Glasgow-born social commentator and rapper Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey has discussed behavioural addictions such food, sex, gambling and television on his BBC documentary series.
Darren started off the latest, and final episode, of his show Addictions by speaking to Glaswegian Annemarie, who grew up in Easterhouse and began drinking when she was just nine-years-old.
Speaking to the host, Annemarie said: “My growing up in Easterhouse was really tough. I started using alcohol when I was nine years old.”
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This shocked Darren, who repeated, “Nine?”, and Annemarie nodded in agreement at the horror of her statement.
She continued: “That was the first time that I ever felt that I was untouchable, and free from this inner world of mine that was just full of distress.
“And from that, I chased anything that would give me that same experience, up until I turned 46.”
However, Annemarie admitted that her biggest issue to date has been her battle with food addiction, that began in the recovery stages of her drug and alcohol abuse.
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Annemarie explained: “But let me tell you, it was some time in my recovery from a range of different addictions, and the hardest one for me has been sugar, and food.
“So, Tesco have got these salted caramel mousse desserts, and if I could marry it, I would!
“I could buy half a dozen of them, eat them all in the one go and feel physically sick, but I’m eating it thinking that I am treating myself.
“I eat it against my own will, almost.”
Darren replied: “So, you know there are foods you need to avoid because you experience a subsequent loss of control when consuming them, much like a substance addiction?”
Annemarie agreed, adding: “This is a really tender area for me to talk about, as when I was a wee girl, my mum would stick a square of chocolate under my pillow to keep me quiet, as a sort of reward.
“It was about control and containment.”
The pair then discussed the idea of a ‘food addiction’, which is a much disputed area of conversation in society these days.
Annemarie stated: “I don’t have any doubt at all in thinking that food is definitely something that can trigger addictive behaviours.
“It’s as serious to me as using alcohol or heroin, I was even afraid that I was going to give myself diabetes because of the amount of sugar I ate to combat my loss of substance abuse.”
The final part of this series is available to rewatch from Thursday, May 26 at 10:30pm on BBC Scotland.
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