While all of us have dangerous habits, there’s a number of which are thought of worse than others as a result of not solely do they put you in danger, however others as effectively. Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies explains, “There are habits out there that are so common in our society but unbelievably sinister. They are so unhealthy, to the point of being unconscionably evil. Just think about all of your habits that negatively impact your health [and hurt others too]. Some habits are so ingrained in our society that we don’t even bat an eyelash at them. We do them without thinking, and they have become so normalized that we don’t even see the harm in them.” So what are these dangerous habits and why are they so evil? Read on—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
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What Are Habits Exactly?
Dr. Mitchell says, “We all have them. Some of us have good habits, like exercising regularly or eating a healthy diet. Others have less desirable habits, like biting our nails or procrastinating. But what are habits, and why do we create them? Simply put, habits are behaviors that we perform automatically, without giving them much thought. They are often based on cues in our environment, such as the time of day or location. For example, you might automatically reach for a cup of coffee as soon as you wake up in the morning. We develop habits because they save us time and energy. Consider our coffee-drinking example. If we had to think about every little detail required to make coffee – boiling water, grinding beans, measuring milk – we would quickly become overwhelmed. Habits allow us to automate these actions to perform them without thinking. Of course, not all habits are created equal. While some habits can simplify our lives and help us achieve our goals, other practices can be harmful to our health or productivity and others. That’s why it’s essential to be aware of the habits we create and how they impact our lives. By doing so, we can make sure that our practices are not evil or sinister. Here are a few unhealthy, albeit evil, habits. Keep reading until the end, as I saved the ‘best’ for last.”
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Smoking
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that, “More than 480,000 deaths annually (including deaths from secondhand smoke).” “Exposure to secondhand smoke causes an estimated 41,000 deaths each year among adults in the United States. Secondhand smoke causes 7,333 annual deaths from lung cancer. Secondhand smoke causes 33,951 annual deaths from heart disease.” Dr. Mitchell says, “Despite the well-known risks of smoking cigarettes, they are still legal to purchase and easy to find. Cigarettes generate billions of dollars in revenue each year in the United States alone. This money comes from the habits of smokers, many of whom are addicted to nicotine. Cigarettes are often seen as a sinful or evil habit, unhealthy for smokers and those around them. The reality is that smoking is harmful to nearly every organ in the body, and it is a leading cause of cancer. Despite this, cigarettes continue to be sold, and society still profits from their sale. This is because habits are difficult to break, and society has become addicted to the money that cigarettes provide. Until we can find a way to break this cycle, cigarettes will continue to take a toll on our health and economy. Selling cigarettes with known cancer-causing toxins and many other health challenges is evil. Cigarette smoking is one of the most unhealthy habits that a person can have. It is an evil, sinister habit that leads to many health risks, including cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. Smoking is also a significant risk factor for other conditions, such as stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to the health risks associated with smoking, cigarette smoking is also a significant risk factor for other problems, such as fires and injuries.”
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Texting and Driving
Dr. Mitchell states, “Habits are funny things. We can do them without even thinking about it. Something as simple as taking a sip of coffee in the morning or putting on deodorant before leaving the house. We do these things so regularly that they become second nature. But habits can also be evil little creatures. Wicked things can take over our lives without us even realizing it. And one of the most unhealthy habits that have taken over America is texting while driving. Most people have texted while driving, whether at a red light or in the middle of an empty highway. However, is this common habit worth risking your life, those in your car, or an innocent stranger? I know that the answer is no. The text can wait. we can put our phones in settings to let people know we are unavailable. Also, people who send messages need to understand and respect that we can’t always get to messages right away, and it’s unfair to put that kind of pressure on people—texting while driving is a dangerous habit that needs to be stopped. So let’s break this habit together and make our roads safer for everyone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 3,500 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2016. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of our habits that could be putting our lives at risk. Only by recognizing the dangers can we hope to avoid them.”
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Excessive Alcohol Use
The CDC states, “More than 140,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year,” and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says, “Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, these deaths reached the lowest percentage since 1982 when NHTSA started reporting alcohol data — but still 10,142 people lost their lives. These deaths were all preventable.” According to Dr. Mitchell, “As a society, we tend to glorify alcohol and its excessive consumption. So many of our events are associated with drinking, and games and breaking the ice often involve drinking. So why do we send such mixed signals around activity with many health risks? Alcohol is habit forming and quickly leads to addiction. It is also very unhealthy for our liver and can cause many other problems, including cancer. It is a depressant and impairs our judgment. Alcohol also contributes to violence and accidents. We need to rethink our relationship with alcohol and send a clear message that excessive consumption is not relaxed or fun; it is dangerous and harmful.”
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Having a Negative Attitude
“It’s essential to be aware of the attitude you carry with you day-to-day,” Dr. Mitchell emphasizes. “Believe it or not, your attitude can be a real problem. How? Well, let me tell you a story. Once, there was a woman who had a habit of seeing only the negative in every situation. If something good happened, she found a way to complain about it. If something terrible happened, she complained even more. This woman’s negativity was so intense that it began to poison the people around her. Her husband and children stopped confiding in her because they knew she would only find ways to criticize them. Her friends stopped inviting her to their parties because they couldn’t stand her negative energy. Even strangers avoided her because her sour expressions made them feel uncomfortable. This woman’s habits had made her an outsider in her own life. And all because she refused to see the good in the world. It’s easy to fall into the trap of negativity. Unfortunately, having a negative attitude is one of a person’s evilest habits. Why? Because a negative attitude can lead to all sorts of injustices in our society. When we speak badly about others behind their backs, we hurt their reputation and undermine their confidence. When we take advantage of others, we exploit their vulnerabilities and violate their trust. When we have a negative attitude, we poison our happiness and sour our relationships with others. So please, take a moment to evaluate your attitude. If you’re regularly putting down other people or speaking badly about them, try to catch yourself and change your behavior. We would all be better off if we could be a little nicer. We see injustices in our society, and we become angry and resentful. But if we allow that anger to turn into hatred, we’re the ones who suffer in the end.”
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Being Overly Sensitive To The Truth
“People think that by sugarcoating the truth, they are doing a favor to others,” says Dr. Mitchell. “However, this is not the case. Sugarcoating the truth is harmful to the development of individuals. When people sugarcoat the fact, they are not being honest. This creates a false sense of reality and prevents people from developing the habits of critical thinking and objectivity. As a result, people become overly sensitive to the truth and sugarcoat everything. This destroys the sense of self-pride, work ethic, creativity, and resiliency, which are essential for our mental health. It is almost evil to sugarcoat tough challenges to our children because it doesn’t help them grow into mature members of society. Being honest and telling the truth, even if it hurts, is vital for the development of individuals and the health of the community as a whole.”
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Turning a Blind Eye to Social Injustice
Dr. Mitchell says, “Habits are things we do regularly, often without realizing it. They can be good habits, like brushing our teeth every day, or bad habits, like biting our nails. Some habits are minor nuisances, while others can significantly impact our lives. So many people have a terrible habit of turning a blind eye to social injustice. This habit is evil for several reasons. First, it causes the individual to become numb to the plight of others. When we see someone suffer and do nothing to help, we become desensitized to their pain. Second, this habit sets a bad example for others. When we turn a blind eye to injustice, we effectively tell others that it is okay to do the same. Third, and most importantly, this habit allows society’s ills to perpetuate. Racism, discrimination, and ignorance are allowed to continue when good people do nothing to stop them.” And to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
