The practice of emotional eating, also known as stress eating, is a pattern of eating in which people use nutrients to help them cope with stressful situations. Many people have experienced stress eating at some point in their lives. It could manifest itself in the form of snacking on a packet of crisps when bored or indulging in a bar of chocolate after a stressful day at work.
The person’s life, health, joy, and weight can all be negatively affected if stress eating keeps happening or becomes the primary means of coping with emotions for the person.
Is it possible that stress causes overeating?
According to research, women who experience high levels of chronic stress are more likely to engage in stress eating. In addition to psychological reactions to stress, physiological responses to stress may also occur in some people. Stress causes the body to produce cortisol, a hormone that assists the body in protecting itself from further damage.
However, suppose cortisol levels remain elevated for an extended period of time, as is the case during repetitive and constant stressors. According to research, this can result in increased food intake, fat storage, and weight gain.
In addition to dealing with difficult or painful feelings and emotions, it is widespread for people to experience anxiety or depression. A strong desire or need to quickly fix or decimate negative feelings can arise, leading to the development of unhealthy behaviors.
Stress eating is associated with negative emotions and is also associated with positive emotions. Eating lots of candy at a costume party or overindulging on Thanksgiving are examples of overeating because of the vacation occasion itself.
Managing stress eating in an effective manner
Handling stress eating effectively
Controlling your stress levels is essential for gaining control over your stress-induced eating. You can manage stress effectively by confronting current situations head-on. Additionally, while learning to be better prepared for stressful situations that may arise in the future. It will help you avoid allowing the problem and your eating behavior to spiral out of control.
Exercising on a regular basis
You can reduce stress through physical activity. People believe that being physically fit increases one’s resistance to the effects of stress. Exercise causes chemical changes that help reduce stress; however, stress itself can help stop some people from taking steps that could improve their mental and physical health, such as getting out and exercising.
You should try to increase the amount of walking, lawn care, cleaning, and other lighter forms of movement and exercise you do on a daily basis if your life experiences make it difficult for you to get to the gym or even to do formal exercises at home.
Eating on the basis of intuition
Learn about intuitive eating, which nutrition experts Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch formed in the 1990s as a complementary practice to mindful eating and is still advised by nutrition experts today. According to experts, natural, inner hunger, and fullness alerts sent among your brain and your stomach are more important than ever when it comes to intuitive eating. These cues assist you in deciding when what or how much to eat each day. It’s also about putting your faith in those signals.
It is important that you comprehend and trust your natural eating cues. After that, you can permit yourself to indulge in a craving for, say, chocolate mousse. You can do it just as easily as you can give yourself the right to eat vegetables without feeling guilty or ashamed. You’ll be able to tell when you’ve had intuitively enough. Hunger and the appeal of specific foods at specific times influence your decision, rather than how stressed or sentimental you are feeling at the time of the decision.
Mindfulness and meditation
Meditation and mindfulness are two practices that can help you relax and unwind. Make it a point to cultivate a mindfulness practice. Relaxing exercises and programs that incorporate mindfulness-based practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other mindfulness-based practices help to calm the mind and body.
The ability to make better and healthier lifestyle decisions increases when you are mindful, calm, and concentrated on the present. Mindful eating is a type of mindfulness that involves slowing down and paying closer attention to what and how you eat.
Seek help from your family members and close friends
Stress eating is associated with a tidal wave of uncontrollable emotions. As a result, you should consult with your family members in the situation of stress eating. It is not always a great idea when it comes to handling things on your own. When you need help, there is no one better to turn to than your own family.
In these situations, the assistance of family members can be extremely beneficial. It’s because they’re familiar with you as a person. You have the opportunity to talk about the things that are bothering you. There will be absolutely no hesitation on your part. As a result, in times of distress, always seek the advice of your friends and family.
Obtaining external assistance from counselors
Make an effort to seek assistance. Communicate your thoughts and feelings and your unhealthy responses to stress with mental health professionals who can provide you with the assistance you need to get through difficult times. If you experience frequent feelings of guilt, shame, or regret due to your food patterns, you may benefit from speaking with a professional counselor.
Conclusion
Sometimes you eat to fulfill genuine hunger, to meet a physiological requirement to consume food and survive. Some people involve in stress eating to satisfy their appetites or cravings for a particular type of food. It is at other times, such as when they are under a lot of stress.
These people believe that overeating will provide relief. The need for food is primarily a psychological or emotional one, and it has little to do with actual physical hunger. Emotional hunger is a powerful response to the immense feelings and emotions that we experience.
Stress eating necessitates your immediate response in order to avoid further complications. If you do not take the necessary action regarding stress eating, things may spiral out of control.
