Emotional overeating, alcohol dependency, in fact, any addiction is only a symptom of an underlying problem.  I will be discussing, over the next few months, how you can put all addictions into remission by working hard at changing your limited belief system and addressing brain chemistry dysfunction. When we use a substance, such as sugar or alcohol,  to produce a desired mood change, we believe we can control that substance by using willpower.   Addiction, on its most basic level, is an attempt to control and fulfil this desire for happiness by using outside stimuli (chemicals) to change our feelings (emotions). Addiction must be viewed as a process that is progressive.  We put on weight and no matter how hard we try to diet, the weight keeps coming back. We try to slow down (control) our alcohol consumption but, after a brief respite from alcohol, we are consuming twice as much as we did before we stopped.  Anyone can stop drinking – it’s staying stopped that’s the problem. Addiction is therefore an illness that undergoes continuous development with denial as its main advocate. All addictions produce a desired mood change – a state of intoxication, whether it be sugar, alcohol, illicit drugs, prescription drugs and/or the behavioural addictions - gambling, shopping, exercise, etc.
  • The emotional overeater experiences a mood change by bingeing.
  • The alcohol dependent experiences a mood change while drinking
  • The addictive spender experiences a mood change by going on a shopping spree
  • The workaholic experiences a mood change by staying at work to accomplish another task even though he or she is needed at home
  • The addictive gambler experiences a mood change by placing bets on football games and then watching the action on television
All of the addictions are different but they all produce the desired effect and that is, the sense of “satisfaction and reward” and that is the role of the Dopamine Neurotransmitter. So, what is an addiction? Over the years, addiction has been described in many different ways and often described as a moral weakness or lack of willpower.  Everyone has a deep desire to feel happy and to find peace of mind but at times our lives are far from peaceful. We can do something to alleviate the symptoms and put addiction problems into remission with counselling, supplements, DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy), nutrition and exercise. Heading the list of addictions is emotional overeating.  If you’ve ever reached for a biscuit when you’re feeling bored, or found that you gained weight during a particularly stressful time at work, you are well acquainted with emotional overeating. Some of us eat because we’ve learned to associate food or eating with emotional comfort.  Food becomes our best friend and when it comes time to lose our excess weight, it’s too difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. It’s not something you can “fix” through willpower.  The reasons why you eat when you’re bored, angry, stressed or even happy are triggered by chemical firestorms in your brain that occur in response to certain emotions. To “fix” the chemistry, you eat and when you eat, your brain produces the chemicals that make you feel better.  Emotional overeating becomes an addiction and addictions are tough to break. Only when you understand why you eat when you are bored or anxious or happy can you accept new ways to soothe yourself and manage brain chemistry – without food. Take a step back and think about this: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!   What have you been doing all these years? What is co-dependency? Very few people have heard of co-dependency and its impact on overeating problems. Co-dependency is learned behaviour that is often passed down from one generation to another.  It is an unhealthy emotional and behavioural condition that affects an individual’s ability to have a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship in all aspects of life – work, love and friendship. The first complication of co-dependency is chronic low self-esteem, which is a condition of feeling shame and guilt.  Shame is a feeling that “I am unlovable,” or “I am worthless.” There is a big difference between confidence and self-esteem.  Confidence is a learned skill and low self-esteem is how we secretly view ourselves as worthless, useless and unlovable. What is Dopamine? Dopamine is one of the main neurotransmitters responsible for substance dependence.  All of the major substances of abuse, including sugar, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and methamphetamines, increase dopamine levels. The excess dopamine that is produced gives rise to exaggerated and powerful feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.  We reward ourselves with these chemicals to produce feelings of euphoria.  Unfortunately, these excess dopamine levels also take a long term toll on brain chemistry and promote substance dependence like sugar and alcohol. How can Tyrosine Mood Food help me? Tyrosine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein and is found in protein-containing foods such as milk and cheese, chicken, fish, almonds, bananas and avocados. Tyrosine can also be made in the body from another amino acid called phenylalanine.  Tyrosine is required for several vitally important functions in the body including:
  • Production of brain chemicals. Tyrosine is required for the manufacture of several important brain neurotransmitters. The production of the powerful neurotransmitters called dopamine and noradrenaline depends on adequate Tyrosine levels in the brain. These neurotransmitters regulate mood and emotions. Low dopamine or noradrenaline levels have been linked with:
    • Lack of concentration
    • Lack of focus
    • Lack of motivation
    • Mood Swings
    • Boredom
    • Excessive appetite
    • Inability to experience satisfaction and pleasure
Some people battling with emotional overeating or alcohol addiction find that Tyrosine helps them to detoxify and reduce their cravings. Other supplements to help you in your quest to feel better without using drugs. Adrenal Plus Support.  If you support the function of your adrenal glands, you have more chance coping with the everyday pressures of life. Many people suffer with morning fatigue and depression due to sluggish function of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are 2 small glands that are situated just above the kidneys and when they are working efficiently, they produce extra surges of energising hormones such as cortisol, adrenalin and DHEA to help you face the challenges of the new day. In other words, the adrenal gland hormones increase your resistance to stress and provide the drive and energy to succeed. Magnesium the Great Relaxer can be taken before bed to assist with a deep and restful sleep and helps to reduce stress. Blues Free is designed to support a better mood. Hydroxytryptophan is needed by the brain to make Serotonin which is the natural happy chemical produced by brain cells and has a controlling effect upon mood and feelings, appetite, sleep, confidence and mental energy. Sleep Eze is another useful sleep enhancer and I use it myself.  Melatonin is best taken at night when the pineal gland is meant to secrete its own melatonin to promote a natural restful sleep and awake refreshed in the morning without that “sleeping tablet hangover”.   I like it because it is not addictive. Everyday Stress Lozenges. These Everyday Stress Lozenges contain all natural passion flower petals to help you relax under pressure. A natural herb with relaxing and calming effects upon the nervous system, to help you perform under pressure without slowing you down. The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.