Food Addiction Support Group

An individual suffering from a food addiction disorder frequently experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control. They will eat much more quickly than is normal, and continue to eat even past the point of being uncomfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by a period of intense guilt feelings...

1,492 Members

3,426 Posts

0 Online

jasgall 08/06/2009

i have a best friend who doesn't understand my addiction. i am a christian and i believe god lead to the knowledge that i am an addict. it started back in april, when i was reading joyce meyer's "beauty for ashes". in chapter 2, she talks about different problems that can arise from being abused. she listed different types of addiction, and the last one there was food addiction and/or compulsive eating. she mentioned that people who have been deprived of love often eat to make it up to themselves. i highlighted those places and wrote next to them "am i a food addict?" at the time, it was just a passing thought. but as i began to pray about it more, it became blatently obvious that this was a huge problem...one which i had been unaware of for 10 years. i started binging and hiding food when my mom began abusing me at age 11.
while talking to my friend online, i looked up the signs of food addiction on webmd. sure enough, i have all but one. it was at that moment that everything suddenly made sense. i realized then that i have a full-fledged addiction that i've been unconcious of for half my life.
so naturally, i started freaking out. i told my friend. so now she thinks that "the internet convinced me of my addiction". she said she's known me for years, and i never acted fidgety or jumpy about food before. i've tried to explain to her that the reason why i have these physical symptoms is because now i'm trying to break a pattern i've had all my life. before, i was unaware i had a problem, so i just gave in to all my cravings and never tried to fightthem.
but she still doesn't understand. it bothers me. i know it shouldn't, but it does. none of my other friends truly understand it either, so why does it bother me that she doesn't get it? i don't know. i guess it's because-on some level-i feel like she doesn't believe me. have you guys ever had problems with things like this? i'd appreciate feedback. thanks.

deleted_user 08/06/2009

Its very hard when others don't understand. you want and need there support but if they can't acknowledge you have a problem they really can't give the amt of support you need. I haven't really come out to my friends. i just ask they support my weight loss decisions. I have one friend that know my total history and she knows i have a problem with food. Just remember when you tell people about abuse and it consequences you may loose them. they can't cope with it all. I wrote a short book about my abuse experiences and most of my friends won't even read it. Its too hard for them to accept all I suffered. I really feel that may be the issue its just to hard for them to think about that kind of suffering.

deleted_user 08/20/2009

Ugh that frustrates me! :(

I don't really talk to my friends about my "food addiction". Fortunately my mother is also a food addict and supports me the most.

People who don't have this addiction can't really understand it because they've never felt what it feels like to feel so out of control.

My fiance brings junk food into the house all the time and I have to constantly remind him that the temptation is really hard to overcome.

What I suggest is attending an OA (Over-eaters Anonymous) meeting to find someone who knows how it feels.

I'm not saying that you should stop being friends with her BUT if you need that support... You're most likely never going to find a sufficient amount from her.

She may not be as open-minded as you'd like her to be but she probably won't ever understand to the point you'd like her to.

Most of the time... addicts are the best help for other addicts.

They just get it.

deleted_user 08/21/2009

I've found a wealth of understanding and support from my BED treatment program. There's a good 8 or so of us who are all in the same boat. OA, as suggested above my comment, is a great option for that support. I personally didn't find the program itself helpful to me, but the support you can get is fantastic, and for some people the program itself works great as well! As far as your friend understanding, I'm with the idea that if you've never endured it, you'll never fully understand in a way that we need. Y'know? Support from a friend is a reasonable request, but some people also don't acknowledge food addiction as anything real. Alcohol addiction is real, drug addiction is real, but food? I'm noticing among the medical community that food addiction and binge eating disorder, they just aren't given the time of day by many practitioners. Its becoming more well known, but until the awareness and diagnoses is at a level it needs to be, I think general people in the community may be close minded to the idea that a food addiction is indeed very real! I hope you can establish a good support with people in your life! If you ever want to vent or hash things out, feel free to message me. :) I'm here to support you. :)

deleted_user 08/22/2009

Hi- I have to gently and lovingly detach from people who can't or refuse to acknowledge and honor my food problems and addiction. The allergy I have to certain food products is usually understood by caring friends and strangers with compassion for others. I hope this is a nice enough reply. There are plenty of resources out there to help food addicts deal with the addiction when the pain becomes great enough. Good luck.

deleted_user 08/23/2009

Yeah. I never realized it was an addiction for me either until these last couple months. I hide food too and don't tel my gf, I'm always afraid of what people think when I do this thing. Also maybe that friend is the closest to you out of all the other ones? Just a thought? Hugs...

jasgall 08/23/2009

thank you all for your sweet and encouraging responses and suggestions. most of my friends have never known another addict and they're all a tad confused by my being addicted to food. however, most of them are being very supportive, despite not totally understanding it. i said "most" because the above mentioned friend is still refusing to acknowledge my addiction. i have stopped trying to explain it to her. the one who is being the most supportive is my other best friend. she knows me better than anyone and completely understands because she's a recovered alcohalic.

deleted_user 08/23/2009

Mhm exactly. I figured as much. That there was something deeper or more meaningful about this friend of ours. Well know that I do understand, and have the same sisues, as does everyone in this group, that's why we're all here. Guess we're all trying to firugre ourselves out, or is it only me...Haha...

deleted_user 08/23/2009

Yh, I really really need to learn how to type...Jees...

deleted_user 08/28/2009

I wonder what your friend would have done if you'd told her you had Diabetes and needed to change the way you eat. Interesting question, huh?

Join the Conversation