All 'solutions' are gonna be like that.
I contradict.
I agree insofar as real solutions sometimes are hard to achieve.
The "clever" way is much easier, and quicker, plus there often is lots of money in it, so when problems are not actually solved but replaced by others, even more ones, the money flow stays, or even grows. That's why "economical competent" politicians enthuse those. Plus those "solutions" are easy to get a majority for. They are easy to explain plausibly, because they only view at a limited, so simplified section of the whole, and they're easy, quickly and cheap to achieve.
But they don't solve anything really in the long term, only replace a problem by others.
Real problem solutions need effort, often need change of habits, change of points of view, large debates in society, change of societies,... but they are not impossible.
There are not only whole books by experts explaining how to achieve real solutions on any field, but there are also lots of examples about real solutions achieved.
To stay in the topic let's take a look at "smaller", individual problems to be solved - the "clever", and an actual real way:
Imagine some one has an addiction to drugs (alcohol, nicotine, THC.)
One suppose to seem clever solution was to focus on something else instead, for example instead eating sweets. The result could be this person may actually stop smoking, but instead now is addicted to sugar, which may even lead to binge eating.
So, problem not solved, but simply replaced by another one. Maybe less problematic. Maybe worse. Depends on the addiction, and the replacement. In this example the person burdens new, additional loads to her body through binge eating, while the ones from the former addiciton are not healed yet.
So, no actual solution, really.
Especially not, when the person backslides again the result may be: Formerly she just smoked. Now she smokes
and binge eats.
Alcoholics and nicotine addicts have an extremely high risk to backslide.
For sure walks in nature are never a bad idea, but always a good and supporting thing, no question. But they are highly questionable to be the only cure when it comes to real addictions on nicotine and alcohol.
For a real solution at first needs to be understood: When it comes to a real drug addiciton there is not "just some bad habits", only, (that's what
drhowarddrfine or
kent_dorfman766 described), but also psychological addiction
s, and above all - depending on substances, the amount of time, doses taken - actually real physical addiction
s.
Those cause withdrawal symptoms. Both physical and psychological ones. And you don't need heroine to get heavy withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine, and alcohol already can, and with a real addiction
will cause a lot of symptoms. Heavy symptoms. Sometimes even so strong they need medical treatment. Do you not underestimate that! We are not talking strawberry chewing gum here.
Anyway, for many they are too extreme to hold out. That's why "cold turkey" not seldom fails (While it's always the best first shot you give it anyway.)
And they last long. For nicotine the hardest withdrawal symptoms are over within a few days, but the longing for a cigarette ("Just let me smell, only") will last months, even years. That's why many addicts - especially smokers, especially alcoholics - not get rid of their shit, really, but easily backslide, even ten years after they thought they were over the shit. They always find waterproof explanations to not really solve their problem, at least not "now", but another time ("Next year! Really!! I promise!!!" - You can put your back on a person, but never on a drug), or why it's useless to even try stopping, find reasons to continue ("I simply love smoking." - yeah. right. sure. most times being single handed, while holding a cigarette in the other hand is fantastic. stepping out every half an hour, hastily do some quick pulls, freezing in wind and rain, is lovely. i spent a middle class Mercedes on cigarettes. that's very nice. but the best part are the sudden cough attacks, and the every morning almost barfing while brushing your teeths. man, how i miss that. what's not to love about this? what do you love most about smoking? the overflowing ashtray on your desk? the lack of oxygen support at even lightest bodily work? the loss of smell and taste? it's the pale skin and stink of cigarette smokes that makes one so attractive to others, right? especially to potential new partners. but no, let me guess: it's the bulletproof stress resistance only smokers have. yeah, always totally cool. a solid rock. especially when the package is almost empty, and you know there will be no new one for the next 24h. or you had no smoke for several hours. really deep relaxation, nobody and nothing else can provide such. but i could list hundreds of things, i know i miss the real reason why you love smoking: i simply do not understand why, right?)
I know, what I'm talking, because I not only witnessed several alcoholics and nicotine addicts, but I've been through all of this myself.
Especially when drugs are combined, the problem is more complex. There is a real danger to shift from one drug to the other, e.g. drink more alcohol while trying to stop smoking, or vice versa.
At second for a real solution also needs to be understood, in
all cases of drug abuse there are always issues involved not known to be handled another way.
Those can be just small, and harmless things like: "I just have an after work beer to relax/celebrate ('because I don't know [yet] another way.')"
Nicotine and alcohol are in most of our societies the #1 drugs to deal with stress quickly and easily - the "clever" way. On the one hand, our societies produce a lot of stress, but on the other hand they neither teach other ways, nor leave time to deal with it better. ("Just get yourself a drink, and distract yourself! - problem(s) solved, quickly and easy.")
The amount of time alone may convert something harmless into something serious - mostly unrecognized until it's too late. So, many alcoholics, and nicotine addicts became addicted just because of long term usage, instead of dealing with stress better ways, as we also see some good examples how to do that here.
But dealing with stress better will also not do it alone anymore if a real addiction was already developed.
Additionally drugs often are abused for unresolved issues from a personal past. The soldier became an alcoholic are a classic example. But there are many, many more causes, often deeply buried in the unconscious self. Another example was a failed partnership, the not understanding for the why it failed, and the impossibility to find, and solve the according issues for future partnerships by oneself.
And there are many more causes, why people abuse drugs, flee from reality, avoid life.
Depending on how deep some one already is in the rabbit hole, it simply cannot be solved anymore just with "good walks at the fresh air" - no matter how good and recommendable they are in any case. At a certain point the "clever" solutions, shifting problems won't help anymore, but real solutions have to be engaged, or the catastrophy is unavoidable.
Problems need to be solved at their roots. Disguise of symptoms are not enough.
At the latest if some one admits to addictions, wants to get rid of those, and tried for some years, but failed, at least it needs be checked, how deep one is in the rabbit hole. If there is a chance to get out of it alone, or if professional help is indicated.
Anything else then was kind of a mislead, distraction, but anyway only leads deeper into the rabbit hole.
If this is not stopped, it's only a question of time really bad things happen.
Better avoid that in time.
But, as I said, I can only advice, not help.
I wonder if seagulls can be trained to do the same thing!
www.dailyecho.co.uk
