Breaking the Cycle: How to Take Back Control from Addiction

 By: Dr. Barbara Bartlik on recognizing harmful patterns and reclaiming your life

Addiction rarely announces itself with fanfare. It creeps in quietly, disguised as comfort, routine, or even success. For Dr. Barbara Bartlik, a respected integrative psychiatrist, the conversation around addiction must go beyond substances to include behaviors and even food. “People are creatures of habit,” she says. “Those habits can become chains—subtle at first, but over time, they can dismantle health, relationships, and careers.”

From sugar cravings to compulsive gambling, addictions thrive on repetition. Bartlik emphasizes that whether the object of fixation is a drug, a dessert, or the stock market, the underlying mechanism is the same: the brain’s reward system becomes hijacked, demanding more and more until the individual’s life orbits around the addiction.

The Many Faces of Addiction

Substance addictions, such as alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, are perhaps the most recognized—and the most devastating. “These escalate quickly,” Bartlik warns. “They impair judgment, damage relationships, and often lead to professional collapse. Before you know it, your life unravels.”

But not all addictions fit the stereotypical mold. Food addiction, for example, is one of the most pervasive. High-sugar and processed foods create a feedback loop in the brain, intensifying cravings the more they’re consumed. Bartlik notes that for some individuals—particularly those with autoimmune conditions—certain foods like gluten and dairy can act as addictive substances. “They can literally go through withdrawal, with anxiety and stomachache, when cutting these foods out. I’ve seen it happen in my patients.”

Behavioral addictions can be equally insidious. Gambling is a typical example, but Bartlik also points to less obvious forms, like compulsive trading in the stock market. “When a person spends 10 hours a day obsessing over their portfolio, they start to neglect family, friends, and self-care. The addiction begins running their life”

The Cost of Delay

The consequences of untreated addiction are profound. Physical health declines under the weight of poor food choices. Emotional health suffers as relationships strain and isolation grows. For young people, food addiction can lead to self-esteem issues, making it challenging to form meaningful partnerships or envision a family life. “By the time some realize the impact—often in their forties—they feel it’s too late,” Bartlik says.

This underscores the importance of early intervention. Addressing addictive behaviors when they’re still manageable can prevent years of compounded damage.

 

Reclaiming Your Life: A Path Forward

Bartlik’s approach to overcoming addiction centers on awareness, commitment, and gradual change. She encourages patients to:

● Acknowledge the habit without judgment.

● Eliminate triggers—whether it’s sugary foods, risky environments, or excessive screen time.

● Replace the addiction with healthier routines, such as exercise, hobbies, and social connections.

● Seek professional support when needed, especially for substance dependencies.

 

A New Definition of Freedom

“Addiction is a thief,” Bartlik reflects. “It robs people of their health, their relationships, their joy. But the moment you recognize it for what it is, you begin to take back your power.”

True freedom isn’t just the absence of addiction—it’s the presence of purpose and possibility. Recovery opens doors that once felt closed, allowing you to nurture relationships, pursue passions, and fully inhabit your life without the weight of compulsion. Bartlik emphasizes that it’s never too late to change. “Every step away from addiction is a step toward the life you were meant to live. Freedom isn’t something we’re given—it’s something we create, choice by choice.”

She urges readers to act now, while time and health are still on their side. “When you break free from the cycle, you don’t just get your health back—you reclaim your future and rediscover your capacity for joy, connection, and meaning. That’s the ultimate reward.”

Recovery isn’t about deprivation—it’s about creating space for the life you truly want. Freedom, she explains, comes from making choices aligned with your highest priorities, not being pulled by compulsions. “When you break free from the cycle, you don’t just get your health back—you get your future back.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Barbara Bartlik is a renowned integrative psychiatrist with over three decades of clinical experience, specializing in the intersection of mental health, sexual health, and functional medicine. Board-certified in psychiatry and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, she is celebrated for her holistic approach to treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction.  As an editor of Integrative Sexual Health (a volume in Dr. Andrew Weil’s Integrative Medicine Library), Dr. Bartlik brings academic rigor to her innovative work. She integrates lifestyle medicine, nutritional strategies, and mind-body therapies into psychiatric care, helping patients achieve transformative healing.

A sought-after speaker and media contributor, she addresses audiences worldwide on topics from PTSD recovery to menopause and andropause support. Based in Manhattan, Dr. Bartlik continues to redefine mental health care for the modern age—bridging science, compassion, and whole-person wellness.