Is food addicting?

I've been struggling the past few weeks in a lot of areas, not just my weight loss. Or lack thereof. It's such a cliche, but reaching for food for comfort whenever I am down or angry is a Pavlovian response for me. I did it Saturday, even though I tried SO hard to find a substitute. And when I put that first bit of "comfort" food in my mouth, I swear I could feel my brain light up like a pinball machine. Then I magically felt better - until later when the guilt kicked in. Such a vicious cycle. And you know, I like the food I have been eating, all the healthy things that do manage to find their way inside my body, plus exercising 30 or 45 minutes, but - are these the things that I reach for when I'm down? No. At least, I do at first but these things do not take the edge off my hunger feelings. Then I go for the big guns - usually fat and salt, like chips or fries. Therefore, food is addicting.