When people speak about addiction they generally are referring to drug addiction, but another addiction lurks behind the scenes; food addiciton. Food addiction and drug addiction share common elements such as; they are progressive, chronic and fatal illnesses, the substances used are used to avoid feelings, both produce unmanageability in one’s life and addiction treatment is effective for both.

Food addiction treatment, similar to drug addiction treatment, has as its initial method of treatment detoxification. With drug addiction it is discontinuing the use of drugs and in food addiction treatment it is usually discontinuing any binging and use of refined sugar. It is widely believed by those providing food addiction treatment that sugar is the primary ingredient in initiating the cravings. These cravings are then shortly followed by a compulsion for food ending up in full fledge binge.

After the person is detoxed from their substance of choice, intensive therapy is focused on each person’s core issues. It is not unusual for the person in need of food addiction treatment and drug addiction treatment to participate in the same type of services which address issues such as family dynamics, relapse prevention, sexual abuse and mental health issues.

Recovery Warrior Thursdays
*Real Women Telling their Real Stories in 12…. Questions (not Steps)

Hello my recovery warriors (I call you all my recovery warriors because if you are reading this blog you are taking the first step), welcome to the Women’s Treatment Program (Sobriety Diva’s playground) weekly feature where REAL women can tell their stories to other REAL women so we can find a REAL solution to this REAL problem.

I am so grateful to able to meet women in different stages of their recovery warrior and recovery mom, Kimberly Colbaugh

- The Sobriety Diva

1. Name

Kimberley Colbaugh
2. Age

49

3. How long have you been sober?

1 yr

4. What are you recovering from?

Alcohol, weed, many others over the years

5. When did you cross over into addiction?

It became such a way of life over my 25 yr marriage. There was no other coping mechanism. The deep pain of being in a alcoholic relationship with a man older then me it became a necessity.

6. What was the breaking point that finally made you accept your addiction?

The police forced my husband to leave when the beatings got so severe.He left me with no money , car , clothes, bank, credit. Only eviction papers. My MS was so flared up I had been in a wheelchair for years. Still I drank. When my beautiful baby girl became a addict herself THAT WAS MY BOTTOM !!!!! I found out her dad had been feeding her cocaine since she was 6.
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I thought that my decision to go to drug rehab would cure me of my drug addiction.  Little did I know that recovering from drug abuse was going to be a life long process.  Drug rehab gave me the support and guidance that I needed to get through what was a difficult first month of sobriety.  Not only that, but I learned in rehab what I was going to have to do on an ongoing basis if I was gong to remain sober.

During drug rehab I was afforded the opportunity to work closely with therapist and process why I was abusing drugs.  I say that drug rehab did not cure me.  What it did was set up the foundation that was necessary to get and stay sober.  I don’t think that I would have had any chance of achieving long term sobriety without the teachings from drug treatment.  One of the greatest things about drug rehab was working with other alcoholics and addicts that were in the same boat that I was.  It was comforting to know that I wasn’t alone and being around others who could relate with exactly what I was going through was priceless.

While I learned a lot in regards to staying sober after my drug rehab experience was over I truly do not think I would have been able to stay sober if I did not check into a drug rehab.  After I went through detoxification in my drug rehab I no longer had physically cravings for  drugs anymore.  It allowed me to focus all of my energy on the psychological aspect of my disease.  Drug rehab didn’t cure me.  It saved my life and taught me what to do to cure myself on a daily basis.