Addiction...A condition or a term ????

I don't know if I believe in the word addiction when it comes to food.....???

I've been addicted to cigarettes/nicotine...... pain meds while in an extended hospital stay...... and a couple other non socially correct substances.....

Was I addicted to rice, bread and pasta?..... ate it everyday of my life..... Was I addicted to sugar??? I love it and I still do...... I'd rather eat ice cream than broccoli......

Not saying sugar addiction doesn't happen, or discount anyones struggles....... just saying I don't feel the "pull" like the above mentioned and question if it's an actual condition or a term to glorify, justify and validate?

Maybe I get confused when someone says "I have a sugar addiction or a carb addiction", I understand insulin response and all..... but is it an actual addiction? Is it just said to make ones love of something stronger than someones effort to not eat it?

I'd be pretty happy if the ultimate VSG diet was rice and chocolate cake.......

Just a thought......  

frisco

If someone can be addicted to shopping, and that is a real addiction...why not to food? I am not sure addiction can be limited to alcohol or illegal substances or pain meds. I think it is a state of mind irrespective of the object of the addiction. It is anything that causes disordered behaviour and gets the addict into an unhealthy situation. Can't argue that food got us all into trouble. Not food itself, but our use of it. Sex is another good one...which is legit in psychiatry. Heck I'll take sex over broccoli, and even over ice cream, any day!

Good points. I know that when I had food poisoning last month and had a very carb-heavy week since I wasn't able to get very much dense protein down, I had cravings for about 2 weeks. It felt like a physical NEED to eat something starchy. It didn't feel like an emotional response (i.e. "I want comfort food"). I felt anxious and found myself wandering around the kitchen looking for a "fix." I think that carbs are definitely addicting, but it's an addiction that is often accepted due to the lack of "risk" associated. There is a stigma associated with nicotine/alcohol/drugs, but since carbs are legal and perfectly "healthy," their addictive properties go overlooked by the popular opinion... 

But if you find a VSG-friendly chocolate cake?? HIT ME UP! '

*Edited for typo

I have more cars and motorcycles than the law allows...... and tend to over compensate in most things I "like".....

I use the word "passion"....... am I using a glossy word for an addiction?

Oh crap.... I think I just opened my own mental can of worms.....

frisco

 

I remember the first time I ever did low carb dieting years ago. During the first two weeks I was salivating and nervous just a bundle of nerves that was doing all I could to hold myself back from grabbing something sweet or a starch. I was pacing like a caged tiger! IT was calling me, loudly! I knew then that I was truly addicted to sugar in any form.. wether it be cookies, cakes, ice cream or my beloved potato's.  So I do believe you can be addicted to sugar/carbs. 

LOL Frisco you are to funny!!!

To me, a very important aspect of addiction is the thought pattern that I need XYZ in order to function. Food was not addicting to me whereas regular Dr Pepper was an addiction. I could survive college and graduate school as long as I had my Dr Pepper in hand. I was able to go cold turkey with Dr Pepper. I am afraid to try any now because it may trigger a binge.

I did overeat especially when I skipped meals. I would satisfy my hunger as quickly as possible with very poor food choices. Yet, food didn't trigger any addiction or passion for me. I love my plan because I don't have to worry about food choices.

Just missing my Dr Pepper.

I think it is possible to be a food addict. But I think it is pretty rare to have an actual addiction. Mostly I think people just have years of really bad habits.

Good question!  Are we addicted to the actual substance, or to the feelings it induces/covers up?  Myself?  I think that I have a mild addiction to some carbs; I call these my trigger foods because if I eat them it tends to send me on a downward spiral.  But I believe that my issues with food are mostly not addiction; rather, they can be traced back to poor eating habits my parents taught me, poor nutritional education, and emotional issues.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction can be defined as:

Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

I do believe that food addiction exists; it just doesn't really apply in my case.

 

I meet criteria.  I understand the conflict though.  When I abuse myself with food, it is not me enjoying food, but what the food is doing for me.  I am slowly learning to live with the feelings of being uncomfortable and not having to take a negative action ( eat to numb) to ease my discomfort ( for lack of a bunch  of feelings I still can't identify).  Trying to heal an emotional problem with a physical solution be if food, drugs, shopping or whatever to me is an addiction.  I too have had many through the years.  This has been the hardest to mange as I believe it started when I was about 5 and I am now 59.  Some who are obese do not identify with this behavior, but feel it is about their lifestyle choices.  I think it is important to be able to see which camp your in.  In the beginning I don't know that it matters much as the surgery is doing most of the work, but for long term success I believe it is crucial.