Have you ever had your knee reflexes tested at a doctor’s office? Does it feel weird to have your knee kick out in front of you without you being able to control it?
Sometimes, people treat their behaviors like this reflex–like an uncontrollable response to something happening around them. However, what people often see as out of their control can actually be tamed.
Tips for Gaining Control of Your Behaviors
The following is a list of ways in which you can keep your bad or distracting habits under control:
● Identify unhealthy behaviors
To begin this process, you must be intentionally and consciously aware of which habits and behaviors in your life are not healthy or beneficial. An unhealthy behavior might be an addiction, a recurring action, something that upsets or hurts others around you, something which you inherently know you should not be doing, or even something that can be hurting you.
● Take action one step at a time
Work towards breaking each behavior down, one behavior and one segment of the behavior at a time. For instance, when you have the urge to raise your voice to your family members, work to notice what triggers you to that point first. Over time, work to change the circumstances that make you prone to the trigger. Then, take a different approach by simply choosing to count to three before speaking. Next, make sure you speak your truth but in a way that is beneficial for all who hear you. Rinse and repeat. The same type of process can be used with an addiction. Notice what leads to the behavior, and try to change the antecedents, then change one thing about your reaction, then one about your choices, then one about preventative action, etc…
● Stay positive
The road to preventing out of control behaviors is not easy. There may be times when you are going to be tempted to let those behaviors take control once more. However, even if you yell one time, have one drink, make one mistake, this does not mean you have to give up everything you’ve worked so hard for. Keep looking at your struggle under a positive light. This one mistake does not have to undo the progress you’ve built up before. Encourage yourself to not let this happen again, keep your chin up, and keep saying ‘no’ to future negative actions. It is like effectively snipping a root before it turns into a seemingly uncontrollable weed. Plant healthy behaviors before poor ones even get a chance to sprout.
● Seek out help from others
If you feel that you need extra help to overcome negative behaviors, speak openly about it with people you trust, listen to whatever encouragement or advice they might give you, and ask them if they would help you to stay accountable to your goals. Speaking with a therapist can also be helpful for working through the things that you just can’t seem to gain control over on your own.
For more techniques to help you take control of your own life and overcome negative behaviors, or if you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or trauma, Omaha Trauma Therapy is here to help! EMDR and Brainspotting therapy techniques are our specialty. Sometimes, out of control behaviors can be symptoms of other conditions such as personality disorders. Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder, otherwise known as multiple personality disorder, or other mental health issues such as depression, stress, or anxiety can all be treated effectively. Whether you want the best treatment for BPD or any personality or mood disorder, personal, or relationship issue, we want to provide you with a holistic approach to reach your mental health goals. Contact us.