Can't stop doing things that are bad for me

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I have a problem. If something is causing me to overload I still maintain a compulsion to carry on with the activity. I don't know how to "switch off". I feel like I'm lacking a natural drive to disengage from something that causes me harm. Anyone else have this?

Find something else to do that interests you but doesn't cause you harm (not sure what exactly you mean by "cause you harm")

I kinda know what you mean, I used to do nothing but clean electronics all the time. If I feel the need to do it, which I don't anymore I could tell myself, "I'm just gonna clean the lens, dust it and then put it back together, no more than that." I would do what I committed to in my head and when it was done I feel like I have nothing that is going to drive me nuts like dirty electronics. If I decided to do another machine I would say to myself, "why? No one expects me to clean this." I did this with several interests that were very time consuming and it did not always work but it is worth a try.

One self destructive thing that I do, that's really bad for me, is drinking energy drinks. I've heard that those drinks, are like crack in a can. Why am I posting this here? I should be posting it, in the drug and alcohol thread. I can't stop drinking them.

I used to spend protracted hours in the studio making music. I remember I couldn't drag myself away. It really affected my health, sleep, eating, job... not good.

I think it's like an addiction. Treat it as such. It makes me think of gluten intolerants being addicted to wheat. Examine the undesirable qualities of the activity. Bring self awareness when you are engaged in the activity. Learn the point at which it is no longer fun and then quit. It's a matter of bringing will and awareness together. If you cannot impose reasonable limits with your time and energy in this particular activity, maybe you should stop it altogether.

I have a tendency to do whatever my special interest is in excess, too, and usually to the point of causing myself injury. At my therapist's suggestion I started using a timer which at first I didn't like, but she made the point that if I did whatever activity for 45 minutes, then I could avoid harming myself and I'd be saving some for the next day. That way all the sessions would be enjoyable and I'd avoid that unhealthy spiral. It works nicely when I do it, but of course, I have times when I ignore it altogether.

yeah... energy drinks... alcoholic drinks... alternating between starving and binge-eating... smoking?... the only thing i do that isn't bad for me is play computer games...

I have that problem and have had to slowly train myself to stop.