Excuse the controversial title but stay with me for a moment. To begin, allow me some context for what I'm about to tell you. I am a clinical hypnotherapist and work with habitual behavior of many different types, addiction to various activities, substances and behaviors. With that said, let me say something some may not have heard before you are addicted because it helps. I say this broadly and with few exceptions.

What do I mean by that? To put it basically, you found a need inside of you and found a very effective way to address/soothe that need. This is absolutely not to say that this is a good thing, I want that to be clear. What it means is that you found something that works, that soothes a need inside of you; it should be noted, does it very effectively, usually. That's part of this issue, though. The ease of the 'solution' and the ignoring of the still present need it was soothing.

Smoking, eating, pornography, sex, gambling, excessive exercise... all of these exist along a similar axis. The key to overcoming this lies in addressing that need in a manner that isn't destructive or harmful. Without doing that, while the habit may change, the need will remain, and this usually ends up with us seeking something just as negative of an influence on our lives.

The benefit of addiction is that it does work... it just works in the same way that medicine works for pain. While it soothes the ache, the issue itself remains unresolved. No matter your habit, look less at the activity itself and more at what metaphorical wound you are bandaging. Ask yourself and let me know in the comments, do you know what the need you are soothing is?