Summary: <p>Food Addiction</p> <p>Counseling CEU Course: https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/493/c/</p> <p>Objectives<br> ~ Examine the difference between overeating and food addiction<br> ~ Evaluate myths about food addiction<br> ~ Explore the behavioral and biological mechanisms underlying food addiction<br> ~ Identify ways to address food addiction triggers<br> Why I Care/How It Impacts Recovery<br> ~ Excessive food consumption is socially acceptable and food addiction rarely causes imminent legal problems, so it can go unchecked for a long time<br> ~ For some people, addictive behaviors started with food addiction<br> ~ For others, when their substance of choice was removed, food was available for self-soothing<br> ~ Regularly using food to self-soothe is, at the very least, a relapse warning sign if not a full-blown relapse.<br> Food Addiction vs. Overeating<br> ~ Food can become an addiction, when it is used to<br> ~ Escape from negative feeling states AND<br> ~ Continues to be used despite negative consequences<br> ~ The person experiences psychological withdrawals and cravings when he or she cannot access food to cope<br> ~ Overeating is often a bad habit, but can be stopped with education, planning and mindfulness<br> Food Addiction vs. Overeating<br> ~ Experiments show that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by other addictions are also activated by food, especially highly palatable foods.<br> ~ Highly palatable foods are foods rich in:<br> ~ Sugar<br> ~ Fat<br> ~ Salt</p> <p>Signs and Symptoms<br> ~ You frequently crave certain foods<br> ~ You often eat even when you are not hungry.<br> ~ You eat much more than you intended to, sometimes to the point of feeling excessively “stuffed.”<br> ~ You often feel guilty after eating particular foods<br> ~ You sometimes make excuses in your head about why you should eat something that you are craving.<br> ~ You have repeatedly tried to quit eating or setting rules (includes cheat meals/days) about certain foods, but been unsuccessful.<br> ~ You often hide your consumption of unhealthy foods from others.<br> ~ You feel unable to control your consumption of unhealthy foods, despite knowing that they are causing you physical harm (includes weight gain).</p> <p>Signs and Symptoms cont…<br> ~ You eat certain foods so often or in such large amounts that you start eating food instead of working, spending time with the family, or doing recreational activities.<br> ~ You avoid social situations where certain foods are available because of fear of overeating.<br> ~ You have problems functioning effectively at your job or school because of food and eating.<br> ~ When you cut down on certain foods (excluding caffeinated beverages), you have symptoms such as anxiety, agitation<br> ~ Eating food causes problems such as depression, anxiety, self-loathing, or guilt.<br> ~ You find yourself eating more and more often due to stress<br> Myths<br> ~ Food addiction is an excuse for over eating<br> ~ FALSE: Someone with a food addiction is using food to cope and activate reward pathways to help them feel “normal” or “calm.”<br> ~ Any emotional eating is wrong<br> ~ FALSE: Just like having a few drinks occasionally after a hard day does NOT qualify a person as an alcoholic, occasionally eating to self soothe is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation<br> ~ Our society actually teaches self-soothing through food, so one would expect using that as a fall-back occasionally<br> Myths<br> ~ Abstinence is key<br> ~ FALSE: Unlike addiction to illicit drugs, a person cannot quit eating.<br> ~ Elimination of an entire food or food group is rarely recommended as it makes it more likely for a binge.<br> ~ Since one addiction will likely be replaced by another, understanding and awareness of WHY the person is eating is more important than eliminating a food</p>
