frustrated

[Guest guest]

Hi All!I wanted to get some thoughts from you about a conversation I had with my counselor today. She has several times mentioned that she thinks I have a food addiction. I have tried to mention that I think I need to learn how to not use food to cope with whatever emotions I am having. I think she has really helped me with a lot of things, but this issue just frustrates me. I really feel like the whole addiction road gives the power and control over to the food. "Oh no, I have to go to a party and there will be food there. Be afraid be very afraid" and if you "slip" or "relapes" you will have such a hard time getting back on the wagon. You can't hide from food. You can't protect yourself from being around it. I feel the only option is to be ok with it. Any thoughts are appreciated and I hope I'm not just being stubborn or sticking me head in the sand.ThanksBarb

[Guest guest]

I appreciate everyone who wants to talk about this topic and so does Gillian and we both understand that it is a part of life and we are not trying to sweep it under the rug. This list has a lot of newcomers to IE and this topic may cause them to fall into diet mentality again so we ask that all of you please talk about it privately or join Katcha's IE long haul group that is for people who have been practicing IE for a year or longer. This group has a good mix of both New IE and veteran IE that is why we get such great advice and encourage each other but sometimes we have to choose not to talk about certain topics that could cause people to stumble on the IE journey. As one of the moderators of this group I must ask all of you to respect Gillian's wishes and not talk about the food addiction topic Gillian very rarely asks the group not to discuss a toipic unless she has a good reason. Thanks so much everyone Eva

HI, All.

My two cents: Yes, we develop a dopamine driven urge to seek food, which has an opiate reward, and this is the fundamental model for an addiction. But what makes it different from all other addictions is that there is a vital human need for food and a built in mechanism in the body for dealing real or perceived threats of deprivation. And what we often call "food addiction" because it behaves like a drug addiction, is what happens when the body is threatened with food deprivation. While you can deal with any other addiction through abstinence, in the case of food addiction, it is abstinence itself, or the threat of it, which is the most frequent cause of it.

I do know that for me, going the "food addiction" route only contributed to my having less trust in myself and being more ravenous. Good luck, all.

April

We've had conversations about food addiction here before and if I remember right, we were told to stop talking about it the last time it was brought up. I think both you and your counselor have valid points though. And it should be a blend of both of your ideas, don't you think? Why would you be going to a counselor if you don't want to accept their ideas, and why would she be a counselor if she can't help?

I know some here don't want us to think about food addiction because that gives all the power to the food. However, anyone who's is recovering from any other kind of addiction knows it takes a different kind of counseling to deal with it. No you can't escape food and you most certainly have to develop a whole new relationship with it, but you can't just will away an addiction. You asked are you sticking your head in the sand denying food addiction...and I think the answer is yes. I was very frustrated when the subject was ended last time as if it doesn't exist. I would truly benefit from a good exchange of ideas and advice on dealing with this subject in the real world. From the last time, it seems like several people had that same feeling too. If anyone wants, I'd love to discuss this privately since it doesn't seem to be what this list is about.

Best!SunnyIn Beaverton, OR

Hi All!I wanted to get some thoughts from you about a conversation I had with my counselor today. She has several times mentioned that she thinks I have a food addiction. I have tried to mention that I think I need to learn how to not use food to cope with whatever emotions I am having. I think she has really helped me with a lot of things, but this issue just frustrates me. I really feel like the whole addiction road gives the power and control over to the food. "Oh no, I have to go to a party and there will be food there. Be afraid be very afraid" and if you "slip" or "relapes" you will have such a hard time getting back on the wagon. You can't hide from food. You can't protect yourself from being around it. I feel the only option is to be ok with it. Any thoughts are appreciated and I hope I'm not just being stubborn or sticking me head in the sand.ThanksBarb

[Guest guest]

I appreciate everyone who wants to talk about this topic and so does Gillian and we both understand that it is a part of life and we are not trying to sweep it under the rug. This list has a lot of newcomers to IE and this topic may cause them to fall into diet mentality again so we ask that all of you please talk about it privately or join Katcha's IE long haul group that is for people who have been practicing IE for a year or longer. This group has a good mix of both New IE and veteran IE that is why we get such great advice and encourage each other but sometimes we have to choose not to talk about certain topics that could cause people to stumble on the IE journey. As one of the moderators of this group I must ask all of you to respect Gillian's wishes and not talk about the food addiction topic Gillian very rarely asks the group not to discuss a toipic unless she has a good reason. Thanks so much everyone Eva

HI, All.

