Why Overeating is Not an Addiction

A Quick Summary

Main Points on This Quick List

[1] COMPULSIONS ARE SYMPTOMS
Compulsions are simply a class of symptoms. They are not the actual BLocks themselves. In fact, the word "compulsions" is just another way to refer to the Sixth BLock Marker, "the experience of having no choice," and this experience is the defining characteristic of this group. Overeating is a compulsion.
[2] ADDICTIONS ARE A KIND OF COMPULSION
All addictions involve compulsion, but not all compulsions are addictions. Thus, addictions are simply a subset of the class of symptoms called "compulsions." Further, many compulsions do not involve addiction.
[3] ADDICTIONS CAUSE TRANCE
All addictions, by their very nature, cause the person to at the very least, momentarily experience the heightened state of consciousness known as "trance." All compulsions involve trance as well, but only addictions cause it. In both cases, this trance always occurs at the onset of the experience. In some cases, such as with addictive drugs and alcohol, it also occurs during the experience. However, no compulsion, neither addictive or non-addictive, ends in trance.
[4] ADDICTIONS CAUSE SHOCK
All addictions, by their very nature, cause the person to experience the detached state of being known as "shock." All compulsions also involve shock, but this shock may or may not be caused by the compulsive act itself.
[5] ADDICTIONS CAUSE WOUNDING
All addictions, by their very nature, can potentially cause the person to experience an abrupt transition from trance to shock. This abrupt (startling) transition from trance to shock is what wounds the person. Non-addictive compulsions, on the other hand, neither cause nor involve this rapid transition from trance into shock and so, while most addictions actually cause BLocks (wounds), most compulsions are simply the symptoms of an already existing BLock (wound).

Words and Phrases to Pay Attention To

Quick List With Examples

[1] COMPULSIONS ARE SYMPTOMS
Compulsions are simply one class of symptoms which BLocks cause. They are not the actual BLocks themselves. In fact, the word "compulsions" is just another way to refer to the Sixth BLock Marker, "the experience of having no choice," and this experience is the defining characteristic.

• All drug addicts and alcoholics (people addicted to alcohol) experience times wherein they feel compelled to drink or drug despite having made promises and resolutions against. At times, this "lack of choice" can be so powerful that these people will not even remember having made the minimal choices which precede these acts. Often, then, addicts will realize what they have done only after the fact.
• All non-addicted compulsives experience this same "lack of choice," wherein they act out their compulsion despite promise, desires, and resolutions. In fact, these "compelling" experiences are the root meaning of the word compulsion.
• Inevitably, most people with a compulsion, even those with great will power, will be unable to prevent themselves from repeating these compulsive acts. Again, this behavior is clearly a case wherein these people experience "having no choice."

[2] ADDICTIONS ARE A KIND OF COMPULSION
All addictions involve compulsion, but all compulsions are not addictions. Thus, addictions are simply a subset of the class of symptoms called "compulsions." Further, many compulsions do not involve addiction at all.

• Compulsions have one main defining characteristic; "the experience of no choice." Addictions have three additional defining characteristics; [1] they cause and begin with trance, [2] they cause and end in shock, and [3] they can potentially wound people by causing them to abruptly transition from trance to shock.

[3] ADDICTIONS CAUSE TRANCE
All addictions, by their very nature, cause the person to, at the very least, momentarily experience the heightened state of consciousness known as "trance." All compulsions also involve trance, but only addictions cause it. In both cases, this trance always occurs at the onset of the experience. In some cases, such as with drug and alcohol addictions, it also occurs during the experience. No compulsion, neither addictive or non-addictive, ends in trance though.

• Each group of addicts has its own names for this trance state. Drug and alcoholic addicts call it getting high. Some alcoholics call it the kick. Gamblers call it the action.
• Each group of non-addicted compulsives also has its names for this trance state. Exercise compulsives call it the runners high. Religious compulsives call it ecstasy. Food compulsives with excessive sugar intake as a symptom call it the sugar high.

[4] ADDICTIONS CAUSE SHOCK
All addictions, by their very nature, cause the person to experience the detached state of being known as "shock." All compulsions also involve shock, but this shock may or may not be caused by the compulsive act itself.

• All compulsions, addictive and non-addictive alike, involve shock. This shock is readily apparent in the eyes of the person during the compulsive act.
• This shock is what prevents the person from "learning from their mistakes." It is also allows the person relief from any other coexisting suffering.

[5] ADDICTIONS CAUSE WOUNDING
All addictions, by their very nature, can potentially cause the person to experience an abrupt transition from trance to shock. This abrupt (startling) transition from trance to shock is what wounds the person. Non-addictive compulsions, on the other hand, neither cause nor involve this rapid transition from trance into shock and so, while most addictions actually cause BLocks (wounds), most compulsions are simply the symptoms of an already existing BLock (wound).

• Cocaine, alcohol, amphetamines, heroin; all these substances can cause a rapid and abrupt transition from trance to shock. Many addicts even seek to increase the abruptness of this transition, never realizing how increasing the abruptness of this transition ups their chances to get wounded. The point is, all addictions have the potential to wound people.
• Eating sugar or white flour, compulsive religious practice, strenuous exercise, compulsive spending; none of these things, by their very nature, cause this rapid transition to occur. Therefore, none of these thing can actually wound people. However, they occur in the first place simply because some part of this activity was present on the original stage wherein the person was wounded.