." Additionally, it may be connected to eating, gambling, or even having sex. Emotional addiction is a different sort of addiction that is more internalized, albeit few individuals are aware of this. A lot of us have been instructed to tolerate the ups and downs of our emotions. Yet, feelings occasionally expose people to harmful truths.
Due to its longer duration and less evident symptoms, emotional addiction differs from drug or alcohol addiction. It affects your worldview and how you react to situations. You must become aware of these negative tendencies if you want to overcome emotional addiction. You should also learn to deal with your emotions in a more positive way.
What Is Emotional Dependence?
The power of emotions is immense. Your ability for productivity, self-care, and good relationships can be increased by effectively managing and integrating emotional processes with cognitive processes like logic and reason. Due to the fact that emotions are merely the product of our ancestors' instincts, they can often override reason and sensible concerns, causing us to ignore consequences. This is precisely what happens to someone who suffers from an emotional addiction.
Emotional addicts become fixated on experiencing a familiar mood or reacting to their strong, natural emotions. Some emotions trigger chemical changes in the brain that are comparable to those brought on by engaging in addictive activities or substances. For solace, respite, diversion, or escape, people who suffer from emotional addiction may grow dependant on a particular emotion. An obsession, a compulsion, and an addiction develop from the feeling.
Those who become emotionally addicted could feel as though their emotions control their lives. Every situation is put through their default emotion, which shapes their viewpoint.
People get addicted when they prioritize their emotions over more effective problem-solving techniques. Bad adverse effects could result from this, including:
In times of intense stress, someone who relies heavily on emotions to decompress is more likely to turn to other self-medication methods, including drugs and alcohol.
Emotional addiction can also be seen as an emotional habit. When repeated behaviors become second nature, habits are formed. Hence, forming an emotional habit entails teaching your body to automatically respond emotionally to a number of events. That emotion eventually sets the standard for how you react to the outside world. If anger is your go-to feeling, you might find that you use it whenever you're unsure. While this emotion sweeps over you, you can even experience a sense of calmness.
How to Stop Emotional Dependence
Being emotionally resilient is essential for overcoming emotional addiction and altering emotional habits. This entails being aware of your emotions and having control over them. As you free yourself from the bonds of emotional addiction, you offer your body a break from the chemical highs these emotional responses provided and enable the process of natural recovery.
These are some strategies for developing emotional fortitude and overcoming emotional dependence:
Find out what your emotional habit is. An emotional addiction may seem to have always existed in you. But, you'll notice patterns in your responses as you pay attention to yourself in the details of daily life. When you become aware of these emotional patterns, you can take action.
Rewire your brain's reward system: Whether it's through daily affirmations or meditations, your objective is to develop the capacity to bring about significant change. Give yourself time to calm down when an emotion starts to consume you, even if that means leaving a situation. Some people discover mantras they can repeat in tense circumstances.
Avoid dwelling on difficult things because doing so rarely leads to understanding. You simply find yourself mentally repeating upsetting events. Whenever you see yourself brooding, try to divert your attention with something constructive like exercise, crossword puzzles, or even TV.
Take care of your self-esteem: You might feel ashamed when you learn that you have an emotional addiction. Strive to be understanding and compassionate to yourself. You may feel guilty if you have a motion addiction. Try to be kind and compassionate with oneself. Similar to an emotional immune system, self-esteem can be strengthened with care. As you proceed, keep your attention on the positive aspects of yourself and the prospect of a brighter future.
Be patient: It's unreasonable to anticipate immediate change because most people build emotional addictions over many years. Focus on the task at hand, but give yourself pauses when necessary. It takes time to rewire your brain to react differently to different situations. Keep your head up high and enjoy the minor triumphs along the way.
