Why Can’t I Just Stop Eating Chocolate?

I didn’t set out to “quit” or restrict chocolate.

I just wanted to feel a bit more in charge of what I was putting into my body; less compulsive, more intentional. But chocolate turned out to be wrapped up in a lot more than just a sweet tooth. There were stories in it. Sensory comfort. Structure. Dopamine.

Especially with ADHD in the mix.

Chocolate wasn’t the problem.

The way I needed it to survive the day - that was.

If you’re someone with ADHD, you’ll probably recognise the feeling: your brain’s either racing or flatlining. You crave something to wake you up, soothe you, give you a sense of focus or a hit of reward.

Chocolate is perfect for this.

It’s fast. Predictable. Hits the dopamine switch. Feels like control when everything else feels like too much.

What starts as a square with coffee becomes a reflex - the punctuation mark between every moment of the day. After a boring Teams meeting (that could have been an email) Before writing an email. At the end of the day. In the car. Before socialising. After socialising. Any time you feel under-resourced and over-stimulated.

I realised I wasn’t craving chocolate.

I was craving regulation. Relief. Transition. Reward.

To read the rest, including how to overcome this, head over to my substack email newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/beckygracetherapy/p/why-cant-i-just-stop-eating-chocolate?r=276rm8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Becky Grace is a BABCP-accredited CBT and EMDR therapist specialising in eating disorders, neurodiversity, and complex trauma. She is based in Norwich and offers in-person and UK-wide online therapy.