What do you do if you don’t drink/smoke/overeat/other addictive behaviour?

[SunshineonLeaves]

I’ve worked hard to stop smoking, I don’t drink to excess and I’m trying to keep my shopping habit under control. But what the hell do you lean on when you’ve given up all the fun stuff?

You work on the deep rooted issues that mean you have to have something to lean on.

You look within and trust that you have everything you need inside of you and that you are whole and perfect just as you are.

And maybe get some therapy to help you with this. Sending love and light.

Good question. Yes, therapy if you can afford it. But possible alternatives might be trying to get addicted to Being Healthy / fitness fanatic. Or brain reboot with magic mushrooms.

Something to lean on has to be strong and supportive - booze fags and stuff are not support, they are distractions and cause you more problems. Inner strength is your best support.

Nothing you’ve listed is fun to me.
I used to smoke, drink and be overweight.
Now I enjoy none of them.
I get enjoyment from coffee, exercise and nature. But I think it takes a while to get there and that stuff probably sounds boring to you, the same as it did to me 4 years ago.

Hmm, interesting question! I've never smoked, don't drink often, I do overeat sometimes and have a sweet tooth but I'm a healthy weight (BMI just under 20). Never done recreational drugs or anything like that. I don't think I do anything specifically different to 'replace' any of that though? I just don't do them...sorry, appreciate that's not at all helpful!

Meet up with fun friends who aren't so into drinking heaps or don't smoke, go out for lunch and tell funny stories, laugh a lot. Go to the cinema, dress up, go to concerts or music if you are into that.

I think if you take everything away and don't put something else in its place, it can seem empty or boring, but if you do interesting or fun things just without smoking or drinking, life will seem good.

Haha I used to have such a crush on Adam Ant 😍

Im actually going to see a band tomorrow who have seen me through some of the hardest times of my life, music has always been my thing but it’s bittersweet sometimes.

Oh good question. I have done all of the above and more. I now get lots of fun out of;
Dancing
Going to gigs and festivals
Playing sport (tennis, football, netball)
Hiking up mountains
Cooking and eating quality food
Doing cultural shite like theatre, cinema and reading books.
Having games nights with friends and playing games like liars dice and poker.

I used to smoke and then gave that up but seem to have replaced it with eating more chocolate and drinking more alcohol. For me it's purely habit, it's become party of my nightly routine and I see it as a treat ensconced within a week that is otherwise full of work and ferrying the kids around. I know it's not a.treat and is unhealthy and damaging habits but it's very hard to break. So no advice I'm afraid, but a lot of empathy!

Oh Adam Ant was beautiful! Not many men I would say that about.

Meh. It’s actually not that deep sometimes. Life’s quite horrific at the best of times (yes, it’s amazing and grass is cool and it’s quite nice when it’s sunny but on the whole it’s brutal, painful and short) so we all need something to get by.
some people choose booze, some choose drugs, some choose religion, some choose food. Some- possibly like you? choose spirituality. Every single thing, whichever you pick, is just cope to deal with the fact that eventually, we will all die alone.
so yeah, “love and light” is just another, albeit harmless addictive behaviour.
sorry to get a bit deep on here… not even sure where that came from. I blame being 5 months pregnant

more specifically to the question, I’ve always found I either rotate my addictions or try replace them with a less harmless addiction. When I stop the worst ones (drinking/smoking) they tend to get replaced with exercise, spiritual type mindful stuff or baking!

I hide my lifelong saying disorder.

I am very careful about how I talk about food because I so desperately don’t want my child to pick up on issues I have

He was my first ever crush. So beautiful!

Does buying excessive amount of plants count as other addictive behaviour? Asking for a friend.

Actually I think plants are a good thing. We’ve just got an allotment and I’m trying to channel my energies into that but it’s not quite hitting the spot yet

I meditate, crochet, walk the dogs, chat with friends. I did smoke many years ago but gave up, and I stopped drinking cos frankly, it's boring. I felt there had to be a more constructive way to chill.

Have lots of sex...

I make things, often with other people. I read. I take a keen interest in current affairs and economics. I have dogs.

Well, you look around at the troubled souls who are weighed down with one destructive addiction or another (you won't have far to look) and then you bloody well thank your lucky stars!

Eating and drinking things that are so nice and therefore expensive, that I can’t afford to binge on them 😀

I don't drink or smoke. My vices have always been food and shopping! This leads to being poorer and fatter! Currently dieting and don't shop too much anymore.

I am very dull...I enjoy watching comedy shows on TV hence my username. Also enjoy naps...that's a wonderful luxury imo.

I run, practice karate, work very hard, and then the really enjoyable bits are

1. lying in my bed being completely relaxed at night
2. Cooking lovely but healthy food. Not spending on alcohol means I can afford better quality food.
3. I've finally got to the point that I feel good when running and swimming. Nothing aches.
4. Hiking in the countryside
5. sex

Snap. The question has never occurred to me, and I've had my share of trauma. It just doesn't occur to me to have an "drink/cigarette/sugary food/drug" or whatever when somethin shit happens. I just don't link the two. I wonder why - it's a really interesting question. I don't generally treat myself though or I really struggle so i wonder if the two are linked, I don't feel I deserve things so am more likely to deprive myself than go the other way .

I'm not totally teetotal but like the op and yourself don't drink a lot.