Unwanted Habits or Procrastination

What is procrastination?

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Procrastination is the act of avoiding something through delay or postponement. At times people may procrastinate when gaps exist between intentions and action, avoidance of an activities, finding oneself easily distracted or overwhelmed by tasks, as well as the feeling of always being rushed to complete an objective.  

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Some feelings often brought about with procrastination and unwanted habits are:

• Guilt

• Shame

• Anxiety

• Regret

• Anger

Why do we procrastinate?

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It has been found that the reason people procrastinate is due to our brains receiving a reward for avoidance, and creating a habit. In these moments, avoidance brings immediate relief from the stress associated with completing the necessary tasks. Although discomfort exists in the final moments before a task is due, people infrequently think about the past or future when they are procrastinating.

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What is the treatment for procrastination? 

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In working with Dr. Kamis, the first step in the treatment of procrastination is noticing when one is procrastinating and building our awareness of the issue at hand.  Next, Dr. Kamis will help you identify cognitive distortions working in the cognitive behavioral therapy model and recognizing the emotions we experience at these times. In addition, she helps patients build their willpower, tackling more difficult or overwhelming tasks earlier in the day while integrating mindfulness practices to help identify the cognitive distortions and pay attention to ourselves and our inner processes.

Other unwanted habits treated include:

• Skin picking

• Hair pulling

• Nail biting

• Late night snacking