Suggestions for Bingeing and Addiction

Scurvemuch · 2015-11-23T17:03:34+00:00

I don't know exactly how except by example -- but lots of guys in the AA group where I work are gym rats. They pretty much did it as a planned activity to replace social drinking

FearDearg2015 · 2015-11-23T18:04:23+00:00

Read "chasing the scream" by johann hari. Changed my entire perception of addiction. Alternatively, for the TLDR, just look up the "rat park" results. Addicts are missing deep social connection. They feel isolated and make up for it with addictive behaviours to give their lives some meaning. The "chemical hooks" are not at all as important as you would think.

Further, it's not so much the addiction that controls his life (lots of high functioning alcoholics / heroin addicts etc) but the fact that the addiction and associated life style is more important to him than a life without that.

Countpudyoola · 2015-11-23T16:49:25+00:00

Some people just unfortunately seem to have that addiction/hole they can't fill with something.

Problem is you could make a suggestion , but unless he feels that "something special" that draws him to do something to excess (like you're suggesting) he'll probably not follow through.

I'd wager if he doesn't find out a way to moderated <insert activity> if he starts becoming a gym rat he could take that too far as well. I guess there could be worse things.

Maybe tout the workout HIGH you get from hitting the gym. Or how intermittent fasting brings intense clarity. Suggest, steer, tout...but other than that the bro's got to take the steps himself.

Trekneck · 2015-11-23T17:11:52+00:00

As a former addict myself, I can tell ya that the only thing that's going to get him on board with any game plan, whether it's moving his addiction from meth to food to women to working out, is his desire to do so. That desire to do so has to be more than "I need to do this" it has to be an overwhelming sense of purpose that will make him change his ways, and he can only find that in himself, not through suggestion.

Getting in the gym is a sure fire way to at least start to reconsider some of the other shitty addiction behaviors, but it would take motivation that he more than likely doesn't have right now, or he'd be doing something differently. If you can get him in the gym with you, perhaps he could start to get a feel for it and enjoy it, might spark some interest if he gets a rush or sense of satisfaction from it.

MRPguy · 2015-11-23T17:28:47+00:00

NMMNG is a must. It is mandatory.

blarggggggggggg · 2015-11-23T19:19:37+00:00

May or may not work but try to get him on a keto diet. For the beginning, he can just stuff his face till he's full and he'll probably drop a bunch of the weight. For most dudes, just eating meat and eggs for a few months sounds like the most awesome thing in the world. That will help him kick the sugar addiction and the results may motivate him to pursue more directed fitness activity. Then he can introduce carbs carefully, count calories and fine-tune his eating.

Hard to say if it will take with the guy, but worth a shot?

alphabeta49 · 2015-11-23T20:03:40+00:00

I work in addiction counseling. I don't believe there are "addictive personalities," but I do believe there's a spectrum. We all have compulsions, so the idea is to move them to increasingly healthy habits. So yes, he could absolutely switch to gym ratting. My generic suggestion:

Make a ceremony out of throwing out all the bad food in his house
Purchase a new set of workout clothes or shoes
Sign up at a gym
Make a plan for abstinence that includes religiously staying away from "triggers": convenience stores, eating after 7pm, being bored, etc. For him, the snack aisle must be seen as evil. No ifs/ands/buts.
Also, he needs to make a plan for when he slips. Call a "sponsor," immediately go for a run, snap a rubber band on his wrist, whatever changes the cycle of binging > feeling guilty > binging more.

However, like u/trekneck said, it all depends on how much he wants it. A neighbor recently asked my advice on how to deal with his lying, manipulative, abusive, meth-addicted brother and their enabling, codependent mother. Neither the brother nor the mother showed signs of wanting to change, so my best advice for my neighbor was to let them reach their rock bottom. An addict needs to want change, otherwise any advice will be ineffective.

theultmatecad · 2015-11-24T02:20:14+00:00

This is my personal opinion. You can't unplug a man who isn't ready.

He will pay lip service to the concepts but then fail when it's time to apply anything. The Redpill is just too shocking to accept unless you truly feel you are out of viable alternatives.

I initially challenge men to see how ego invested they are. I'll drop crumbs. But the real work is done by oneself.

I applaud your good intentions but I personally want to warn you that I lost friends when I tried the same thing. These guys were unable to take any responsibility for themselves and just found it easier to say I am an asshole who "changed"

Title	Suggestions for Bingeing and Addiction
Author	RedDeadWolverine
Upvotes	0
Comments	14
Date	November 23, 2015 4:13 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askMRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/askMRP/comments/3tyemt/suggestions_for_bingeing_and_addiction/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askMRP/suggestions-for-bingeing-and-addiction.207878 https://theredarchive.com/post/207878

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