When we have strong feelings, it`s sometimes easier to use things outside ourselves to help us survive. These coping mechanisms can be constructive, like working out or writing, or destructive, like drinking and drugs. For some sufferers, eating is the outlet they use when feeling out of control emotionally. Emotional eating is a means of soothing negative feelings for many sufferers.
For some folks, emotional eating just means indulging in a little ice cream after a rough day at work. For many, however, this is a dangerous addiction that can lead to obesity and health issues. Most comfort foods are full of calories, sugar, and salt, which all can lead to health problems when consumed in large quantities.
There are many things that can cause emotional eating. Major life events, or even day to day hassles can push emotional eaters to the fridge. For some, eating can also be a means of relief from boredom. There is a chemical reason behind emotional eating as well. Many popular comfort foods release chemicals or hormones that elevate your mood, so they are chemically as well as psychologically calming.
Emotional eating is a difficult habit to get out of. However, there are several suggestions to help quit this dangerous tendency. It`s vital to learn how to tell the difference between actual hunger and an emotionally motivated desire to chow down. If you know that you aren`t really hungry, give it some time to see if the urge fades. Emotional cravings differ(s) from physical cravings in a couple ways. It comes on quickly, while actual hunger is gradual. Physical hunger is a universal sensation of emptiness, while emotional hunger will make you crave something specific. Emotional eating is also more likely to make you feel shame afterwards.
Don`t keep comfort foods around, because it`s much less difficult to resist those urges when temptation isn`t easy to access. Attempt to replace calorie laden comfort foods with better for you alternatives. Make a list of things you can do to distract yourself when emotional eating threatens, such as go for a run, take a short nap, or read a newspaper. Finally, using the help of a therapist to address the underlying reasons for emotional eating can be very rewarding.
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