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Post by katie on May 20, 2019 20:07:12 GMT
I am doing a bit of research on how to deal with addictions see if there are any good tips or ideas to help me fight it. I haven't done much just n idea in helping us to deal with it I will post more on this thread if I have any good ideas or find something that may help.
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Post by Sam on Jul 13, 2019 0:05:26 GMT
A large part of the addiction is our bodies craving dopamine. Its literally exactly the same thing that happens with other addictions, especially internet or shopping addictions that don't involve substances (I think it also happens with substance addictions, but the difference is that you're also adding in the substance instead of just getting an endorphin rush). This is especially true for people who also have ADHD because ADHD causes your body to not properly produce dopamine (that's why people with ADHD have a hard time completing tasks--they don't get the dopamine rush that the rest of us do when we complete something). So I have a theory that doing things to increase the dopamine in our bodies, especially when we're feeling the urge to daydream or when we're going through the initial withdrawal phase when we're starting to decrease our daydreaming time, will be beneficial. Here are a couple of links to articles that mention ways to increase dopamine levels. Link. Link. Link. Some of the tips are repeated over and over, which means that they're probably the ones that are most important. Bottom line: exercise (even just walking lightly), creating to do lists (so that you can check things off), get enough sleep and sunlight, and listen to music that you enjoy (provided that its not going to trigger you--this is a tricky one). Plus some others, but those are probably the most important and potentially easiest ones to do. I really need to work on using these. I haven't been doing the type of daydreaming that causes the super high endorphin rush and I can feel the physical effects of being without those extra endorphins. |
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Post by katie on Jul 13, 2019 16:15:55 GMT
A large part of the addiction is our bodies craving dopamine. Its literally exactly the same thing that happens with other addictions, especially internet or shopping addictions that don't involve substances (I think it also happens with substance addictions, but the difference is that you're also adding in the substance instead of just getting an endorphin rush). This is especially true for people who also have ADHD because ADHD causes your body to not properly produce dopamine (that's why people with ADHD have a hard time completing tasks--they don't get the dopamine rush that the rest of us do when we complete something). So I have a theory that doing things to increase the dopamine in our bodies, especially when we're feeling the urge to daydream or when we're going through the initial withdrawal phase when we're starting to decrease our daydreaming time, will be beneficial. Here are a couple of links to articles that mention ways to increase dopamine levels. Link. Link. Link. Some of the tips are repeated over and over, which means that they're probably the ones that are most important. Bottom line: exercise (even just walking lightly), creating to do lists (so that you can check things off), get enough sleep and sunlight, and listen to music that you enjoy (provided that its not going to trigger you--this is a tricky one). Plus some others, but those are probably the most important and potentially easiest ones to do. I really need to work on using these. I haven't been doing the type of daydreaming that causes the super high endorphin rush and I can feel the physical effects of being without those extra endorphins. To get a health ways of producing endorphin if you are trying to deal with MD is to. - Exercise
- giving i.e. helper others others out or Volunteering etc...
- Yoga and meditation
- laughing
there are some ways hope it helps |
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Post by katie on Oct 14, 2019 17:22:44 GMT
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Post by katie on Oct 29, 2019 8:11:54 GMT
I taught I would add to this thread for people to be careful when they are trying to stop their daydreaming that they do not replace an addictive behavior with another as having an additive behavior will lead you from taking up another if you are trying to stop one. My mental health consultant says it much better than drinking and escaping that which I know now it is but it takes away so much of what could be in our lives but still drink would do that too.
Make sure you are replacing it with something positive and that will benefit you along the way.
