I sometimes wonder, if I hadn’t been bought up to be so sensible (thanks mum) what my addiction of choice might be. Alcohol? Gambling perhaps? Petty theft? I’m fairly addicted to shopping if we really think about it. I know I have an obsessive compulsive personality, and an addictive one, so I guess it’s good that it’s channelled into other areas of my life, like work and writing. An addiction by any other name is really just ‘dedication to the cause’.

As I sat down tonight to write my blog and do other various bits and bobs on the computer, I automatically raided the pantry for something to snack on while working. I’d had dinner. It’s not like I was hungry. But the bag of Cadbury Milk Bottles hiding on the top shelf were on the menu. Now, if you haven’t tried Cadbury milk bottles, please do so. As far as milk bottles go, they are the best you can get and it might help you understand what I am up against here. They are creamy, not too hard or too small – kinda firm on the outside but smooth chewiness in the centre. I know that sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but trust me when I tell you they are to die for. Anyways, I had one. Then three. Then ten. Then when half the bag was gone, I chastised myself, folded the bag over and put it out of arms reach.

And this is where my addiction, my obsessive compulsive personality takes over. Finish the bag, it says. You don’t like to leave things unfinished! That’s not how you were bought up! If you finish it now, then you won’t buy anymore lollies, or chocolates, or chips etc next time you are at the shops, and it will all be gone! You can start that diet tomorrow! And look at the calories, only 1600 for the whole bag? That’s not so bad! You’ll go for a walk tomorrow, or go to the gym and maybe on the weekend you can walk around the lake…

Before I know it the bag is empty. Then the guilt sets in. So I tell myself I won’t buy anymore sugary snacks, treats or sweets. I figure, if it’s not in the cupboard, I can’t eat it and it will be just as easy as that! But those in the same boat as me know its not and come shopping day next week, those sneaky bags of goodness will find themselves back in the trolley.

If I was a gambler, or an alcoholic, I could seek professional help for my addictions. If my shopping ever got out of control, I am pretty sure there are support groups I could join. But what support group is there for eating whole bags of lollies? Sugar Addicts Anonymous? Hi, my name is Sarah and I can’t stop at one milk bottle. Or a handful of peanut butter m and m’s. Or a row of Cadbury chocolate. It’s definitely an illness I need to combat – or at the very least I will acquire an different type of illness (like diabetes!) if I don’t learn to stop at one.

What can’t you stop at one with? Share with me! (It will make me feel better!)