I want to talk about a fundamental problem I see with many food addiction recovery programs today. The biggest issue, in my opinion, is that they deny your agency, your sense of choice, and ultimately, your empowerment.
Many programs tend to treat individuals as “helpless victims” who desperately need their specific “mastery” or else they’re “doomed”. You might see this in some 12-step programs or even certain companies that use very aggressive tactics, acting as if without their support, recovery is impossible.
But I believe something fundamentally different.
You Are the Best Expert on You
At the end of the day, you are the best expert on yourself. While education and information are crucial to understand your options, your own internal “felt sense” will guide you to the approach that’s the right fit for you right now.
This brings me to another critical point: there isn’t one magical approach that will solve your problem now and forever. Recovery is not a linear path; it’s more like peeling back layers of an onion. What you need today – perhaps emotional processing tools, coping strategies for stress, or even practical skills like healthy cooking – might be entirely different from what you need down the road. For instance, what’s the point of going abstinent if you don’t know what healthy foods to replace it with?
The Problem with “One-Size-Fits-All” and Scare Tactics
The idea that one program is the only path to recovery is simply untrue. Every single method works for some people, but absolutely zero of them work for all people. I strongly object to the kind of “scare tactic marketing” that suggests you’re doomed if you don’t join a particular program or membership. It’s just not true; countless people have found recovery in countless ways.
Consider the success rate of 12-step programs: they have a reported 4% success rate among those surveyed. Many individuals take one look and decide it’s not for them. This low success rate, I believe, speaks volumes about the issue of choice and agency.
Reclaiming Your Agency for Lasting Recovery
For real, deep, long-lasting recovery to be successful, you need to feel like you’re making a choice, not being forced into something.
Recovery, at its core, is about reclaiming your agency:
- Over the choices you make, like deciding not to eat foods you find addictive.
- Over whether you choose abstinence versus moderation as your approach.
- Over which programs or support systems you decide to use.
- And most importantly, the agency to know, internally, “for me right now, this is what I need”.
To make these choices, you need education, training, and information. That’s what informed choice is all about – having the knowledge to decide what truly aligns with your personal journey.
If you have questions or want to explore content that supports this approach to recovery, feel free to visit junkthehabit.com. I have lots of free resources there, and I’d love to connect.