Please take care
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Post by granger on Nov 19, 2019 3:18:21 GMT
Additionally, I've been looking up twelve step programs for addictions to get some sort of a roadmap of steps, which would be great, if I could actually find a version that isn't heavily religious. As someone who isn't, and has never been, religious, its hard for me to really get into religious stuff. Not to mention, some of the steps are so heavily religious that I literally can't figure out how to remove the religious aspect without getting rid of the step altogether. I'll keep looking. Hi Sam I found about EFAA (Escapists and Fantasy Addicts Anonymous) in one of proff Somer's comments on reddit. This is a fellowship programme for recovering addicts and is based on 12 steps alcoholics anonymous.This is very close to MD although it includes escapist behavior other than DD also. I haven't tried this yet. I will at some point. Hope this helps. Here is the link www.efaanonymous.com |
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Post by bee on Nov 19, 2019 8:13:35 GMT
Additionally, I've been looking up twelve step programs for addictions to get some sort of a roadmap of steps, which would be great, if I could actually find a version that isn't heavily religious. As someone who isn't, and has never been, religious, its hard for me to really get into religious stuff. Not to mention, some of the steps are so heavily religious that I literally can't figure out how to remove the religious aspect without getting rid of the step altogether. I'll keep looking. Hi Sam I found about EFAA (Escapists and Fantasy Addicts Anonymous) in one of proff Somer's comments on reddit. This is a fellowship programme for recovering addicts and is based on 12 steps alcoholics anonymous.This is very close to MD although it includes escapist behavior other than DD also. I haven't tried this yet. I will at some point. Hope this helps. Here is the link www.efaanonymous.comHi granger, thanks for the link and welcome to the forum! |
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Post by someone on Dec 1, 2019 4:37:56 GMT
Hi. I've read through some of these. I just don't know. I feel that daydreaming really is different from other addictions because it really isn't a substance addiction. No substance is needed, making it much harder to avoid. Daydreaming can take the place of all my other addictions because I can simply imagine it. Then again, I never had really serious addictions like alcohol, drugs, or smoking. But nothing seems to be able to take the place of daydreaming except constant real time interaction with others in which I'm actively involved. My brain goes without my say and I'm not strong enough to bring it back when I'm alone or not actively participating. I can't be in interpersonal interactions all the time. I don't live on campus and nobody else at home knows what I'm learning and every time someone at home does it goes bad because they pretty much don't really help, but say they are when they're basically doing it for me. I've dealt with that so long I just can't take it anymore. I can't stand that people willingly cheat because being able to learn something for yourself is really a privilege. Now that was an off tangent and I really don't mean to put anyone off by it, I get that other people had other stressors that contribute to what they do. I just am trying to make clear what history I'm coming from and my outlook on these things so that maybe you guys can understand why this is so stressful for me. I really want to focus, get my work done, but I'm not even close to done with one of my daily goals and I tried to alot myself five minutes of daydreaming and it took way too long. I want to be a focused student. I'd really like to be a genius, but people don't become geniuses by imagining they do well in school. I know I need to focus, I just know it's hard. And doing work takes so long that it's discouraging and I feel that I'm not getting anything done and I get uncomfortable, feel like I'm not getting it. And then I need to escape. And I daydream. And I want it to stop but not only does it happen uncalled for at times but it also happens during the times I need to focus most. I feel that stopping this is impossible, so I'll really like to know what is the best way to go about this.
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Post by Sam on Jan 21, 2020 22:36:05 GMT
I found another website that has a bunch of cool resources for dealing with addictions while I was researching behavioral addictions. Its got worksheets and a bunch of other articles and I would definitely recommend checking it out. This article is helpful too, make sure you also read the article that's linked at the bottom of this one. This is a TED talk by the same guy that explains how to use mindful curiosity to change your response to compulsions. |
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Post by mdisslowingmedown on Jan 23, 2020 19:41:51 GMT
I am doing a bit of research on how to deal with addictions see if there are any good tips or ideas to help me fight it. I haven't done much just n idea in helping us to deal with it I will post more on this thread if I have any good ideas or find something that may help. heyy heyy i am more than happy to try and help you out. the first thing you need to recognise is that md is an addiction, you are addicted to daydreaming. its not that daydreaming wants you but you want to daydream this is a very important thing to keep in mind if you want to reduce the daydreaming. when you daydream your brain makes more dopamin. but like you can get clean from any other addiction you can reduce this to (this is my strategie to stop daydreaming unhealthy amounts of time). first step is what i mentioned in the beginning so recognise its an addiction second step is recognizing you dont need a save space anymore and that its oke to face reality (this one can be difficult if your md was caused by a trauma but less difficult if it wasnt) then comes something that not many want to do but you need to make your daydream world less fun, kill off characters, start sabotaging your own mind. than try and reduce daydreaming itself, by now its easier for your mind to do so but you still need to take babysteps and change the source of the dopamine slowly by doing other stuff that are fun (see in the end why this is important). and if this all doesnt help you than there is plan b. learn to be usefull while daydreaming. thats what i do now cause i cant face reality sadly enough. i just cant pass that step.please do this slowly, stopping with an addiction to fast may cause you to fall in another addiction to replace the source of dopamine as fast as possible. and ohww yeah one thing you need to know daydreaming isnt your enemy its your addiction to it that is so daydreaming a few times a week isnt bad Sabotage the daydream is a new idea that I am going to try. I'll let people know if it helps. Definitely an interesting idea. Thanks. |
