One of the first experiences we all share after birth is being introduced to food. From the moment we taste milk at our loved one’s breast or chest, we form an intimate bond with food—a bond that lasts throughout our entire lives.
Real Connection with Food
For many, this bond is intertwined with feelings of security, immense pleasure, and real connection. This initial interaction sets us up to find that feeling and connection again. For some of us, that time may be the only time we felt truly loved and secure.
Turning to Food for Pleasure
As life progresses, many of us turn to food to recapture that elusive feeling of safety and connection. This craving for emotional fulfillment often gets transferred to food, leading many of us to seek out those foods that provide a jolt of pleasure.
Seeking Comfort in Food
For me, that source of comfort was sugar; for others, it might be fatty or salty foods. Growing up in an environment filled with fear and abuse, I found solace in my daily candy bar. It was the only time I felt safe and at peace, even if it lasted just 30 minutes.
That fleeting moment of belonging and trust was a lifeline in my turbulent childhood. However, my early dependence on sugar for comfort followed me into adulthood, manifesting as a full-blown sugar addiction. This addiction took a toll on my health and became an ongoing decades-long struggle to overcome my dependence on sugar.
Breaking Free From Sugar Addiction
I tried everything I could think of to break free but each attempt was initiated by the belief that “I was bad and wrong”, which never leads to where you want to go. It wasn’t until I shifted my perspective that I found some measure of peace.
I began to thank sugar for saving my life during those dark times. By acknowledging the crucial role it played in providing comfort when I needed it most, I was able to release the death grip it had on me.
Sugar No Longer Owns Me!
While I still enjoy sugar, it no longer owns me. I share this story with the hope of offering encouragement to those who are struggling. Breaking free from a deep-seated food addiction is not easy, and it takes time. By understanding and appreciating the role that food has played in our lives, we can start to transform our relationship with it. I wish the same for all of you who are struggling. May you find peace and a healthier connection with food, just as I did. You deserve it!
Changing the world one tasty bite at a time,
Dr. Deb
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