It’s a common misconception that a little can’t hurt you. Like having a donut for breakfast. While that donut for breakfast may not be that bad, it interferes with the body’s resources to function at maximum capacity. It’s just a little donut, but, unbeknownst to you, your body’s chemistry is working feverishly to compensate for this toxic invader. So, one donut won’t kill you, but if you eat just one donut every day for a month – if you’re over 35, you will feel, and see, the difference. This is an accumulated effect. The seemingly harmless and socially acceptable levels of alcohol you drink or pot someone smokes, or prescription meds also have an accumulative affect. Ultimately, these things block the body and brain’s natural resources from functioning at maximum capacity. If you are beyond 35 and like to get a good buzz now and again, you’re brain is experiencing the negative effects of these drugs even when you are not using them! The reason you don’t “notice” this is because you have lost the capacity to compare your natural state of well-being to the diminished state you’re actually in. Only when someone is “clean” from these toxins for over three months can they begin to notice the actual benefits of quitting.
If you are under 35, you may not be feeling the long-term effects at all because your metabolism is strong and is able to compensate. But the negative effects are adding up fast. Because they don’t feel it, kids and young adults don’t believe us when we tell them drinking and drugs hurt them, slowly, but surely.
If you regularly drink, smoke, toke, pop, etc. you are, in some mild form, addicted to a behavior. If you want to feel the best you can and get the most out of life, it’s time to quit and put childish things behind you. Quitting a habit can be tricky and you don’t have to be an addict to need a little assistance. And if you want to get your kids to listen and stay clean, then you must lead by example. This goes for more than just drugs and drinking, but for all negative behaviors. Everyone who quits is happier and healthier. Quitting is inevitable, so why not now?
Scott Spackey is a California Registered Addiction Specialist, Interventionist, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Life-Coach. For more information, please call 661-299-1966 and email: Scott@Life-Mind.com .