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Post by mdisslowingmedown on Jan 24, 2020 5:30:35 GMT
TW: Self harm mentionIts interesting that the article talks about substitute addictions. I don't know if I've really experienced that with my daydreaming, but I know that when I stopped self harming 5 years ago, that addictive behavior was quickly replaced by my compulsive skin picking. I don't pick at my skin to hurt myself, which is why I don't consider it to be self harm (even though it does hurt me), but that addictive behavior definitely replaced the old addictive behavior. I've noticed that most of my compulsive behaviors (daydreaming, picking at my skin, social media use, etc) feel the same. I mean, the mechanisms behind them feel the same. Obviously, physically they're all very different, but what triggers them, what occurs while I'm engaging in them, and how I feel afterward is incredibly similar. That's why I created that habit reversal document back in January. The one that I was basing it on was originally for helping with compulsive skin picking. I'm getting off topic, sorry. Anyways, this article has some very good information. There was actually a book mentioned in the daydream less Instagram challenge that specifically dealt with addiction. Now, I think it was focused on alcohol addiction, but as I've seen, addictive behaviors are often incredibly similar to each other and I think that we would likely find some very good information in it. I'll go see if I can find what book it is. Okay, its called "Rational Recovery: The New Cure for Substance Addiction" by Jack Trimpey. Supposedly its very good, though I haven't read it myself. I suppose I probably should if I'm recommending that others read it... Hi Sam. My mind has been coming back to this post today so wanted to reply and knock it out. It's nice to have other things to occupy my mind so again glad for the forum. I understand the skin picking and other behaviors. When I was very little, elementary school, I had trichotillomania for a little while and didn't realize it until several years ago.  how I stopped myself. I know it started b/c my eyebrows and hair was already falling out due to my eczema. Skin picking was something that was a horrible problem for me for decades because on top of a lifetime with severe eczema I struggled with PTSD, which as you know contributes to anxiety and OCD. My mom has crippling OCD. At 67 it's only getting worse for her. She's like a prisoner in her own home and caring for her is becoming harder and harder b/c her list of rules and fears keep getting longer. It's a big driver why I refuse to stop trying to be better. Years of CBT and self help research have gotten me past the emotional stuff and I don't struggle with depression like I used to. Pretty happy most of the time now but I am certain my chemicals are a bit out of wack. I still find myself sleeping away the day from time to time and then feeling better once I do. I'm not very disciplined and I know structure and routine help tremendously. In regards to the skin, my immunologist finally got me approved for the Dupixent shot in May 2019 and it's changed my life in regards to skin issues. Since I'm not itchy I'm not drawn to my skin as much so all my skin picking is under control except for one stupid spot that I'm fixated on. I keep  of going to the derm and asking them to remove the bump under my skin that's drawing me to it. I think I've permanently scarred that area after like a year messing with it. Talk about OCD right?  . Anyhow, I'll share a few things that provided moments of relief when my eczema was bad and beyond my control. Scratching an itch releases dopamine and as you mentioned, those of us with A.D.D or OCD, etc. seem to be lacking that. I've read similar research. So being an itchy person, you can imagine I was always covered in bloody sores. I loved slashed hated to scratch. Night time puritis was the worst. In order not to scratch or pick I had to keep my hands busy so a lot of sleepless night, otherwise I'd wake up in a lot of pain from scratching myself to sleep. I tried anything to keep my hands occupied. Drawing. Chores. Reorganizing a room. Had to be something entertaining otherwise I'd go back to scratching or picking while doing it. I gave my loved ones and friends permission to smack my hands or yell at me to stop if they saw me picking or scratching. We don't all have a support system but if one is available, I advocate it. Yes, it's embarrassing, but feeling embarrassed about it actually helps do it less. My favorite hand distraction so far has been tutting. It's been about 2 years now and I still do it almost every day. I've felt silly sometimes being a 40 year old professional, but fun is fun. It's a dance that is all hands and fingers. I find making the shapes with my hands really feeds my body related OCD but in a positive way. When I couldn't sleep I'd lay in bed and do it. I do it in the car waiting in traffic. I love music and I love dancing so it's been a super healthy outlet for me. I don't need music b/c I enjoy making the shapes with my hands and fingers regardless. And it's immensely satisfying b/c the more you do it, the better you get. Now that I'm better at it, I'm less shy about doing it when I'm bored in front of those I live with or vacation with so that's been super helpful. Having a healthy outlet that I don't have to hide. There's tons of routines on YouTube to learn and keep hands busy. Keeping hands and mind busy is the only way I've ever been able to find some relief from unhealthy behaviors related to messing with my body. Seems to be the only relief from daydreaming too. Sometimes I think a substance addiction would be easier to control. I could just not get the drug. With daydreaming and skin, we carry the drug on us at all times. But I know substance abuse is no joke. My step mom died of alcoholism. My little brother almost died 5 times last year from it and my other little brother is working hard every day to stay sober. So I say that with no wishful intention. Anyhow, daydreaming never helped the kinds of behaviors mentioned here because it's too easy to let hands roam wild when lost in a dreamy fog. So if I daydream, I try hard not to sit still. Hope that problem is getting better for you! I feel ya! |
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Post by Sam on Jan 27, 2020 4:59:24 GMT
I found another website that has a bunch of cool resources for dealing with addictions while I was researching behavioral addictions. Its got worksheets and a bunch of other articles and I would definitely recommend checking it out. is another article on that website that talks about dealing with cravings. |
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Post by philippe on Feb 24, 2020 21:00:13 GMT
I have read several studies summaries about a dietetary supplement that may help people with OCD and various addictions.