My two cents: Yes, we develop a dopamine driven urge to seek food, which has an opiate reward, and this is the fundamental model for an addiction. But what makes it different from all other addictions is that there is a vital human need for food and a built in mechanism in the body for dealing real or perceived threats of deprivation. And what we often call "food addiction" because it behaves like a drug addiction, is what happens when the body is threatened with food deprivation. While you can deal with any other addiction through abstinence, in the case of food addiction, it is abstinence itself, or the threat of it, which is the most frequent cause of it.

I do know that for me, going the "food addiction" route only contributed to my having less trust in myself and being more ravenous. Good luck, all.

April

We've had conversations about food addiction here before and if I remember right, we were told to stop talking about it the last time it was brought up. I think both you and your counselor have valid points though. And it should be a blend of both of your ideas, don't you think? Why would you be going to a counselor if you don't want to accept their ideas, and why would she be a counselor if she can't help?

I know some here don't want us to think about food addiction because that gives all the power to the food. However, anyone who's is recovering from any other kind of addiction knows it takes a different kind of counseling to deal with it. No you can't escape food and you most certainly have to develop a whole new relationship with it, but you can't just will away an addiction. You asked are you sticking your head in the sand denying food addiction...and I think the answer is yes. I was very frustrated when the subject was ended last time as if it doesn't exist. I would truly benefit from a good exchange of ideas and advice on dealing with this subject in the real world. From the last time, it seems like several people had that same feeling too. If anyone wants, I'd love to discuss this privately since it doesn't seem to be what this list is about.

Best!SunnyIn Beaverton, OR

Hi All!I wanted to get some thoughts from you about a conversation I had with my counselor today. She has several times mentioned that she thinks I have a food addiction. I have tried to mention that I think I need to learn how to not use food to cope with whatever emotions I am having. I think she has really helped me with a lot of things, but this issue just frustrates me. I really feel like the whole addiction road gives the power and control over to the food. "Oh no, I have to go to a party and there will be food there. Be afraid be very afraid" and if you "slip" or "relapes" you will have such a hard time getting back on the wagon. You can't hide from food. You can't protect yourself from being around it. I feel the only option is to be ok with it. Any thoughts are appreciated and I hope I'm not just being stubborn or sticking me head in the sand.ThanksBarb

[Guest guest]

I appreciate everyone who wants to talk about this topic and so does Gillian and we both understand that it is a part of life and we are not trying to sweep it under the rug. This list has a lot of newcomers to IE and this topic may cause them to fall into diet mentality again so we ask that all of you please talk about it privately or join Katcha's IE long haul group that is for people who have been practicing IE for a year or longer. This group has a good mix of both New IE and veteran IE that is why we get such great advice and encourage each other but sometimes we have to choose not to talk about certain topics that could cause people to stumble on the IE journey. As one of the moderators of this group I must ask all of you to respect Gillian's wishes and not talk about the food addiction topic Gillian very rarely asks the group not to discuss a toipic unless she has a good reason. Thanks so much everyone Eva

HI, All.

My two cents: Yes, we develop a dopamine driven urge to seek food, which has an opiate reward, and this is the fundamental model for an addiction. But what makes it different from all other addictions is that there is a vital human need for food and a built in mechanism in the body for dealing real or perceived threats of deprivation. And what we often call "food addiction" because it behaves like a drug addiction, is what happens when the body is threatened with food deprivation. While you can deal with any other addiction through abstinence, in the case of food addiction, it is abstinence itself, or the threat of it, which is the most frequent cause of it.

