Long term addictive personality

Hi there,

I made a small investment in some shares not too long ago as a long term investment. The money is money I can afford to loose, and I showed restraint in not getting sucked in. Rather than ‘play the stock market’ my intention is to make a safe long term investment in a company, and to receive a small dividend at the end of each financial year. Now that I’ve made the investment and am happy with it, I would like to forget about it for a half year/year plus.

The problem, which is self perpetuated by my struggle with adrenal fatigue as well as an addictive nature, is I can’t stop checking the share price or thinking about it, despite it being a fairly low risk long term investment and a maximum daily fluctuation of 0.05p!

I’m trying my best to work on the physical aspect of my very poor health with diet and supplements, however I’ve been bogged down with a type A personality – addictive, socially anxious, perfectionist for most of my teenage and adult life. These personality traits I believe triggered my frequent and over the top adrenaline responses, which led to adrenal exhaustion.

My past has been littered with addictions and unhealthy habits, despite my lifestyle not really being damaged – i.e. no violence, drugs, relationship losses – friends or family or financial problems. However what I will hook onto – anything money related, either fear or over the top excitability and addiction ‘to the idea’, hobbies – I’ll want to be the best at it from the word go, otherwise it will gather dust. If it’s a new computer game I’ll play it for hours on end which will lead to apathy and feel frustrated that I spent so much time on it. And then there is the daily addictive trait of me checking web pages and emails multiple times.

Everything is made harder now I have adrenal fatigue, and I’m struggling to shut out these toxic thoughts that need dealing with as they will always be there. It keeps me up at night and permanently in alert mode. I work in IT and need to make sure that my addictive traits don’t creep into my job, or that my job (or response to it) fuels my addictive traits. It’s tough as it’s front of a screen all day.

Can anyone recommend some forms of counselling that may help or some gentle, non addictive activities I could get involved in? Baring in mind I have to re-program traits that I’ve had for 10+ years (I’m 24) it’s no easy task, and I’m put off by it because its looks so difficult.

Is it of any help to try and dig up the past and retrace past feelings? Or would a present and future driven goal approach be more beneficial?

I would greatly appreciate any comments in this area, and any links to any online resources, groups that may be able to help.

Many thanks

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