Self-medicating
Instead of dealing with their problems head-on, many people try to by-pass them by self-medicating with drinks, cigarettes, food, or anything else that activates the pleasure centers in their brain. What they don’t realize is that self-medication may work in the short term but can cause real damage in the long run.
According to Steven Rosenberg, PhD, a psychotherapist and behavioral specialist, people turn to such practices to help them deal with feelings of low self-esteem. Drinking too much, overeating, taking sleeping pills…these are all methods to avoid dealing with reality and potential failures.