What Is Addiction?

According to Wikipedia, Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances (alcohol, tobacco, heroin, and other drugs) which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.

Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. Pleasure and enjoyment would have originally been sought, however; over a period of time involvement with the substance or activity is needed to feel “normal”. Some psychology professionals and laypersons now mean “addiction” to include abnormal psychological dependency on such things as gambling, FOOD, shopping, exercise, work, and others. Now lets back up to the first definition,  as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substance and which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested. If food is not ingested what is?

Food is one addiction that the others are not, and I am not making light of any addiction; however you can stop using drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc. and not have and in fact have better health because of quitting. If you quit eating you are going to be in serious trouble real quick. I am happy to say that Food is now ranked as one of the addictions rated with the other chemical additions now. So how do you overcome a Food addiction. It is not easy my no means. It takes a lot of effort and education. Retraining how we look at food. If you think about it food has always been surrounded around festive occasions. Weddings, Birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Forth of July, Summer BBQ’s, And many others. Food has become the reason many family’s get together period. You don’t believe that watch your next get together and see how many start getting edgy after the meal and start leaving. I am in the middle of a movie called “Fork over Knife”. It states that for the first time in a long time that today’s children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Children are developing Type II diabetes and Hypertension at nine years old and younger. We have to come to the quick realization that we are allowing are children to die young and over food. I don’t think we need to go overboard thinking everyone needs to be Mr or Ms perfect but we have to do something to tip the scale the other way. Food addiction is real, it does not just go away after you learn the right way to eat either. It will always be there and if allowed can cause the same problems if left unchecked. I know this all to well. I have lost and gained well over 400 pounds in my life if not more. I lost 123 pounds gained it back, lost 45 pounds gained it back plus and so on. You are aware of this cycle.

So we need help. How? There are many ways but honesty to self is a major start. You have to know and except you have a problem. There are online support groups (you need to find one that is good) like everything else there are good and bad ones. Find a local weight loss support group, there are usually a few such as overeaters anonymous, weight watchers, or a specified one that handles specific issues such as weight loss surgery. Your doctor should be able to steer or help you find someone to steer you in the right direction. Also keep in mind that most doctors are not dietitians and do not have dietitian training but more and more doctors are hiring dietitians to their staff.

So take this issue serious. It is not just a lazy person who does not care. It is a medical condition just as serious as cancer or heart problems. Seek help before it is too late.

Thanks Sean for lighting that burner under my but again.

Words of Wisdom:

If you summon your courage to challenge something, you’ll never be left with regret. How sad it is to spend your life wishing, “If only I’d had a little more courage.” Whatever the outcome may be, the important thing is to step forward on the path that you believe is right.

Stress Reducers:

Take a hot shower when you feel keyed up

Do something you really like every day
Put an ounce of love in everything you do

 

May you find comfort in the arms of God. Happy Sabbath

Tom