I'm addicted to chocolate - help

[Sk3l3t0n]

I am being unreasonable, obviously, but I need the attention of AIBU.

I am absolutely addicted to chocolate. I cannot stop eating it. It's like when I Was a smoker, I know all the risks etc but I Cannot stop. I eat it multiple times a day, I would eat more if I could.

I have been like this since I was young, as a child I would steal it. As a teenager I got into smoking and I don't recall being as obsessed with it when I smoked. I smoked till my late 20s then one day I woke up and said 'not anymore'. Somewhere over the next few yeas the chocolate started up again and its worse than ever. I do all the things people say, dont keep it in the house - doesn't work I go and buy it. Chew gum - doesn't work I go and but it. Eat a balanced diet - doesn't work I go and buy it. I have had counselling. Didn't work. I have had blood tests. All fine, not diabetes etc. I do have AuDHD and I know that binging is related. But I don't care about other sweet things; I hate sweets, hate desserts, hate sugary drinks. I don't drink alcohol, dont use packet sauces with loads of sugar or but ready meals with loads of sugar or have cereals or sugary condiments. I eat a great diet and I know a lot about nutrition. But I cannot go a day without chcolate. And one small bar is never enough. I have tried switching to dark chocolate but they only come in massive bars and then I eat the whole thing. I even tried that Paul McKenna thing to help me quit - it did not work!!! Cold turkey also has not worked, I managed a whole day then relapsed. Fuck, I took coke as a teenager and it wasn't like this!!!!

How do I stop this? I quite smoking overnight with no cravings so I know it is in me, but I can't fucking do it. I don't want to have a pickled liver, or develop diabetes or brain issues as I get older. But I'm early 40s and this has been going on for a long time. I'm chewing my hands right now as there is a chocolate yoghurt in the fridge and it is all I can do to not go and get it.

See even when I am uncomfortably full, I can still find space for chocolate. However I have noticed recently that I haven't wanted anything after dinner at all, even when my husband bought me a chocolate mousse I didn't touch it at all. Maybe, like with smoking, it takes my brain a wee while to get into the shift.

Try and overeaters anonymous group?

I tried online and can't find one. I wouldn't go in person, there is no way I could ever do that. Never.

I’m terrible for chocolate too. Also AuDHD interestingly. A few months ago I had 2 wisdom teeth out under general anaesthetic. I didn’t really feel like eating after so I didn’t have any chocolate. After a week, my appetite started to come back - but not the chocolate cravings. So I just didn’t have any for about 2 months. Then someone offered me a piece and I thought, one little bit won’t hurt… straight back to daily after that.

So I think you have to give it up completely and give it time to fight the cravings. It does get easier. I wish I hadn’t started eating it again.

Hey OP I just want to post solidarity. I binged so much on chocolate none of what have written shocks me.

I actually had weight loss surgery a few years ago but could still eat chocolate no problem at all.

Im not sure I will ever be ‘cured’.

I have the moser Roth dark chocolate bars from Aldi and will have at least one a night. I don’t seem to have the cravings that I did with milk chocolate or Lindor balls.

I no longer drink alcohol and I exercise every day (marathon runner) so I’ve just made my peace that I’m a greedy fuck when it comes to chocolate. Oh and obvs have had all blood tests, clean my teeth a lot etc.

I was just the same, not overweight but I was eating several sharing bars a day for years and years and even feeling sick wouldn't stop me. Like you I was advised to switch to dark chocolate as you're supposed to feel satisfied after a few squares - no! I could just as easily put away several bars of high quality dark chocolate in one go. There were days where I ate literally nothing but chocolate because it made me happy.

The only thing that worked was going cold turkey and telling myself for the time being you can have whatever you want as long as it's not sweet, so I didn't feel deprived. So I bought loads of crisps, takeaways etc. and ate however much I liked of that for two weeks, just nothing sweet. Then I told myself no more crisps but as much healthy-ish stuff as you want for two weeks, as many sandwiches etc. Then I placed restrictions on that until I was back to a healthy diet.

I put on weight initially doing this and perhaps it wasn't the healthiest method, but it did work and several years on I don't find myself craving chocolate at all. It is like an addiction but if you can beat it you'll find you can look at chocolate in the supermarket and feel no temptation, find it weird it ever appealed to you.

Would going to a hypnotherapist be useful OP?