Emotional Hunger: Why People Eat Their Emotions

Eating should not be a consolation or a reward! 

Too often we swallow our emotions or try to calm them down by eating. Emotional hunger  usually occurs suddenly and needs to be satisfied immediately, usually through unhealthy foods that contain a lot of sugar.

Many learn in childhood to hold back and swallow emotions instead of expressing them freely. This is why anger or other negative feelings are often swallowed in adulthood or, for example, calmed down by eating.

Do you eat because you are hungry or to satisfy your emotions?

Emotional hunger

Emotional hunger  often leads you unconsciously to the refrigerator because it needs to be satisfied quickly. Most satisfy this hunger with unhealthy foods, even if this type of hunger cannot be satisfied with it. Often there is also a bad conscience!

Emotional hunger cannot be satisfied by eating because the reasons are not physiological. Your soul desires to be calmed down, it needs help! Stress, sadness, anger, excessive demands and other emotional states can be the triggers for this.

Trying to alleviate your worries with a giant sundae? Do you need chocolate to calm yourself down? Are you afraid, feel an inner emptiness and try to fill it with unhealthy snacks?

eating disorder

Certain eating habits can point to the underlying problems:

• Stress:  You eat very quickly without enjoying the food.
• Fear:  The kitchen and the food become your “refuge”.
• Guilt:  You eat more than you need and therefore gain weight.
• Sadness:  You eat a lot of sweet things or “junk food”.
• Emptiness:  You eat compulsively in order to feel happy and satisfied.

Can you identify yourself Be honest with yourself because this will help you find out what’s wrong with you and do something about it.

Eating is often an escape to better endure negative emotions, but it is never the solution. You have to track down the causes and work on them.

Why do you feel guilty? What are you afraid of? Why do you feel empty The answer to these questions is key to controlling your emotions.

Eating only brings short-term relief, but you will always need more to get any satisfactory effect. You only harm yourself with it, but you cannot solve any problems.

Take care of yourself!

Stop suppressing your emotions by constantly eating. Take some time for yourself and get help from an expert if you need to. Recognize the triggers for your dissatisfaction, fear, or sadness and do something about it.

You have to abandon harmful behavior patterns and then eat consciously when you are actually hungry. Enjoy the food, make sure it’s healthy, and don’t eat more than you need. Keep a food journal to become aware of your eating habits.

You can use other methods to calm your feelings: positive beliefs, mindfulness, a walk or other activities that distract you and provide variety can be very helpful!

Eating should not be a consolation or a reward!