Are Your Emotions Driving Your Relationship with Food?

Did you know that there are two types of hunger- emotional hunger and physical hunger? You can feel the urge to eat as a result of either emotional hunger or physical hunger. Eating as a result of emotional hunger is known as emotional or comfort eating. This is the urge to eat that is triggered by unpleasant emotional feelings like anger, loneliness, anxiety, depression etc. If you have experienced an increased urge to eat more frequent meals or larger portions than usual, pay attention to how you feel before and after you eat. 

Emotional eating is characterized by unpleasant emotional feelings before a meal and feelings of guilt after the meal or snack. One way to avoid emotional eating is learning effective coping skills like relaxation, meditation, journaling, or engaging in another pleasant activity like taking a walk, calling a friend or even listening to calming music. Sometimes food can be used to numb unpleasant feelings associated with past trauma.

Learning to differentiate between real hunger and emotional hunger is one key towards maintaining control of your health. Talking to a Licensed Professional to address any underlying trauma, depression, anxiety, or other unwanted feelings can help address the root cause of your poor relationship with food. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy have been found effective in helping people learn healthier ways of coping with unpleasant emotions.

It's never too late. Reach out for help if years of trying to work things out on your own have left you more frustrated and feeling stuck. 

By Damaris Karanja, MA, MEd, LPC, RDN, a licensed Mental Health Professional Counselor and Registered Dietitian at Healing Streams Counseling.