...thats a real good curiosity!

I have been thinking about how to respond for about 85 minutes now and I still scratch my head?

Simple answer...I either do it or I don't. There is no 'staving off' for me.

boredom never helps with it. boredom suggests that 'things' are sort of ok...like complacency...and if 'things' are ok (which they really can be and it's great)..if 'things' are ok...

...it's so much easier to say to self "yeh why not?...I can handle it at the moment"

I don't know how the addictions you mention affect you?.
mine spiral way out of control and I develop this bizarre but somehow believable notion that I must break myself into pieces...just so I can re-assemble them later..so I can find out who I am and what reality really is!

hmmm

I guess you mean by 'staving off'...."how can I distract myself from acting out these powerful urges".

...what do I intend to get out of it?
...can I handle it?
...do I even want to handle it?
...will it solve my deeper issues?
...will it truely satisfy me?
...do I need to slide back just so I can move forward again?
...is it worth it?
...and is there another way?

I guess the answer is more direct questions..