How to overcome sugar addiction… You need to stop believing you’re addicted to sugar. 🤷🏼♀️
Sugar isn’t something you can be addicted to, and the only thing that causes the feeling of addiction around sugar IS the restriction of sugar… But first, let me validate (before many of you @ me – upset because you disagree):
You are right that sugar, social media, sex, exercise, shopping, and anything that’s pleasurable light up the pleasure centers in our brain, releasing dopamine, creating that *rush* similar to what one might experience when taking a hit of cocaine. HOWEVER – addiction is defined by an increased tolerance accompanied by physical withdrawal symptoms when someone stops using, not by pleasure.
This is why you don’t hear of people going to sugar rehab as you hear of people going to drug and alcohol rehab. It is NOT the same. And I can say that as a therapist who specializes in binge eating disorder AND works as a full-time therapist at a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center (fun fact about me 🙋🏼♀️)
Let's break this down by looking at the reality of drugs v sugar:
Drugs = The more you have, the more desirable it becomes
Sugar = The more you have, the less desirable it becomes
So you truly believe you are addicted to sugar?
Imagine if you allowed yourself to have it all day, every day, with no shame, no judgment, no limits – do you think it would honestly have the same hold over you?
- STOP. You can’t comment on that until you’ve tried.
- ^ Don’t believe me? Eat a pint of ice cream for a month every day, and tell me if it's still as desirable come day 31.
Ask yourself:
So, am I addicted to sugar? OR do I just feel that way because I never allow myself to have it? That is your answer!