It's N-Acetyl-Cysteine, a non essential amino acid. I'm gonna try it with a 2400 mg per day dosage for few weeks.
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how I stopped myself. I know it started b/c my eyebrows and hair was already falling out due to my eczema. Skin picking was something that was a horrible problem for me for decades because on top of a lifetime with severe eczema I struggled with PTSD, which as you know contributes to anxiety and OCD. My mom has crippling OCD. At 67 it's only getting worse for her. She's like a prisoner in her own home and caring for her is becoming harder and harder b/c her list of rules and fears keep getting longer. It's a big driver why I refuse to stop trying to be better. Years of CBT and self help research have gotten me past the emotional stuff and I don't struggle with depression like I used to. Pretty happy most of the time now but I am certain my chemicals are a bit out of wack. I still find myself sleeping away the day from time to time and then feeling better once I do. I'm not very disciplined and I know structure and routine help tremendously. In regards to the skin, my immunologist finally got me approved for the Dupixent shot in May 2019 and it's changed my life in regards to skin issues. Since I'm not itchy I'm not drawn to my skin as much so all my skin picking is under control except for one stupid spot that I'm fixated on. I keep 
of going to the derm and asking them to remove the bump under my skin that's drawing me to it. I think I've permanently scarred that area after like a year messing with it. Talk about OCD right? 
. Anyhow, I'll share a few things that provided moments of relief when my eczema was bad and beyond my control. Scratching an itch releases dopamine and as you mentioned, those of us with A.D.D or OCD, etc. seem to be lacking that. I've read similar research. So being an itchy person, you can imagine I was always covered in bloody sores. I loved slashed hated to scratch. Night time puritis was the worst. In order not to scratch or pick I had to keep my hands busy so a lot of sleepless night, otherwise I'd wake up in a lot of pain from scratching myself to sleep. I tried anything to keep my hands occupied. Drawing. Chores. Reorganizing a room. Had to be something entertaining otherwise I'd go back to scratching or picking while doing it. I gave my loved ones and friends permission to smack my hands or yell at me to stop if they saw me picking or scratching. We don't all have a support system but if one is available, I advocate it. Yes, it's embarrassing, but feeling embarrassed about it actually helps do it less. My favorite hand distraction so far has been tutting. It's been about 2 years now and I still do it almost every day. I've felt silly sometimes being a 40 year old professional, but fun is fun. It's a dance that is all hands and fingers. I find making the shapes with my hands really feeds my body related OCD but in a positive way. When I couldn't sleep I'd lay in bed and do it. I do it in the car waiting in traffic. I love music and I love dancing so it's been a super healthy outlet for me. I don't need music b/c I enjoy making the shapes with my hands and fingers regardless. And it's immensely satisfying b/c the more you do it, the better you get. Now that I'm better at it, I'm less shy about doing it when I'm bored in front of those I live with or vacation with so that's been super helpful. Having a healthy outlet that I don't have to hide. There's tons of routines on YouTube to learn and keep hands busy. Keeping hands and mind busy is the only way I've ever been able to find some relief from unhealthy behaviors related to messing with my body. Seems to be the only relief from daydreaming too. Sometimes I think a substance addiction would be easier to control. I could just not get the drug. With daydreaming and skin, we carry the drug on us at all times. But I know substance abuse is no joke. My step mom died of alcoholism. My little brother almost died 5 times last year from it and my other little brother is working hard every day to stay sober. So I say that with no wishful intention. Anyhow, daydreaming never helped the kinds of behaviors mentioned here because it's too easy to let hands roam wild when lost in a dreamy fog. So if I daydream, I try hard not to sit still. Hope that problem is getting better for you! I feel ya!