
I learned about this acronym in therapy a little over 8 years ago. It’s one of the things I hold dear because it makes the most sense to me. It stands for:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
Bored
Stressed
Why’s HALT BS so important? If you feel or are in any of these emotional/physical states of being, then you’re more likely to relapse into your self-destructive tendencies, whatever they may be. For me, they are:
- Overeating
- Over sleeping
- Depression
- Suicidal ideations
- Being anti-social
- Negative self-talk
When I first learned about HALT BS, I didn’t really understand it or believe it. Now that I’ve relapsed into my self-destructive ways several times since I’ve learned about it, I’ve realized how true this concept is. I relapse most often when I’m in one of these states of beings. All of these emotions, except anger, really affect me and push me over the edge, especially boredom.
I love that you can form the acronym HALT BS with these emotions. It helps me to remember to stop, think, and act instead of just continually BSing through life and acting toward my tendencies or what’s “normal” for me in moments of “distress.” It helps me to remember that I’m working to change my “normal” so that positive and healthy behaviors become second nature to me. It also reminds me why self-care is so important. As I’m engaged in one of my self-care methods, it’s harder for these states of beings to creep in and wreak havoc in my life.