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Emotional Eating by Natalie E West DCht, IICT



Emotional Eating


In a world where food is constantly celebrated, craved, and sometimes feared, it's easy to fixate on the tangible aspects of our eating habits.

Emotional eating is not about the food; it never was and never will be.

This may sound completely strange and totally contrary to what you have been led to believe. We often find ourselves in a love-hate relationship with what we consume. But when it comes to emotional eating, the food itself is not the true protagonist.

Imagine food as a puppet, with your hand controlling its every move. The puppet may be what everyone sees and focuses on, but it's your hand inside that brings it to life. Similarly, while food is the visible element of emotional eating, the real driving force lies within you.

Focusing solely on food as the cause of emotional eating is like watching a puppet show and believing the puppet acts on its own. This perspective is a defense mechanism, a way to divert attention from the underlying emotions and needs that truly influence our behavior.

Emotional eating is not about the food. This statement, however, doesn't diminish the significant role food plays in our lives. Food can comfort, distract, or even momentarily fulfill deeper unmet needs. To break free from the cycle of emotional eating, we must look beyond the surface and explore these deeper needs and our relationship with ourselves.

A question I ask my clients is, “What’s eating you?”

What is it that food is providing for you in those emotional moments? Is it comfort, distraction, or perhaps a sense of control?

By delving into these questions, we begin to uncover the root causes of our eating patterns. This journey requires insight and conscious awareness, but most importantly, it demands patience and compassion towards ourselves.

As we gain clarity on our unmet needs, the grip of emotional eating starts to loosen. We learn to address our emotions directly rather than masking them with food.

This process opens the door to freedom.

You can transform your relationship with food, and more importantly, with yourself.

Written by Natalie E West DCht, IICT
Instagram: @natalie.e.west
Published July 19th, 2024

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