Do you feel overwhelmed about the prospect of revising ingrained habits? Does the thought of battling strong temptation for the foods that have brought you comfort in the past seem overwhelming? I am convinced that we human beings were not created to handle the type of pain that we sometimes have to carry, and it is no wonder that we find ways to dull the pain. Eating is a convenient, pleasurable way to stimulate brain chemicals that connect to our pleasure center. So how do we negotiate this life that is so wondrous and sometimes so hard without constantly turning to food? We need to learn to go through the pain instead of dulling it. And we need someone safe and caring to go with us through it — someone who will validate our pain, but will not give us permission to keep on hurting ourselves with food. If you are overeating as a result of pain, whether from childhood or a more current wound, you should not try and tackle it alone. Find a caring friend to go on the journey, and together you can encourage each other to make excellent choices!
Tags: binge eating, emotional eating