| Some people are indeed addicted to food and in | | | | Similarly, a food addict will turn to certain comfort |
| some cases they treat eating almost like a drug. | | | | foods when they are upset about something in their |
| Those who are really addicted to food can develop | | | | life or feel stressed out. This is an example of |
| all sorts of problems in their life as a direct result of | | | | emotional eating, and obviously this is a form of |
| eating too much, or eating unhealthy foods. | | | | medicating that is very similar to how people use |
| One of the bigger hurdles with eating addiction | | | | drugs or alcohol. |
| comes from the fact that the recovery strategy | | | | Food addicts can deliberately raise their consciousness |
| cannot really be complete abstinence from all food, | | | | and see when they are reaching for a bag of potato |
| like we would do for drugs or alcohol. Instead of this, | | | | chips out of boredom or frustration, instead of to |
| those who have food addiction have to learn | | | | satisfy genuine hunger. Many people get bored and |
| moderation, something this is pretty much seen as an | | | | will simply much on things that they don't really need. |
| unlikely outcome when it comes to handling other | | | | Others will munch on food simply out of habit, such |
| types of addictions. We all have to live to eat...there | | | | as when they watch television. |
| is no abstinence-based option for food addiction | | | | In the same way, drug addicts take drugs for much |
| recovery. This makes it trickier to recover from than | | | | the same motivations. Habits form slowly over time, |
| some other types of addictions, where a person can | | | | and drug addicts might also try drugs out of sheer |
| abstain entirely, such as drugs, gambling, and so on. | | | | boredom also. The parallels here are pretty obvious |
| In spite of this stark difference, food addiction is | | | | and so it naturally follows that those who have an |
| actually quite similar to drug addiction. This is because | | | | issue with eating addiction are really using food just |
| of the general underlying principle for which addicts | | | | like they would an addictive substance. They are self |
| tend to use drugs and alcohol or eat emotionally in an | | | | medicating for a number of different reasons by |
| addictive way. In each of these instances, addicts are | | | | getting a small rush that comes from filling up our |
| using either eating or chemical substances in order to | | | | stomachs and giving our taste buds something to |
| deal with their emotions. | | | | chew on. |
| When someone with drug addiction has a rough day | | | | Due to these parallels, addicts and emotional eaters |
| or becomes angered with a situation, they will | | | | have discovered a unique recovery strategy, in that |
| generally resort to self medicating with their drug of | | | | they can all use the idea of supporting and helping |
| choice in order to feel better about themselves. | | | | others who struggle with the same issues. |