WHAT IS A HABIT?

Habits are sequences of actions that we carry out routinely on autopilot to make our lives easier, acting as shortcuts that allow us to use our energy on more critical areas of our lives. Of course, over time, we’ve created good positive habits. But, alas, we’ve also created the not so good habits.

Having Bulimia isn’t your fault! It’s the natural result of your mental programming at this moment in time.

How do I create new habits?

Creating a new positive habit can be so powerful and lead you to beneficial and encouraging life changes. We’re all creatures of habit. We’re relying on our past learned behaviors and habits to make our decisions.

As you create a habit, your brain has developed neuro-pathways that unfold as your automatic go-to habits.

It takes conscious action and practice to form your habit. Therefore, it takes intentional action and training to break your habit. Or better still, replace it with an excellent positive habit.

Let's begin to understand your habit cycle. You can’t change a habit without understanding how they work individually for you. What precisely are the steps?

There are three steps to the process:

• A trigger

• A routine

• A reward

In step 1 you began to identify the specific triggers and rewards of your Bulimia. For example, the reasons why you make yourself sick.

Hop back to Step 1, and read through the identified function, rewards, or needs of your behavior. For example, “It’s my way to distract me from the stress of daily life.”

So, you engage in your habit of bingeing and purging to gain some sort of rewards like numbing your emotions, relieving boredom, or time for you.

Examples of rewards:

• Weight loss

• Release of dopamine

• Relief from overeating

• Comfort

• Detachment from feelings

If there’s repetition, the habit develops.

As you become aware of your habit behavior that fires up your urges, you can begin to break the habit pattern.