Emotional Eating

Do you ever find yourself chowing down a bag of chips, after you’ve already eaten dinner? Ate half a pizza to yourself? Or had that extra cocktail when you know you didn’t need it?

How do you feel in those moments?

You’re not alone. Often people will overeat to help distract from the emotional pain.

You may notice when you overeat that you weren’t hungry in the first place. Maybe you’re sad, lonely, overwhelmed, or angry. It could be a number of emotions.

What pain are you holding onto?

Addressing the root of the problem is uncomfortable, but it is part of the healing process. The best way to begin that process is through forgiveness.

Forgiving is not easy, even for the most enlightened among us. If you’ve been allowing your present health to be controlled by past hurts, I urge you to commit to forgiving. These steps can help:

• Talk to sympathetic friends and family about your desire to forgive. Talking with others is immensely soothing.

• Write a letter to the person you’d like to forgive. You can decide whether or not you send it.

• See the situation from the other person’s perspective—your own perspective may change.

• Don’t forget to forgive yourself.

• Understand that you are responsible for your own attitude. Don’t let holding a grudge keep you from feeling free, open, and in charge of your own life.

Forgive and watch how much easier your relationship with eating becomes.