Addictive behavior is a condition that is common with obsessive compulsive disorder. Many times someone you love is performing repetitive tasks that they don't even know they do on a routine basis. These could include checking doors multiple times to make sure they are locked, checking the stove a specific number of times at night before going to bed, or other behaviors. You might even be showing signs of addictive behavior yourself, without even knowing it. Here are some ways to deal with addictive behavior.
Instructions
Deal With Addictive Behavior
1. Confront the person who is exhibiting what you consider to be addictive behavior. Ask them if they realize what they are doing is not considered typical by most people. Many times someone with addictive behavior has had this behavior for so long they don't realize it is unusual. There is no guarantee that addressing the behavior with them will stop it. It can be a good step to try though before taking additional steps.
2. Create obstacles for that particular addictive behavior. If your loved one has a habit of checking the stove multiple times before going to bed, give him a reason to go to bed without checking the stove. Surprise him one evening by leading them up to the bedroom by their hand for "other interests". If you want to go to extremes, try blindfolding them and leading them to bed through the house. This will eliminate their option to participate in the addictive behavior or obsessive compulsive disorder.
3. Remove that person from the environment that enables their addictive behavior. Maybe the person with addictive behavior has to check something each night at a specific time. Arrange for you and them to be in a location where checking that item is not possible. This may be difficult at first, but with repetitive reinforcement they might slowly lose interest in their addictive behavior.
4. Take your loved one to see a doctor if their addictive behavior is dangerous to either themselves or someone else. Sometimes you might dismiss addictive behavior or obsessive compulsive disorder as "little quirks". That might be ok in many cases, but if these "quirks" involve activities that can be harmful to that person or others, they must be addressed by a professional. Explain to your loved one that you realize they can't see the risks when they are doing these behaviors, but you love him and want to help keep him safe.
5. Enlist the help of others who know your loved one. Remember that you don't have to be the only one helping your loved one overcome their addictive behaviors or obsessive compulsive disorder. Ask other friends of theirs to point out the behavior to them when the observe it. Ask those friends to help you in coming up with ways to remove your loved one from the stimulus that inspires the addictive behavior.
Tags: addictive behavior, your loved, , compulsive disorder, , obsessive compulsive disorder