Emotional Eating

Emotional eating strikes a cord with many. Finishing a bag of potato chips, a pint of ice cream or a box of chocolates before realizing that one was not hungry to begin with may seem like mindless eating, but it can also be the deep abyss of emotional hunger. Utilizing food to comfort, distract or feed a feeling, even if it is an unrecognized feeling, is a behavior that attempts to soothe an unmet emotional need.

Learning to identify one’s emotional needs and finding suitable replacements for the comfort of emotional eating is a place to start in creating a new mindful relationship with food. Paying attention to one’s thoughts while in the midst of an emotional eating experience can give some clue to the need that is trying to be expressed between bites of salty goodness or sweet indulgence. Paying attention to specific situations that trigger an emotional eating binge is another way to identify the need our mind, body or soul is asking to be fulfilled.

Breaking old habits can be difficult, but approaching food with a plan and mindful eating strategies to support oneself makes it possible to overcome emotional hunger while relearning healthy eating habits. Broccoli will never replace the comfort of Mom’s homemade meatloaf, but neither will the pint of Chunky Monkey. Guilt often follows the consumption of food that is trying to feed a feeling which further exacerbates the emotional abyss. Self doubt, low self esteem, frustration, a feeling of being unsafe, rebellion, depression, anxiety, emptiness and anger are other feelings that are common in emotional eating. Understanding the feelings can be difficult, however, dealing with the feelings, letting go of the past, and taking control lead not only to a mindful relationship with food, but also lead to a more fulfilled life.

Taking control of one’s eating habits brings back personal power and can be the key to having the ability to meet the emotional needs that are unfulfilled from the substitution of comfort foods. Making the decision that food does not control one’s life is part of the declaration of power. Allowing food to provide nutrition rather than nurturance creates a space for other activities that will soothe and provide the desired emotional fulfillment.

An Emotional Eating therapy group is now forming for the fall at the Center for Creative Living. This 6 weeks series will offer strategies to deal with emotional eating and a supportive group environment to relearn mindful eating. Call 248-414-4050 for more information.
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Karen Crider, MA, TLLP, is a humanistic psychotherapist in private practice at the Center for Creative Living in Royal Oak. She works with clients to deepen their emotional intimacy with themselves and create meaning in life. Visit www.centerforcreativeliving.com