Individuals affected by eating disorders are trapped by the all consuming thoughts of food. The simply suggestion to change how an individual thinks about food is absurd. After years of focusing on food and being wrapped up in the food addiction cycle, it may seem unrealistic. Eating disorder signs and symptoms help to identify where you are in the cycle of addiction.

Somewhere along the line food became your enemy not your friend. Food no longer was a way to fuel your body so you had energy, food became your best friend, your lover, your stress reliever, and food became your world. Without knowing it consciously food turned on you. Your mind said you can’t function with food and you wouldn’t be able to continue without food. Eating disorders are just that a disorder when it takes control of you and your life it causes disorder and chaos.

In the same way as an alcoholic or addict craves the alcohol and drugs an individual affected with an eating disorder is compelled to eat or to restrict. The analogy is uncomfortable for many but the truth is the truth. Food is just an energy source used to fuel the body, for some food is used for instant gratification which is the same as addiction and the remorse following the binge or purge is the same as the after affects of alcohol and drugs.

The addiction cycle whether with food, alcohol or drugs can be arrested when acknowledge and treated. Hope is available for those individuals searching for help overcoming an eating disorder.