Food addiction is unlike a lot of addictions in that the line is gray when it comes to determining if eating is ruling your life.
Unlike drinking, acting out sexually, or gambling, you have to eat. And society may not be too sympathetic to your plight when it comes to trying to save your own life by not indulging in your food addiction. If you did a scan, you will find that many sober living in new jersey had a similar story in the past.
One of the characteristics of a food addiction is that you have a mental obsession and a physical craving. The cycle of craving starts, you give in to the obsession, and you eat something that you know will make you sick or sicker then you feel awful physically, emotionally, and mentally. You swear you will never do it again, like drinking, but as soon as the obsession comes back you’re off to the races again. You may crave cheese, for example and then refuse to buy it, knowing it will upset your stomach and that once you start eating it, you cannot stop. (Source: Over eaters Anonymous).
You rationalize that since you’re no stocking it, you’re in control. But you’re not. Because every week you go to the grocery store to buy regular food, you purchase four string cheese sticks and eat them as you shop. You pay for them at the end of your shopping trip and tell yourself that it was only four pieces and that it doesn’t matter that it messes with your colon; that it won’t be so bad.
Sometimes the food addict grows up with lots of different cheeses in the house and, like an alcoholic, cannot help himself or herself. They are indulgent with it at a young age, and, like their chocolate addiction, they binge on it knowing that it will make them ill yet as soon as they feel better they do it again. That is one definition of insanity. (Source: Food Addicts Anonymous).
Food Addicts Anonymous views food addiction as a biochemical disease.
Some food addicts get addicted to laxatives. They binge then purge with the laxatives when they get so chronically constipated from their addiction to cheese, chocolate, and peanut butter that they have to have some relief. They may have visited the hospital as young as five years old because of impactions. (Source: Cobb General Hospital). They often feel cheated much like an alcoholic who is told he cannot drink. They are angry and depressed that they cannot eat like other people. (Source: Realization Center Food Addiction Program).
Unlike an alcoholic or gambler, a food addict does not feel like she can talk to anyone about her problem because of shame and embarrassment. People who do not suffer from food addiction often joke about loving chocolate or cheese.
“Can’t get enough of it,” they say with a laugh.
A true food addict knows it’s no laughing matter and they feel alone in their addiction.
A food addict can also miss work because they have to stay home recovering from their latest binge. For instance, if they have binged on one of those forbidden foods and have to stay home to get relief after a bout of medications/enemas they spend the next day as well recovering and depleted, often experiencing diarrhea and/or fatigue from doing that to their body.
But, through the years there has grown a burgeoning recovery community for this perilous addiction and there are now food addiction treatment centers, groups, and recovery places available for the battle.
Over the last few years, Internet addiction has become a far more frequent problem. While the health risks might not be as severe as with a substance addiction, Internet addiction can be detrimental to your marriage. If you feel that your spouse might be suffering from an Internet addiction, you’re better off addressing the problem immediately than allowing it to continue. The process for overcoming any addiction begins with acknowledging its hold over you, so you might have to help your spouse realize that he or she has a problem.
