Every time I’ve attempted to get sober, my weight has fluctuated. To say the least, I have yo-yo-ed for the last few years. In active addiction, I would get thin and slender, and then when sobering up and in recovery, the pounds would just pile on like a magnet. This has resulted in different physical representations and self-esteem issues. This side effect of sobering up has been a vicious cycle for me.
This last time getting sober, I packed on the pounds. I was in a rehab that fed us unlimited food! Hamburgers, french fries, ramen, candy, macaroni and cheese, everything you could imagine. We had 24-hour access to the kitchen. My mentality was “I am sober, I deserve to eat WHATEVER I want.” It’s no wonder I gained as much as I did with that mantra. Although I was happy that I was sober, I couldn’t help but be disappointed with the weight I gained. I was at my highest weight and so depressed every time I looked in the mirror. I knew I had to make a change.
I heard about GLP-1s and started to hope
GLP-1 medication has been all over the news. You hear about this “miracle drug” that helps people lose weight, drop their high blood pressure, and help maintain better glucose levels, among other things. When I first heard about it, I felt it was too good to be true. There must be a slew of side effects they are not telling you about. I decided to do more research, a lot more research. There are quite a few telehealth GLP-1 programs out there. They each have their pros and cons. I found one that met all the requirements I had in a program and scheduled my first consultation.
I was so scared and felt so insecure. The thought of even talking about my weight with another person raises my anxiety. I got into the video room with the medical provider and I threw up my whole life story on them. I wanted them to have every bit of information to approve me for the medication. I realized that most of my story has been about my battle with substances and less about weight.
The provider paused me after I explained my story and said, “Some people say the medication has helped them minimize and even stop using substances altogether.” I was stunned. I never thought to research any correlation between GLP-1s and substance use disorder. This really might be a “miracle drug,” if it could help keep me sober. The provider said I would be a good fit for the program and approved the prescription for medication.
Physical changes took a little time, but the mental changes were quick
I started the medication, nervous but excited. I added myself to a bunch of Facebook groups of fellow folks on the medication. I was able to see other people’s experiences with the medication, side effects, and how it was impacting them in day-to-day life. About four hours after taking the medication, I had no hunger. The thought of food was furthest from my mind. In the GLP-1 community, they call it “food noise.” You know, those intrusive thoughts for food, EVEN if you are not hungry, or just fantasizing about food; any brain power used towards food is “food noise.” All my “food noise” had been silenced.
I don’t do well with emotions, I never have. I have used substances and food to deal with happiness, sadness, anger, and trauma. Having food taken away left me scared, honestly. I thought my cravings would skyrocket and cause me to run to substances. This was not the case in my experience. My emotions were more balanced. I didn’t have cravings for food or a substance.
The biggest test came when my dog passed away. I always said in treatment how my dog’s passing would be a huge testament to the strength of my recovery. I was heartbroken and sad, but my emotions were right-sized. I normally would have run to a super-sized meal, but the GLP-1 medication just doesn’t allow this to be a reality. It also helps decrease how anxious or depressed I feel. My biggest fear, my dog passing, became a life event that I was able to handle sober and with emotional maturity.
I’m so excited to see what the future holds for me and others on GL-1s
I’m a year into my GLP-1 journey, and things are going amazing. I am down a substantial amount of weight, my labs look wonderful, my mental health is thriving, and my cravings for substances are pretty much nonexistent. More and more on the GLP-1 Facebook groups, I see posts about people’s experiences with substances, cravings, and GLP-1 medications. Although a lot more studies on GLP-1s and their impact on substance use disorders need to be researched, there are a lot of promising studies coming out. I am so excited to see the impact of GLP-1 used as a support for cutting back on substance use, as I know it truly has made a lasting impact on my life.