laelatkinson

So many of us make rules for drinking: only a certain amount, only certain types of alcohol, only at certain times. We do the same thing with food: planning to eat only a certain amount, only certain foods, or only at certain times. And then, in both cases, those plans fall apart and we feel awful. We are racked with shame, anxiety, confusion, and self-loathing.   Many people assume these experiences are separate problems: difficulty controlling food and difficulty controlling alcohol. But...

The question “Is food addiction real?” is more complicated than it might seem. Many people feel out of control around food and wonder if they’re addicted—but what does “addiction” actually mean? What Do We Mean by “Addiction”? There is no single universal definition, but here are two widely accepted ones: “Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences.” — American Society...

When our bodies are in an energy deficit (i.e., don't have enough calories), our brains interpret that to mean that resources are scarce (even if they aren't), and we can feel compelled to steal food and other resources.    It can feel incredibly confusing and shameful to find yourself stealing food (and maybe other things too), if you don't know that it is an understandable and not uncommon aspect of dieting/disordered eating.   When my disordered eating first began in high school, I stole...