I DVR'd the show Intervention the other night and just finished watching it. It was about a young girl addicted to heroin. Now some of you may know, I'm divorced 2 yrs this month, I literally watched my ex become an alcoholic the last 3 yrs of our marriage and I thought "how dare you do this to us". I didn't want the divorce, he did, in the end because I wouldn't go out partying with him, said we never did anything together and we had grown apart, well he had met someone too. Anyway, getting back to the Intervention, I never understood how anyone could be addicted to drugs or alcohol and do that to themselves and to their family members but tonight I looked at my mom and said "you know I no different, I'm addicted to food, always have been". Thus the reason for my surgery a year ago this week. I make better food choices now, yes its hard and a daily struggle with me with head hunger and sweets and sometimes I give in but I'm no different so I have no right to criticize anyone's addiction not even my ex's. Which by the way I saw my ex today, he always forgets to mail my alimony ck so I had to meet up with him, he looked awful. For someone that used to hold a corporate job and have a company car and make six figures now looks like he does is sad and breaks my heart, I feel sympathy for him. All I can do is pray not only for him but for myself with my head hunger in which I struggle with each and every day.

The good news for you,Donna is that you recognized you had a problem and doing everything you can to defeat it. Some ppl never admit they have a problem and need help.

My sister had a gastric bypass years ago b/c of her food addiction. She lost a lot of weight, but didn't fix the head problem that caused her to use food for comfort. Since she couldn't use food for comfort, she turn to alcohol and has become a case of beer per night person and gained all her weight back.She traded one addiction for another.

She wants a band over bypass, but the Dr won't do it, b/c it won't fix her head. It is very sad and until they admit they have a problem, all we can do is pray for them and not in able them.

Like your ex, my sister looks terrible. She sent a family picture at my mothers 85 birthday, my mother looked in better health than my sister.

Sometimes ppl have to hit rock bottom, before they can see their way up. That's where I was, literally did not want to live another day in the pain I was in. The Lord heard my prayers and made away for me to get the help I needed and I now have my life back.

If I need comforting, I now turn to something that can't hurt me. Like I shared with you before, getting in touch with the beauty around me,in my own backyard, or just giving a stranger a few minutes of my day.

May all those that have an addiction find peace within themselves, so they may live the life that they were meant to live.

Insightful words MG...

The individual with the addiction must "save themselves", no one else can rescue them.

The motivation for the process of change in addiction recovery must come from within the individual.

Yup. food is an addiction like any other addiction. That's why I hate the attitude of those not addicted who say, oh just shut your pie hole and you'll lose the weight. OK then, just stop drinking and you'll be OK, or just stop shooting up and you'll be OK.

Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction.

I'm so proud of everyone on this forum and even those who are not. Kudos to all the people who struggle daily to get healthier and overcome this addiction.

Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction.

So true! People who don't share any particular addiction, have a difficult time understanding why we can't "just stop". We need food for our survival, so we're always having to "dance with the devil" (so to speak). We can never completely leave the dance floor

you are all so right the brain chemicals have to be adjusted to over come all additions. I have gotten help in that area over the years but my family didn't and now its hard to get along with them because they do not see reaility they changed facts and always need someone to blame and it is always someone else fault. We have all come to the comclution that our over setting is our fault so we can be succful here. We all should be very proud of ourselves for coming so far

Well, I guess these shows are helpful. So glad that you can see the other sie,now. Too bad for your ex-hubby! Just be thankful that you recognize and addiction and are controlling it. God is blessing you!

thank you all so very much and yes God is blessing me much every day, as you all know I'm deeply religious, southern Baptist girl here and I take my faith to heart. It breaks my heart every time I see my ex because like I said above, college grad, successful business man and now this to the man he is now. To hear his family talk, which I'm still in contact with, he goes out drinking all the time and comes in to work smelling like alcohol, just awful. I guess you are right Maddysgram he has to hit rock bottom to see his way up. I thought that would have been 3 yrs ago when he got a DUI but no, didn't phase him. Like I said, I struggle each and every day with sweets, it's my devil, but choose to suck on a piece of sugar free hard candy or occasionally have skinny cow candy or ice cream treats. God has given me this second chance and I intend on living it to its fullest.