How to Tell If You’re Addicted to Food (and What to Do About It)

Becky Higgs
Jul 3
3 min read

Food is one of the most socially accepted—and quietly painful—ways people try to cope. You might joke about being “addicted to chocolate” or say you’re having a “naughty day” with food. But deep down, you might be wondering: Is this something more? Am I actually addicted to food?

If you're stuck in a cycle of bingeing, guilt, and restriction, you're not alone—and you're not broken.

In this post, we’ll explore what food addiction really looks like, why it’s not your fault, and what you can do to finally break free.

Person with hands forming a stop gesture over pastries, including croissants, a muffin in a red wrapper, and chocolate cookies, on wooden table.

What Is Food Addiction, Really?

Food addiction isn’t about loving food too much. It’s about feeling like you can’t stop, even when part of you desperately wants to.

Just like any addiction, it’s a complex relationship involving brain chemistry, emotional regulation, trauma, and habit loops. Certain foods—especially those high in sugar, fat, and salt—trigger dopamine responses that create temporary comfort or relief. Over time, you might find yourself relying on these foods in the same way someone might rely on alcohol or shopping.

But unlike alcohol or drugs, you can't simply “cut food out.” You need food to live. That’s why healing food addiction requires deep emotional work, not just willpower.

Signs You Might Be Addicted to Food

Here are some signs to look for. You don’t have to tick every box—but if several feel painfully familiar, it might be time to explore healing:

You eat in secret or feel embarrassed about how much or what you eat.
You feel out of control once you start eating certain foods.
You use food to numb out stress, sadness, anxiety, boredom—or even joy.
You feel guilt or shame after eating, often followed by plans to restrict, punish, or “start again tomorrow.”
You’ve tried countless diets, but always end up back in the same place.
Food takes up a lot of your mental space—you think about it constantly.
You feel physically uncomfortable from eating too much, but keep doing it anyway.
You eat even when you're not hungry, just to feel something (or feel less).

Hands tied with a yellow measuring tape, placed in front of various desserts on a table, suggesting restraint. Chocolate, red, and golden hues.

Why It’s Not Your Fault

Let’s be clear: food addiction isn’t about lack of discipline.

Most women I work with in Liberation Mentoring are intelligent, successful, and exhausted from fighting a battle no one else can see.

Food became your coping mechanism. And in a world that teaches you to shrink, silence your needs, and measure your worth by the scale—it’s no wonder you reached for something that soothed you.

This isn’t about weakness. It’s about pain. It’s about your nervous system trying to keep you safe. And that’s why healing has to go deeper than willpower or food rules.

What to Do About It

Here’s the good news: food addiction can be healed. Not with another diet, but with liberation.

Here’s what the healing path looks like inside Liberation Mentoring:

1. Understanding the Root Cause

We explore your emotional triggers, past experiences, and internal beliefs. This isn’t surface-level advice—this is subconscious reprogramming, inner child healing, and nervous system regulation.

2. Releasing the Shame

Through compassionate coaching and group support, we help you dismantle the shame that’s kept you stuck. Because healing happens in safety—not judgment.

3. Learning to Feel Again

Instead of numbing with food, you’ll gently learn to feel your emotions, honour your body, and reconnect with yourself. This is where embodiment practices, breathwork, and visualisation come in.