Is there a way to control emotional eating?

[SeekingAfrica]

I really don't know how, especially when it feels like this is my only comfort thing while everything here makes me feel vulnerable and restricted. And the more I feel this way, the less I have the energy to care what I eat.

I have spend a lot of time reading on a lot of issues, but this was never one of them. I was always emotional eater, as many of us are, but it was never quite so out of control. Lately it feels like there is nothing else that feels familiar or comforting in any way, nothing to protect me. I know this is bad for me, but simply I have no idea how to do it.

It's not completely out of control, but it's just steadily getting worse. In a month I will move and then I will be at the place where I most feel home. So may be that will fix things. But if there is any way to start chipping on it slowly, that would be great. I would like to "just stop", the way I can just do a workout, but honestly, I don't feel safe and comfortable whatsoever, and any attempt at drastic change so far has only made it worse....

 

[Stephernovas]

When you get the urge, first think. Is this true stomach hunger, busy hunger, or hunger from the heart. Hunger from the heart is emotional eating, stomach hunger is when your body actually needs it, and busy is well..you just feel like you need something to munch on.

If you have healthy snacks prepared that will also help. Simple things like cut up vegetables, fruits and etc. that are ready to go. Start there and just ensure you are working vegetables into every meal.

One goal at a time.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

When you get the urge, first think. Is this true stomach hunger, busy hunger, or hunger from the h...

I kind of know it's emotional, I use it to calm down when I think I can't keep doing this(having rough time away from home), but I know for now I can't change much about the situation. So I feel helpless/hopeless/vulnerable and eating in this manner soothes me when I start to feel I can't handle the situation. Don't really know how to handle this feeling(without the food). I've done this all my life, but obviously when it's sporadic it's tolerable issue.

But now that I'm having such days almost every day, it's much harder. In 3 months I've had only one moment when I didn't get that need. And that moment depended on another person, and is unlikely to happen again.

Thanks for the tips for cutting up veggies and so on...and cutting them earlier, I think that will help, because once I'm emotional I also want the thing that takes the least preparation. So that could be a way to get myself to eat better if I have snacks already ready. Thanks!

I know, I know all these things are obvious, but once you start feeling out of control, everything gets a lot more cluttered and confusing and hard. I'll try though. Any tips are welcome right now, anything besides drastic change, because that is just too much right now.

 

[Stephernovas]

I’m struggling with the same thing. My body hasn’t recovered and it worsens my PTSD and I just cry and eat like shit on the couch.

They are simple things. But, we have symptoms that interrupts our daily functioning, hence it’s need for a diagnosis. I am doing th exact same things man. I ask myself..am I REAAAALLLY hungry? What do I actually need here? Candy, or fruit?

Things like that. Keep it simple, and keep it basic.

 

[Teasel]

One thing that helps me need to overeat less is to plan meals that are really delicious. As they are comforting without needing to stuff myself. I also get pleasure from cooking and trying new things...

Is there any way you can do anything you love?