I do know that for me, going the "food addiction" route only contributed to my having less trust in myself and being more ravenous. Good luck, all.

April

We've had conversations about food addiction here before and if I remember right, we were told to stop talking about it the last time it was brought up. I think both you and your counselor have valid points though. And it should be a blend of both of your ideas, don't you think? Why would you be going to a counselor if you don't want to accept their ideas, and why would she be a counselor if she can't help?

I know some here don't want us to think about food addiction because that gives all the power to the food. However, anyone who's is recovering from any other kind of addiction knows it takes a different kind of counseling to deal with it. No you can't escape food and you most certainly have to develop a whole new relationship with it, but you can't just will away an addiction. You asked are you sticking your head in the sand denying food addiction...and I think the answer is yes. I was very frustrated when the subject was ended last time as if it doesn't exist. I would truly benefit from a good exchange of ideas and advice on dealing with this subject in the real world. From the last time, it seems like several people had that same feeling too. If anyone wants, I'd love to discuss this privately since it doesn't seem to be what this list is about.

Best!SunnyIn Beaverton, OR

Hi All!I wanted to get some thoughts from you about a conversation I had with my counselor today. She has several times mentioned that she thinks I have a food addiction. I have tried to mention that I think I need to learn how to not use food to cope with whatever emotions I am having. I think she has really helped me with a lot of things, but this issue just frustrates me. I really feel like the whole addiction road gives the power and control over to the food. "Oh no, I have to go to a party and there will be food there. Be afraid be very afraid" and if you "slip" or "relapes" you will have such a hard time getting back on the wagon. You can't hide from food. You can't protect yourself from being around it. I feel the only option is to be ok with it. Any thoughts are appreciated and I hope I'm not just being stubborn or sticking me head in the sand.ThanksBarb

[Guest guest]

HI, All.

My two cents: Yes, we develop a dopamine driven urge to seek food, which has an opiate reward, and this is the fundamental model for an addiction. But what makes it different from all other addictions is that there is a vital human need for food and a built in mechanism in the body for dealing real or perceived threats of deprivation. And what we often call "food addiction" because it behaves like a drug addiction, is what happens when the body is threatened with food deprivation. While you can deal with any other addiction through abstinence, in the case of food addiction, it is abstinence itself, or the threat of it, which is the most frequent cause of it.

I do know that for me, going the "food addiction" route only contributed to my having less trust in myself and being more ravenous. Good luck, all.

April

We've had conversations about food addiction here before and if I remember right, we were told to stop talking about it the last time it was brought up. I think both you and your counselor have valid points though. And it should be a blend of both of your ideas, don't you think? Why would you be going to a counselor if you don't want to accept their ideas, and why would she be a counselor if she can't help?

I know some here don't want us to think about food addiction because that gives all the power to the food. However, anyone who's is recovering from any other kind of addiction knows it takes a different kind of counseling to deal with it. No you can't escape food and you most certainly have to develop a whole new relationship with it, but you can't just will away an addiction. You asked are you sticking your head in the sand denying food addiction...and I think the answer is yes. I was very frustrated when the subject was ended last time as if it doesn't exist. I would truly benefit from a good exchange of ideas and advice on dealing with this subject in the real world. From the last time, it seems like several people had that same feeling too. If anyone wants, I'd love to discuss this privately since it doesn't seem to be what this list is about.

Best!SunnyIn Beaverton, OR

Hi All!I wanted to get some thoughts from you about a conversation I had with my counselor today. She has several times mentioned that she thinks I have a food addiction. I have tried to mention that I think I need to learn how to not use food to cope with whatever emotions I am having. I think she has really helped me with a lot of things, but this issue just frustrates me. I really feel like the whole addiction road gives the power and control over to the food. "Oh no, I have to go to a party and there will be food there. Be afraid be very afraid" and if you "slip" or "relapes" you will have such a hard time getting back on the wagon. You can't hide from food. You can't protect yourself from being around it. I feel the only option is to be ok with it. Any thoughts are appreciated and I hope I'm not just being stubborn or sticking me head in the sand.ThanksBarb