Buy Walking VideosFood, Dopamine and Addiction
I have heard the idea that food addiction is similar to drug or alcohol addiction. These researchers are measuring brain activity and the reactions of it in relation to addiction.
It looks like addiction causes the same activity in the brain, whether it’s for food or drugs.
“This is consistent with the idea that cravings of all kinds,†(whether for food, drugs, or designer shoes) “have common mechanisms,” says Pelchat.
The only problem with this is that I can’t quit food cold turkey. I’m well-aware of the fact that I use food like an addictive substance, but I can’t stop eating. Worse still, I don’t believe in a god, so those twelve-step programs are useless on me. I’m not turning my addiction over to an imaginary friend.
All that I’m left with is consciously dealing with the things that lead me to overeat. Dealing with the problems and the emotions that make me want to turn to food has been the only way I have been able to stave off the bingeing.
If you find you have this problem, try reading Losing Motivation. This is how I deal with the times when I feel like bingeing.
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September 26th, 2005 at 5:52 am
FYI – for those who resonate with the comment:
“Worse still, I don’t believe in a god, so those twelve-step programs are useless on me. I’m not turning my addiction over to an imaginary friend.”
12-step programs are NOT a religion and DO NOT require a belief in a specific diety. A group is simply a number of individuals sharing experience, strength and hope in living with a specific problem.
I’ve heard newcomers say over and over that such misconceptions kept them from coming in, thus keeping them in additional years of pain. I’m on of “them.”
Instead of juding on pre-conceived notions why not just check out a few meetings? Just like churches, each has a different personality.
Ask your central office about meetings geared toward your beliefs. Rule of thumb: go to a meeting six weeks in a row to really get the feel of the group.
All you have to lose is a few hours and some misery.