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Are you or someone you know suffering from a food addiction?
What exactly causes someone to become addicted to food?
Is there a substance in the food that chemically addicts a person?
Why do some compulsively overeat and others drastically avoid weight gain by under-eating or purging?
Well, first lets take a look at the three different types of Food Addictions:
Compulsive Overeating:
Compulsive over-eaters generally use food as a coping mechanism to deal with underlying emotional trauma and depression. The binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but unfortunately, it is always followed by more shame, guilt, disgust and depression.
Anorexia Nervosa:
People suffering from anorexia generally restrict food in an attempt to maintain a minimal body weight. Most have a true fear of gaining weight. Weight loss is viewed as an impressive achievement, and extraordinary example of self discipline, but is a false bolster of self-esteem. If left untreated this addiction can be fatal.
Bulimia Nervosa:
People suffering from Bulimia eat compulsively and then purge through self-induced vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, chew spitting, vigorous exercise, or other behavior to prevent weight gain. Ironically, many people suffering from Bulimia initially gain weight because the patterns of eating send the body into starvation mode, and it begins to store fat. Like Anorexia weight loss is viewed as an impressive achievement, and extraordinary example of self discipline, but is a false bolster of self-esteem. If left untreated this addiction can be fatal.
Are you beginning to see a pattern with all three food addictions? They are all connected to underlying emotional trauma and issues of Self-esteem!
As with every addiction the key to abstinence is a high level of self-esteem and coping skills.
Self-esteem is the key component to abstinence, but it is not a learned behavior, a commodity that can be purchased, or a fruit that can be plucked from a tree. You see, possessing confidence and merit as a person is a product of self-love, and that comes from within. Therefore, to restore your self-esteem you must first learn to forgive yourself, and second you must tap into your own true personal power. The following is a brief outline of the 5 steps to addiction freedom. Prior to following these steps or any addiction recovery program, take the necessary time to ascertain whether you require the additional support of an addiction counselor or medical attention regarding withdrawal. this advice is in know way intended to substitue the current advice you are receiving from a health professional.
1. Step One: Unearth the Square Root
Family dysfunction is the common denominator, or square root of all addictive behavior, and until it is brought to the forefront and confronted nothing will change! This is by far the most important and critical step of the entire process. There are two parts to step one, and they are as follows:
A. Uncovering your family dysfunction
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Verbal abuse
Alcoholic parent
Controlling parent
Inadequate parenting
B. Confront the parent or parents responsible for the dysfunction
The thought of confronting the person that is responsible for your emotional trauma is one the most frightening situations you will face. However, it is also the most liberating and empowering thing you'll ever do! Why do you need to confront your parent or parents? Well, first let me clarify the meaning of the word confront and in what context we are using this term. Confronting the person does not at all mean that you should verbally attack them for your misfortunes. On the contrary, you are not doing this for them. You are doing it for you! The confrontation is not meant to be an attack, but it is rather a chance for you to set the record straight and drop the emotional baggage that you've been toting around.
2. Step Two: Remove your Emotional Baggage
You have completed step one and have confronted your parent or parents. This in and of itself will have removed much of the pain and emotional trauma. However, to fully free yourself from their emotional stronghold, it will be necessary to find forgiveness in your heart for a family member that has committed an atrocity against you. Forgive! How can I forgive someone that committed these atrocities against me? Many people have a misconception about forgiveness. Forgiveness is not reconciliation! There is a drastic difference between the two. Reconciliation would mean that you have accepted and submit to their behavior and have agreed to try and continue the relationship under those circumstances. Forgiveness means that you merely give up or cease the resentment of the offender.
3. Step Three: Cure Wounditis
Without question, partaking in habitual behavior not only causes you pain but, it inflicts pain on the people around you as well. However, do not allow what you have done in the past or what others have done to you, to cause you to live in fear of what the future holds. The past is the past, it is over, and living in it does not serve anyone well. Live in the present moment, be kind to yourself, and learn to love yourself. How can you love someone else if you don't love yourself? The answer is you can't!!! It isn't a big secret that you're feeling shame and guilt for what you've done. In fact, you're probably questioning right now as to whether you should be punished for your past actions. Well guess what, its ok! God doesn't punish people, we punish ourselves. God is a loving and forgiving being. So if you thought that you would continue to punish yourself with shame and guilt before God gets a hold of you, you can stop right now! We do not have defects of character, are not full of shortcomings, and we certainly are not powerless! On the Contrary, we are all the same, we are all connected, and we all have the same power to change!
4. Step Four: Awaken the Power within
Whether you want to admit it or not, all of the pain you have been through concerning your habitual behavior is a spiritual lesson. And until you view it as such, it will continue to cause you suffering and unhappiness. Every dark cloud does have a silver lining, and if you look hard enough you'll find one in this habitual situation too. However, to find that silver lining you must ask the right questions;
1. What can I learn from my addiction?
2. How can I grow from it?
The answers to these questions can be found in a place that is uncharted by most, and it is just waiting to be explored! It's called your true self!
To embark on a journey of Self -reflection requires the practice of Mediation.
For more information on mediation you can visit my website below.
5. Step five: Practice Acts of Random Kindness
Happiness is a state of mind. Individuals that are suffering from addictive behavior are not happy! Ironically, in an attempt to find happiness, they chose a vehicle to mask their emotional pain through the use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and various other compulsions. However, happiness is never found on the outside in material possessions or in the abuse of substances and compulsions! True life happiness can only be found in one place, and that place is within! Happiness is not found in the practice of outward ideals or in other people. To the contrary, it is actually the small acts of random kindness that opens the heart and fuels the principle of unconditional love!
To practice spirituality is to be of service to your fellow man and make no mistake about it that is why we are all here. Begin with small acts of kindness such as opening a door for someone, letting someone go before you in the checkout line or just taking the time to offer a kind word to an older person or a child. You get the picture! The first thing I do upon waking in the morning is think of how I can be of service and throughout the day I am always mindful of opportunities that present themselves for me to do just that. You know, the paradox of the whole thing is that the more kind and generous you are the more love, kindness and abundance you'll receive back. Don't believe me! Just try it and watch what begins to happen to you.
Close your eyes for a moment. After you read this next paragraph of course! Fast forward 60 days from now, and imagine that you are eating food because you enjoy it and you take great pride in nourishing your bodies needs. Food no longer dominates or controls your life because you have tapped into your own personal power. You have elavated your self-esteem, and you have a high regard for yourself. in fact you love yourself completely and cherish every day as new beginning for self growth and enjoyment. What would that feel like, and what would it do for you? Experience your vision in real time!
For more information on how to overcome an eating addiction in 60 days subscribe to my free E-Guide! Help with Addiction Best wishes, David Roppo
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