Hello love,
If we go back to the beginning and think about what Emotional Eating is – it’s a coping mechanism. We use it to cope with discomfort, distress and uncomfortable emotions that come up.
The reason we cope instead of processing and resolving these emotions is because when we were children we weren’t taught how to move through these emotions.
We weren’t seen, heard, validated, understood, accepted, etc. Our parents or caregivers weren’t regulated or calm enough to hold us through our discomfort and get us to the other side where we could create resolution.
These uncomfortable emotions stay in our body and are unprocessed. They create pain and discomfort (suffering) and we then need to soothe ourselves to stop the pain.
So, food becomes an obvious choice. It gives us a dopamine hit, some comfort, numbs us to the pain and distracts us. We temporarily feel good.
If you have this coping mechanism what usually happens is that you weren’t accepted as you were and/or accepted for your emotions.
You were criticized or felt criticized. You weren’t attuned to or seen.
If your body was criticized by your parents, caregivers, at school or in society you would have gotten the message that something was wrong with you for being YOU.
And you decided or got the message that if you look a certain way then you’ll get the love and acceptance you need.
Let’s dive in and explore how these Body Image Issues impact Emotional Eating and how to resolve this!
- 2:20 Criticism is all around and as children we will do anything to get belonging including this.
- 3:18 Why this happens and what foundation we need and when we don’t have it how it triggers Emotional Eating
- 4:30 The critical voice’s role in triggering the emotional eating cycle
- 6:30 The food you Emotionally Eat is not the only thing that keeps you from “your” healthy body
- 7:02 How to shift out of body image issues and get to body acceptance where your healthy lives
- 11:00 Becoming aware of triggers to go deeper and resolve this pattern
- 14:02 Next steps and free resources
Next Steps
1. If you are ready to start your journey to resolving your Emotional Eating you can download my free guide “What Are You Truly Hungry For?” to start discerning true from emotional hunger and catching your triggers HERE.
2. If you are ready to transform your emotional eating so that you can get to ease, peace and confidence around food and in your body with a step by step process and guidance then find out more about The Emotional Eating Evolution Program HERE.
To acceptance,
~Michelle
Certified Holistic Nutritionist Specializing in Emotional Eating
