Lockdown, Stress Eating and Addictions
~ Gwilda Wiyaka ~
There are many hidden effects of the pandemic that were not obvious at first. Among those is an increase in addictions and overdoses.
Dr. Nora D. Volkow, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse stated, “We do not yet have nationwide data that capture the full impact of Covid-19 and its related societal effects on overdose deaths, but some indicators show troubling increases associated with it.”
In thinking of addiction we often link it with drugs and alcohol. However, due to the lockdown, there are hidden addictions on the rise that we may not recognize. While addiction may primarily be viewed as a mental problem, there are multiple physical factors involved as well.
As we have been coping with the stress and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and the resulting isolation, many of us have taken to increased stress eating or comfort foods. The foods people tend to crave in these situations are very often processed or fried foods, laden with sugar, salt, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates. These types of food provide a temporary “high.” They also destabilize blood sugar, increase inflammation, and deplete the brain of essential neurotransmitters, creating biochemical deficits. These deficits lead to anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, all of which have been linked to an increased risk of drug use.
With us this hour to discuss the nature of addictions and new methods of beating them is JOSEPH EISELE, author of “LEAVING DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS FOR GOOD.” He is the co-founder and clinical director of InnerBalance Health Center in Loveland, Colorado, a holistic treatment center established in 1999 for individuals battling drug and alcohol addiction.
Eisele is a pioneer in the use of biochemical restoration, the "missing link" he discovered during his own journey to sobriety more than thirty-five years ago. He holds state and national certifications as an alcohol and drug therapist and received specialized training as an interventionist from the Johnson Institute.
His website: innerbalancehealthcenter.com
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