Transfer Addiction Is Common
By: Katie Jay, MSW, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery
I spoke at a conference last weekend on the topic of Transfer Addiction. When I was researching the topic for my speech, I learned that an Austrian psychologist estimates as many as 30% of weight loss surgery patients may develop a transfer addiction after surgery.
Thats a huge number.
I get several emails a week from people who are feeling as out of control as a car on ice.
They are out of control and in a panic. Some have a food addiction, and have regained some weight. Others have found themselves suddenly addicted to alcohol or shopping or gambling.
The sad reality is people are very ashamed of addictions. But they shouldnt be. Addictions are complicated; they are caused by both physical and psychological reasons but not by lack of willpower or by personal weakness.
Addiction is about changing how you feel. But how you feel is effected by what you eat, how you live, your brain chemistry, your hormones, and many other things.
Instead of looking for blame, though, the most productive response to an addiction is accepting responsibility for quitting your addiction. No matter how slick the ice, you can turn the steering wheel in the correct direction, and come out of the skid.
Talk to an addiction professional if you are feeling out of control with a substance or behavior. Or write to me: [email protected]
