I had an interesting discussion yesterday with a psychologist about the phenonemon of weight gain in the first year of sobriety.  This doesn’t happen to everyone, but some people definitely hit those sweets, particularly at meetings.  Scarfing down cookies and guzzling five cups of coffee – no wonder some people feel so jittery in those early months!

This particular psychologist specializes in both eating disorders (including compulsive overeating) and substance abuse.  Her belief is that some people instantly find refuge from all those “new” feelings in sobriety by overindulging in food and caffeine.   In fact, this behavior can short circuit step progress because it allows the person to still mute those pesky feelings. She also has over 20 years working the steps, and she has seen many people gain 50, 70, even 100 pounds in that first year. She believes this doesn’t have to happen, but it requires a really effective working of the program with a strong sponsor (and in cases where the problem is seriously compulsive, cognitive behavioral therapy).

This is subject near and dear to me. I had a problem with food long before I took my first sip of alcohol. I am the first one to admit refined carbohydrates in particular can be addictive.  Now I can hear the criticism: just thank heavens they aren’t drinking alcohol!  And frankly, I get that.   However, it does seem to me that the emotional roller coaster would be a lot more predicatble without a lot of sugar.

And what if the food becomes a permanent substitute?  Is that a healthy way to live?  Does this interfere with a true embracing of the steps?  How thoroughly can you do the steps if you are still muting feelings with food?  All interesting questions.  I frankly feel a lot of feelings (some of my friends would roll their eyes at this statment – maybe too many feelings?)  but there are certainly times when stress seems easier to handle after a nice satiating bread-and-other-carb-filled meal.  Isn’t that just another drug?

I’ve written about substitute addictions before.  I’ll probably bring this topic up more than a few times, just because I recognize in myself the tendency to repetitively do less-than-healthy things when I’m under stress.  A few of my favorites are:

Spending money

Eating junk food

Watching too much TV

So while these are certainly better than drinking, they can create their own set of problems, namely less money in my bank account, more bulk around my mid-section, and a general feeling of TV-light-induced malaise.

This week I pretty much decided all three were good ideas, so I’m feeling a little heavier in the chair and lighter in the wallet.  I occasionally go through these cycles where I misbehave then crack down on myself and straighten out. It’s my circle of life so to speak.

Granted, I’m not drunk, I’m very responsible with my job and I’m not in debt, but I still feel frustrated at the up and down scale and the feeling that I could be accomplishing more if I just cut out one TV series out of my schedule. And do I have to watch every single Red Sox game?

I’d love to hear from people who have overcome these substitute addictions – tips please!