Question for those who are prone to addictive behavior:

Do you find that you exchange one behavior for another, particularly if you give up a certain vice? I quit smoking, but have been using nicotine gum for quite a bit longer than I should be. I think I'm developing a bit of a *need* to exercise constantly, which is isn't an entirely bad thing if I don't go overboard, but I note that the need seems to have taken the place of other behaviors I've tried to curtail. I go to the gym in the morning, and by afternoon, I'm itching to go back again. What are your experiences? Have you been able to channel unhealthy addictions into positive behavioral/lifestyle choices? Have you felt physically/emotionally compelled to do so, in the absence of the original addiction?

I wish I could change my chocolate habit into an exercise addiction.

No really, I wish I could.

If you figure out how that works, let me know!

but if I figure out anything universally effective, I will let you know!

If I quit smoking I'd probably cut way back, or just quit, booze and coffee.
They just go together for me.

My b-i-l quit smoking and chewed nic gum constantly for every waking hour for a long time. I think he's off of it now.

I can diet, and eat right, and exercise....and have no issue with it persay...when I go non-smoking I usually tend to drink a lot more...so, I trade in cigs, for beer....I think beer is the lesser of two evils...I can't go all healthy, if I do...I would rather be dead to be honest. Everyone has their vice, be it cigs, beer, drugs, twinkies, exercising, McDonalds, picking their nose, buying comics....anything...

I try to confine habits to positive or relatively harmless behaviors with occasional success.

I have an oral addition problem (insert joke here). I was a thumb-sucker from birth til 2nd grade. Stopped the thumbsucking and started to over eat. Started smoking at 16 and stopped eating so much. I quit smoking 2 years ago and the weight's creeping back on. I imagine when I'm in the old geezer home I'll be sucking my thumb again! Sheesh!!

:crazy:

I often wondered if that had anything to do with my profound addiction to cigarettes. Man, did I love smoking!

Everyday I had to run farther or faster than the day prior. My doctor tried, unsuccessfully, to get me to cut down as I would run injured and/or ill. By 1997, my knees, hips, and ankles were shot and I developed bleeding stomach ulcers from the self induced stress.

Now I just sit on the patio and smoke cigars and drink Jamesons.

mean addiction to juicy pops (i.e. popsicles...icies) now. :hi: :hug:

The addict changes, so that the addictive behavior no longer gives the "payoff" it did. The withdrawl process that produces the change, however, is a painful one, though temporary. Simply swapping one addictive behavior for another doesn't produce the necessary change in the addict's organism that frees the addict from the original addiction.

I developed an addiction to soft drinks.

I think it's an oral thing. :shrug: