When addictions are discussed, many assume that an individual requires support with a drug or alcohol addiction.
However, many other forms of addiction can arise and negatively impair an individual’s life.
For example, food addictions can also arise and have a detrimental impact. A serious psychological disorder, food addictions require professional treatment if they are to be overcome and managed.
If you have reason to believe that you suffer from food addiction or are worried that a loved one may have developed a food addiction, understanding food addictions will help you secure the support and help that may be needed.
Food Addictions Explained
At present, food addictions are thought to impact up to 20% of the global population.
Similarly to drug and alcohol addictions, individuals who develop a food addiction consume food belonging to specific food groups to secure a desired high that enables them to function better.
They also use food to cope better with emotions such as stress, sadness and anger.
When food is not consumed, food cravings arise and can be somewhat unbearable. Just as cravings lead drug and alcohol addicts to administer larger quantities of substances, food addictions cause addicts to consume more significant amounts of food.
Although those who find themselves subject to food addictions can become addicted to various types of foods, studies have found that processed foods, foods that are high in sugar and foods that are high in fat are more likely to be associated with food addictions.
It should be noted that food addictions do not discriminate. Almost anyone can become addicted to food.
Signs and Symptoms Of Food Addiction
Distinguishing whether a food addiction is impairing your life can be tricky. For example, although you may be aware that you over-consume a certain type of food, and you may realise that you sometimes turn to food for comfort, you may not necessarily believe that this could indicate that a food addiction is present.
If you are worried that you may have developed a food addiction, reviewing the signs and symptoms of food addiction will help you determine whether you need to seek treatment.
- Eating larger quantities of food than usual
- Binge eating
- Experiencing cravings for certain food groups
- Experiencing a ‘high’ or sense of euphoria upon consuming food
- Isolating yourself from others to hide your eating patterns
- Eating to curb certain emotions
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea and headaches, when you are unable to feed your cravings and addiction
Food Addiction And Its Effects
The signs and symptoms of a food addiction often indicate that the addiction is taking its toll on the body and brain.
Sadly, when these symptoms are ignored and overlooked, addictions can have a much more detrimental impact on both an individual’s physical and psychological health.
To help you understand how a food addiction could be impairing your life, we have outlined the physical and psychological side effects of food addiction below.
The Physical Effects Of Food Addiction
- Diabetes
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Organ damage
- Organ failure
The Psychological Effects Of Food Addiction
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Low self-confidence
- Development of destructive behaviours
- Mood swings
- Irritability
Although the physical and psychological effects of food addiction are, in some instances, irreversible, when professional help and treatment is sought, many of these effects can be managed.
How To Overcome A Food Addiction
Just as drug and alcohol addictions require professional intervention and treatment, food addictions do too.
However, many individuals who struggle with a food addiction simply believe that limiting their food intake and ceasing consuming a particular food will enable them to recover independently.
Sadly, this is not true. Attempting to overcome a food addiction alone can be extremely dangerous and can cause mental health disorders and substance and behavioural addictions to arise.
Considering this, to overcome a food addiction, rehabilitation must be sought. Rehabilitation for a food addiction typically includes detoxification and therapy.
Detoxification helps many withdraw from the foods they have become addicted to, while therapy provides an opportunity to assess the cause of a food addiction. In turn, strategies can be devised to ensure that a food addiction does not arise again in the future.
In addition to the above, nutrition support plays a vital role in food addiction treatment.
Food Addiction Treatment At Cassiobury Court
At Cassiobury Court, we provide personalised food addiction treatment to clients from all corners of the United Kingdom.
Understanding that no one food addiction is the same, our personalised food addiction treatment focuses on the needs of each individual to ensure that they can make a long-term recovery.
Should you find yourself struggling with a food addiction, we welcome you to take advantage of our residential food addiction treatment.
Combining detoxification, rehabilitation and aftercare support, our treatment focuses on supporting you in various aspects of your recovery.
Not only will we provide you with the guidance you may need to understand how certain food groups will impact your life, but we will help you understand what has caused your addiction to arise and the triggers that could cause you to relapse.
Our food addiction treatment will also help you restore any deficiencies in vitamins and nutrients through the employment of a food plan.
Although most of our food addiction treatment is completed during an individual’s time in our residential rehab, when you are ready to continue your recovery at home, we will ensure that you are equipped with an aftercare support plan.
This plan will outline how you can maintain your recovery and ensure that you know what to do should you relapse.
Our aftercare support will also see you invited to attend weekly group therapy sessions.
Contact Us Today
If you are ready to secure food addiction treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Likewise, if you would like to refer a loved one for food addiction treatment, we can assist you in doing so.
Simply call us today on 01923 369 161 to take advantage of our support.
