A Post on Relapse

Psychology Today has a post “Relapse.” The post points out that changing any habit especially unwanted ones, has frequent relapses.  Relapses are so common the should be anticipated and planned for. The post also offers some tips on handling the relapses.

Although, Dr.  Timothy A. Pychyl points out how frequent and easy relapses are.

Dr.  Timothy A. Pychyl makes the excellent suggestion when you relapse to forgive, forget and start again.  He does not make the analogy but I will.  Ever watch a child learn to walk?  Walking is a new habit right?  Does the child give up after 2-3 falls?  What about after 20?  What about after…?  You get the idea.  Children don’t give up on learning to walk.

Relapses are like falls when learning to walk. Expect them.

The post also quotes a suggestion by Kathleen McGowan.  Celebrate your start overs not your anniversaries.  Doesn’t think make a lot more sense?  You claim the victory when you get up again.  You win when say “That this is my behavior now and this is who I am.  You walk away if you will from the old behavior and self.”  That’s the time to celebrate.

He does not discuss possible reasons for relapses.  Probably because the reasons are still being debated.

The two reasons that make the most sense are:

• When changing any habit you have to re-establish your comfort zone.
• The behavior your trying to change is fulfilling a need and you haven’t given you subconscious a better solution.

So what can be about those reasons?   The first thing is to read “Why can’t I change?”

Would you please do me a favor,  leave a comment below?

Thank-you in advance.

Note this blog has no relationship to Psychology Today.  I believe Psychology Today is trademarked.  I’m using it to reference the post on their website only.