Please remember, this column is designed to help the consumer seeking behavioral-health information, and not intended to be any form of psychotherapy or a replacement for professional, individualized services. Opinions expressed in the column are those of the columnist and do not represent the position of other SelfhelpMagazine.com staff.

Question

I have been trying to change my eating habits to reduce a mild case of high blood pressure (moderately high normal). After reading a number of books on blood pressure I understand how important it is. And after trying several new recipes from healthy heart cookbooks, I made some progress. Then I slowly went back to my old habits. I am afraid I am losing my motivation and becoming discouraged. What is wrong with me?

Answer

Keep trying to change! You are normal because it takes most people several tries to change lifestyle habits. Current psychological research indicates the truth that habit change is difficult, but also shows that most people can eventually change if they keep trying. Most people make a few unsuccessful attempts to change before the real change occurs. Psychologists view the unsuccessful attempts as stages in learning to change and getting ready to change.

After you are determined to make the changes and have begun some actions, you are only part way there. At this stage most people need support from others. So make sure you get plenty of support from friends and colleagues and pay attention to rewarding yourself for good behavior. Another way to get needed support is from on line support groups. Just use the "List and Links" button and check out the groups for ones you are interested in!

The final stage in habit change is the maintenance of new behavior. If you begin to backslide at this stage remember what you have done previously. You can do it again, and it will be easier because of all you know. Turning things around gets easier all the time.

3/12/98

Deborah G. Alicen, Ph.D., is a private practice psychologist who lives in Plainfield, Vermont--a transplanted Southerner who still can't say "cows" the way real Vermonters do. She has spent the last twelve years working mostly with children, adolescents, and adults recovering from sexual abuse and domestic violence.