Sugar addicts: Did mom turn you into a sugar junkie? 5 tips to avoid the same fate

You may have inherited your mom’s smile. You may share her love of clothes. Perhaps you both sneeze when you’re around daisies. But you may also take after your mother in another way, too. You may have become “addicted” to candies, cookies, soda or chocolate just like her.

In other words, did mom unknowingly turn you into a sugar addict?

But we’re not here to lay guilt trips on poor mom. Rather, we want to tell you how to break free from a destructive habit that your mother may have unknowingly passed onto you — and mother’s mother may have inadvertently shared with her. And so on. After all, your relationship with your mom is the first one that you have, and it profoundly influences the course of your life.

Here are 5 ways to escape the sugar trap that your mom may have unintentionally given to you:

1. Do “Sugary Soul Searching.” In other words, think about how your sugar habit began. (For example, did mom and dad take you out for ice cream as a reward when you were good? Did your mom buy huge bottles of soda and keep them around your home all the time? Did you get chocolate if you finished your dinner? Did you catch mom in the kitchen secretly polishing off last night’s dessert? Did she prepare special desserts just for you and get hurt if you didn’t want any?)
    

    

2. Think about how your mom used to relate to sweets. Or maybe still does. (Does your mother serve special treats to show her love? Does she use desserts to lay a guilt trip on you? Perhaps she offers edible “goodies” to make peace with members of the family?)
    

    

3. Do a special visualization meditation in which you see, feel and hear yourself discussing topics with your mother that have been on your mind for years. Make sure to envision yourself opening your heart to her.
    

    

4. Have a conversation with your mother in which you discuss your mutual connection to sugar and chat about other matters of the heart. (You can talk with her whether or not she’s alive.)
    

    

5. Write a letter to your mom to achieve closure and a new more meaningful connection. In your own words, you’ll share feelings that you’ve kept inside for years. (You won’t be mailing this letter, but writing it will help you to forgive her, as well as to release your anger, sadness and frustration.) The power of writing such a letter cannot be overestimated. Putting thoughts and feelings on paper has helped thousands of women worldwide.)

Naturally, many of us would like to have better relationships with our mothers (whether she’s alive or not).

By resolving past grievances and resentments with mom, you can more easily let go of your frustrating attraction to sugar and other unhealthy behaviors and feelings.

Nothing else seems quite as sweet as forgiveness.