Understanding the characteristics of food addiction

Understanding the characteristics of food addiction is an important part of recovery. We want to increase our awareness of the dynamics of our addiction and to realize the pain of holding on to it.

Physical Craving – The phenomena of physical craving is triggered by the ingestion of addictive food substances.  This craving is unique to “real food addicts”.  Craving is physiological.  It is the physical response to an addictive trigger.  Abstinence is based on the elimination of addictive foods that trigger those cravings.  Describe how you experienced physical cravings.  .

Mental Obsession – We become preoccupied with our addictive food substances.  Obsession is continual thinking about the positive effects of binge food.  We think constantly about those foods that give us a high. Obsession is mental in nature.  Food addicts obsess about weight too.  How did your thoughts feed your addiction?

Compulsive Behavior – Compulsion is loss of control or inability to stop eating.  Compulsion is behavioral. With every failed attempt to control eating behavior, we feel even more hopeless, useless, and worthless. The greatest damage to self-esteem comes from repeated failures at trying to change addictive behavior.  There are different types of binge eating behaviors.  Some food addicts are grazers, eating all day long.  Others are bingers who eat a large amount of food in a short period of time.  Whichever pattern, the food addict eats compulsively and is unable to control eating behavior.  What is it like to lose control over eating and food?

Change begins with abstinence.  When we eliminate addictive trigger foods, cravings subside.  Then we can use the tools of recovery to manage our thoughts and change our behavior.  Seeking our Higher Power through the Twelve Steps, meetings, support of a sponsor, recovery literature and phone calls are the power tools that help us change our thinking and our actions.