Because food addiction is a type of chronic, incurable condition, a food addiction treatment center is necessary in order to recover. A food addiction treatment center can provide you with the skills, tools, and support you need to overcome your addiction and regain control over your life. Eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia nervosa, are relatively well-known. However, food addiction can also present itself as a unique type of disorder. Food addiction was first identified as a mental health problem in 1956 because it had symptoms that differed from eating disorders. Most people think about drugs or alcohol when they hear the word “addiction”. However, food can cause the same pleasure and reward center changes and responses as addiction.

What is Food Addiction?

Food addiction is a type of chronic mental health disorder that causes you to compulsively eat excessive amounts of food, even if you want to control your eating or suffer negative consequences because of your eating habits. Foods can cause your brain to release pleasurable neurotransmitters. Like drug and alcohol use disorders, food addiction causes your brain to associate food with pleasure. When this occurs, your brain craves food. Food addiction causes you to eat more food than you need to alleviate hunger or to meet your nutritional needs, which can cause significant weight gain and heart problems. The most common signs and symptoms of food addiction are:

• Developing a tolerance, meaning you need to eat more in order to feel the same pleasure
• Feeling anxious or craving food when you aren’t eating
• Spending an excessive amount of time and money eating or buying food
• Inability to control your eating
• Neglecting social, familial, or employment responsibilities in order to eat
• Suffering medical problems as a result of how much you eat

What a Food Addiction Treatment Center Offers

Since food addiction is a chronic condition, finding help from a food addiction treatment center is almost always necessary. Food addiction can cause serious medical problems, such as obesity and high cholesterol. A food addiction treatment center helps you learn how to control how much you eat and develop a healthy diet. Weight loss is also usually a component of food addiction treatment. So things like healthy diets and exercise are important parts of recovery. When you complete a food addiction treatment center program, your treatment team will help develop a relapse prevention plan. Food addiction treatment programs will utilize evidence-based treatments, like cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy, to provide you with the tools you need to manage your recovery. An individual therapy program, group therapy program, and family therapy programs help improve your communication and problem-solving skills, which prepare you for life after treatment.

Finding Help From a Food Addiction Treatment Center Today

If you are struggling with a food addiction, you can feel overwhelmed, defeated and trapped. Don’t let your food addiction control your life. Help from a food addiction treatment center can ensure that you have the support, understanding, and guidance you need to fully recover. To find out more about your treatment options, call us today at 1.713.528.3709.