Food, Drink, Escape Hatches

Holidays.   Holy Daze!  This time of year,  more than others, many  people indulge and over-indulge.  The effect on our relationships of drinking, eating, spending, using pot, and other “escape hatches” can be intensely negative, but also hard to pinpoint.  In this episode, I’m getting specific about the damage my food addiction did in my life & marriage and giving you tools to address any compulsions or addictions you identify in yourself.  I’ll also share what to do (and what not to!) if you suspect your sweetheart has a problem.

This episode spills:

• How to tell the difference between addiction and compulsion
• The effects of  addictions or compulsivebehaviors on relationships
• What to do if you think your partner has an addiction or compulsion 
• What’s possible on the other side of admitting there’s a problem

And more. 

Join the conversation by listening, then share your story or response on our voicemail at 206-659-9865 or inside our free Secret Society on Mighty Networks.

Stepping into recovery has opened up new vistas for me... New possibilities.  There’s a depth and a sweetness in my marriage, and also my relationship with myself and my relationship with the Divine, that I couldn't have even imagined when I first began.

- Michele Lisenbury Christensen

Hot Moments in This Episode:

• The elephant in the room when talking about love and sex 00:45
• How escape hatches can manifest 02:24
• Defining addiction and compulsion 03:30
• One thing that changed my dramatically 06:30
• The secret I even kept from my therapist 08:42
• What to do if my partner has an addiction problem 18:43

It’s really vulnerable to share the story of my addiction and to admit publicly how powerless I am about what I eat.  But if sharing my story helps even one person see that they don’t have  to struggle daily forever with their own addiction, it will absolutely have been worth it.  

I  deeply hope this episode has helped you yourself and/or a loved one with more compassion and hope. 

You're always invited to ask questions and share your reactions and results from each episode. You can post in the question thread in the private community at http://society.lisenbury.com  or leave us a voicemail at 206-659-9865. 

My favorite books on recovery (notably, all by actual addicts, not just clinicians who try to help without having walked the path:

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts - Gabor Maté

Recovery―The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice - Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Twenty  Four Hours a Day - a daily thought I read first thing every single morning 

If the conversations on this podcast are resonating for you, please leave a rating and ideally a review on your favorite podcast platform.

Ready to bring about a transformation in your relationship to yourself, your body, and your partner? CLICK HERE to apply for a consultation.