Copyright © 1999

How do you deal with stress, despair, anger, boredom, sadness, or procrastination? Many people duck dealing with these things. Instead they choose others things to cover or comfort them so they don't have to deal with them at the time.

The trouble with this is that problems keep getting swept under the preverbal rug until there are mountains of unresolved problems continually tripping the person up. At this point it is difficult for the person to carry on a normal life.

The item that they have chosen for comfort to cover up life's problems usually becomes a problem too, because it is being used to an excess.

Anything done in excess, to the exclusion of friends, family, God, and community, is an addiction, Whether it is:

• DRUGS

• TOBACCO

• ALCOHOL

• GAMBLING

• PORNOGRAPHY

• TV WATCHING

• SPENDING SPREES

• EXERCISE

• VIDEO GAMES

• SERVICE

• FOOD!

There are three basic stages in any addictive process. First, there is a change in the thought process. Second, there is a change in how people deal with life's ups and downs and relationships with others. Third, their lives and their physical and mental well-being erodes to the point where there is no control. As a result suicide may become a viable way out of their problems (Sheppard, 1993; Nakken, 1988).

Understanding The Addictive Cycle

• First: The person feels the need to eat because of physical hunger, but it is usually excessive.
• Then: The person feels better for a time, but then...
• Then: The person feels pain and guilt for eating.
• Finally: The whole process begins again because the person seeks relief from the pain and guilt by eating.

Change in the Thought Process

• The individual finds that food makes them feel good.
• They substitute food instead of dealing with their problems.
• The addictive cycle begins
• The addictive self takes over.
• He/She substitutes addictive logic to explain illogical actions.
• When the normal self tries to point out flaws in the addictive logic, the addictive self points out the pleasurable aspects of the addiction.

Change in Dealing with Life and Others

• Questions about the addict's logic is perceived as an attack on the him/her.
• The addict practices objectification and can't understand why others get upset.
• The addict to feels righteous indignation and withdrawals further from others.
• The normal self watches as loved ones are hurt and pushed away.
• The normal self feels ashamed. To cope, he/she blames others.
• The addicted person is labeled as a problem and becomes the scapegoat for most of the problems which takes place.
• The more the addict acts out the more isolated s/he becomes.
• The addict gains a tolerance to the chemicals now controlling mood. It takes more food to get the same high get or to be normal in mood otherwise s/he is depressed.
• The addict acts out more frequently and dangerously, such as bingeing & purging.
• Due to shame and denial of one's loss of control, the addict's becomes more secretive.
• The addictive self would rather tell a lie than the truth, even when there is no reason to lie.

Physical and Mental Breakdown

• The pain from loneliness, shame, and anger are almost continual.
• Overeating doesn't cover the pain, any more, it only adds more pain.
• When eating no longer eases the pain, the addictive logic breaks down.
• The pressure of stored feelings mounts up. It causes emotional and/or physical breakdown.
• The normal self dreads each new day.
• Stopping the addictive cycle causes physical withdrawal and a grieving process for the lost relationship with food.
• There are only two ways out of this stage of the addiction - intervention or suicide.
• Most addicts are stopped though intervention of help from friends or loved ones.
• The chances of recovery are good even though it requires total commitment by the addict and a complete lifestyle change.
• Without intervention, the tormented normal self decides to put a stop to it all and commits suicide.

There are minute but distinct differences between the food abuser and the food addicted person. These differences take place in steps. First, emotionally, then psychologically, and finally, physiologically. The food abuser binges (eats excessive amounts of food in a short period of time) on food because of the love of food itself. This is not good for two reasons. Overeating causes people to be overweight or obese. It sets the stage for the abuser to slip into emotional addiction (Nay, 1996).

• Emotionally, the food abuser becomes an emotional food addict when s/he chooses to use food to control mood, stress, and or loss. Psychologically, the emotional food addicted person becomes a psychologically addicted when s/he falls in to the addictive cycle. This is where the addicted person abuses food to control his or her life or emotions. S/He feels shame or guilty because of the abuse, and abuses food again to cover up the shame and guilt (Nay, 1996).
• Physiologically, the psychologically addicted individual continues in the cycle, downing mega-doses of carbohydrates and sugar which gives the brain a chemical high. The psychologically addicted person does this so often that the body gains a tolerance to the chemicals in those foods. This then causes the addict to eat more and more to feel normal in his or her mood. It is at this point the psychologically addicted person becomes a physiological one (Nay, 1996; Sheppard, 1993).
• The physiologically addicted person cannot stop the addictive cycle. S/He is chemically bound to continue it or go through chemical withdrawal and depression. Depression may continue indefinitely depending on whether the bodies regular chemical sites, which have shut down, will restart after the abuse has stopped (Sheppard, 1993; Nakken, 1988).

1. Admit you need help from your Heavenly Father and ask for His help.

2. Do your part to succeed.

• This may mean you will need the advice or care of a professional.
• You may need the help of a support group.

3. Realize changes take time to made.

Nakken, C. (1988). The Addictive Personality. Hazelden Foundation: U.S.

Nay, A (1996) A Wholistic Approach to the Control of Obesity.

Sheppard, K. (1989). Food Addiction. Heath Communication, Inc.: FL.

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