I need help overcoming an unusual and quirky habit...?

Question

I hum!

I hum ALL the time, and I am driving myself crazy!

I hum when I eat, I hum when I am watching TV, I hum when I am on the phone. I hum when I'm driving, working, bathing, trying to nap, playing tag with my snooze alarm, working in the yard, and in between my own sentences when talking to others.

I am humming now while I write this, and I will be humming later while you read it. If I'm awake, I am humming.

I've been doing it for years and I have tried to stop but I can't. The instant I stop monitoring myself and saying 'don't hum, don't hum...' I start humming again.
How common is that?
What causes it?
Is it some kind of nervous tic?
How can I STOP?!? Any thoughts or advice would be welcome.

Answer 1

It's a good old fashioned habit that you can break if you want to. Concentrating on the problem is not the answer, which you are already quite aware of. Make a conscious decision to do something else that you want to do. Be that just being silent, or something else, and work on that. The behavior that you want to be rid of is best rid of by not concentrating on it.

Answer 2

Try using the punishment technique. This method consists of associating your habit with a disastrous effect, the worst you think there is. For example, start inducing yourself thoughts like "if I hum one more time, my penis will become smaller", "if I hum, my house will burn down", or whatever else you can think of, that is very negative for your functioning.

Will your habit change all of a sudden? No. Will you forget about it sometimes? Yes. But eventually, the things that have a huge impact on our life (negatively) will pop up in your mind more and more often, ending up with each time you do it, until you stop.

I hope this helps, and that you will, eventually, be able to stop it. I'd give it 1 month. Good luck.

Answer 3

I think it has definitely become a nervous habit. It sounds to me like you're trying to fill your head with sound all the time, perhaps because it keeps you from thinking about something you don't want to think about. It could also be a nervous tic found in ADHD or OCD.

Here's an interesting link for you to read over.

Answer 4

If it your happy humming who really cares if you hum all the time it is weird though.

Answer 5

Perhaps you are a humming bird.

In that case, your written English is excellent! I guess you are a hunt and peck typist.

Answer 6

haha ya even as i'm wearing a hoodie i pick to tug the hood around the side of my head and canopy my mouth even as i'm questioning or interpreting. no longer particular why I do it, its comforting for some reason lol

Answer 7

dude um hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i hummmmmmmm dont