Understanding Maladaptive Behaviors through 'Follow the Function'

Why do you have bad habits? If a behavior is causing you significant distress, why can it still be so difficult to change despite the obvious pain that it causes? The answer to this question lies in an analysis of the function a given behavior performs in the context of your life. Most likely, on some level, you believe that the habit's persistence is still a net positive. To really change a behavior, you need to find other, more adaptive ways to perform the same function as your bad habit.