{"id":636,"date":"2011-09-19T13:42:16","date_gmt":"2011-09-19T17:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/thecelebritytherapist\/?p=636"},"modified":"2011-09-19T13:51:18","modified_gmt":"2011-09-19T17:51:18","slug":"when-overeating-turns-into-a-food-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/thecelebritytherapist\/2011\/09\/when-overeating-turns-into-a-food-addiction.html","title":{"rendered":"When Overeating Turns Into a Food Addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sherry Gaba <\/strong>LCSW, Psychotherapist, Life
\n& Recovery Coach is featured Celebrity Rehab on VH1. Sherry is the author
\nof \u201cThe Law of Sobriety\u201d<\/a> which
\nuses the law of attraction to recover from any addiction. Please download your
\ncopy of \u201cManifest Holistic
\nHealth<\/a>\u201d from Sherry\u2019s Enrich Your Life Series. Contact Sherry at sherry@sgabatherapy.com<\/a> for webinars,
\nteleseminars, coaching packages and speaking engagements. Listen to Sherry on \u201cA Moment of Change with Sherry Gaba\u201d<\/a>on CBS Radio.<\/p>\n

Everyone loves to eat their favorite foods and, the truth be
\ntold, everyone overindulges in overeating at times in their life. However, for
\nsome people, food consumption has become a way to cope with feelings of loss,
\nsadness, guilt, depression, anxiety or feelings of isolation and disconnection
\nfrom positive human interactions. Food becomes the substitute for comfort and
\nreward because it has the same effect on the chemicals in the brain. It
\nprovides an instant feeling of satisfaction, happiness and pleasure. Some foods
\nare more likely to cause these chemical changes in the brain because of the
\ncomponents and chemicals found within the food. These are the foods people
\ncrave, chocolate, fatty and salty foods or sweet foods, we all know what our
\nparticular food demons are.<\/p>\n

Understanding the early signs of food addiction can help in
\npreventing the multitude of health complications that can go along with being a
\ncompulsive eater. Watching your food intake and taking note of any changes in
\nhow you eat, when you eat and why you eat is the first critical step. Some
\nimportant questions to ask yourself if you notice a change in your consumption
\nof food include:<\/p>\n