Do you ever find yourself digging a tub of ice cream or hogging your favorite junk food when you’re at your lowest? Do you run straight to your kitchen to hunt for your next munching session or order your food no matter what the clock says? If you exhibit these signs, you’re into emotional eating.
Food is indeed an essential part of our survival, but running to them when you’re not feeling well and considering it as your escape mechanism can create a big problem for your health.
No doubt about the fact that food gives comfort, and we humans have an emotional attachment to it. We bake to show affection, we sit together and eat to stay connected and what not. Food fills the void that we feel, but that temporary comfort is extremely harmful in the long run. Food becomes your frenemy in such situations, and you need to be very careful what you allow inside your body.
Before understanding how one can stop emotional eating, let’s first learn the basics.
What is emotional eating?
Emotional eating is all about when someone switches to food to deal with their sentiments instead of facing them. It is a way to satisfy the urge and emptiness rather than actual hunger. Emotional eating gets triggered due to various emotional or physical issues. Typical work stress, relationship hassles, health issues, etc., can be a fundamental cause of emotional eating. It is common between both males and females and affects the overall health by giving a corrupt sense of gratification.
Causes of emotional eating
Apart from daily life struggles, some other triggers of emotional eating disorder are:
(1) Negative emotions: When we feel bad or want to be happy, we do something that brings joy to us. Many people seek comfort in food, and they indulge in eating what they feel like to feel instant relief. Negative emotions of any kind give rise to emotional eating.
(2) Feeling monotonous: It is one of the most general reasons behind emotional eating. There are times when people who are so active have nothing to do, and they switch to food to keep themselves busy and occupied.
(3) Social influence: It’s common for friends to take us out and ask us to eat whenever we feel low. Eating food that you like lifts up your emotions and makes you feel relaxed, but eating without control can cause irreversible damage.
How to stop it
(1) Do exercise
When you move your body and exercise daily, you relax your muscles and get a dose of refreshment. Working out is like hitting a refresh button on your body and diverting your mind and energy into healthy habits. Once you indulge in this, you’ll get less time for thinking about anything else and focus all your energy on a healthy lifestyle.
(2) Practice meditation
Mediation is one of the best ways to calm your mind and channel your thoughts. Set up a quiet space in your house and meditate for 15 minutes daily. Illuminate the area with candles, indoor plants, and warm lights. It will definitely make you feel relaxed and calm your emotions.
(3) Find a substitute for your junk eating
One cannot change their habit in one go. Give yourself some time, and don’t go hard on yourself. Find an alternate for your unhealthy snacks and replace them immediately. Say goodbye to those big packets of potato chips and bring in oats and healthy porridge instead. Take a bite of fresh fruits or sip fruit juices. Doing this will satisfy your cravings and will keep you fit altogether.
(4) Ask for help
Many people struggle with different mental conditions, and it’s okay to seek help. Go for therapy and talk out your problem. It will dive deep into your internal conflicts and help you resolve them.
The Bottom Line
Stress eating harms your body for the sake of instant and false gratification. It damages the body in the long run and can make you feel sick. If you think you need professional help to find a solution for your problem, you’re at the right place.
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