In this modern age, many people face daily stress from sources such as a job, school, living conditions, or relationships as a matter of course. Health problems caused by stress usually reside not with the actual cause of stress itself, but with the body`s answer to the stress. Unfortunately, many people choose to automatically respond to daily stress factors by eating. Interestingly enough, a study in Finland that examined stress related eating discovered that the most numerous stressors for men were being single, unemployed, or having a low educational level, while for women, the most significant stressor was possessing a low level of emotional support.
Foods can change moods, as they trigger both chemical and emotional reactions in the body. These reactions can help to temporarily bring about a feeling of calmness, but this positive feeling doesn`t last for long. The problems caused by stress related eating, such as unwanted weight gain and guilty emotions, can quickly overweight these good feelings. The negative thoughts from these results of stress related eating can turn into a vicious cycle, causing you to eat more food, which then results in more guilt, and so on.
Good news, though! This cycle can be terminated with an effective stress related eating management program that resolves the need to feed emotional, rather than physical hunger. Stress depletes the body`s neurotransmitters which help to stabilize emotions, but many alternatives to food can boost these feel good triggers. Exercise is an exceptional choice, as it not only releases endorphins, but it also burns calories and increases health. An effective exercise program doesn`t need to be expensive or elaborate; anything that gets you in motion is a positive step.
In any successful stress related eating program, it is also helpful to understand the unique purpose that food is serving in your situation. Keeping a food diary can be helpful; for a week, write down information on what, where, and when you eat, as well as your feelings before, while, and after eating. This diary can be beneficial in identifying trigger situations that lead to stress related eating behaviors, which can be the first step to correcting the situation.
Pay close attention to the feelings identified in your food diary. Analyze the feelings associated with stress related eating for patterns that indicate past loss or trauma, which can be reactivated by a trigger occurrence in the present. These past episodes can be varied, such as an unstable childhood, abuse, or a serious injury or illness, but all these episodes have the common trait of being potential triggers for present day stress related eating problems. Working with a Professional Counselor may be an effective solution to resolving the continuing feelings associated with past events.
Solving stress related eating problems is a difficult undertaking, but the more you find about yourself and care for your body and emotional health, the less likely you will use food to deal with stress.
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