Many people turn to food to occupy themselves when they are experiencing feelings they don't want to face. The Mayo Clinic reports that often the craving for food is strongest when people are at their weakest points emotionally. Problems and unresolved issues can be set aside and replaced with the comfort of certain foods and the process involved in getting, preparing and eating the food.
Diets
Emotional eating can sabotage dieting efforts. People typically are not focused on portion control or caloric content when eating to soothe rattled emotions. High calorie, sweet and salty foods are more comforting and are usually the kinds of substances that are used when people are upset.
Symptoms
According to HelpGuide, a nonprofit informational site, symptoms of emotional eating, sometimes referred to as binge eating disorder, include the inability to stop and control eating, hiding food or eating in secret, never feeling completely full and being embarrassed over the amount of food consumed. While many emotional eaters are overweight, there are those who remain at a normal weight.
Triggers
Loss, a relationship breakup or health crisis act as triggers as do the smaller, inconsequential daily interruptions. Food can be addicting, and when the emotional triggers are in place the body craves the mood-altering effects of special foods, such as chocolate, ice cream or pastries.
Distraction
Food distracts a person from thinking about feelings. When the mind becomes preoccupied with worries about the future or cannot stop replaying events of the past, food can help to stave off those thoughts momentarily. Binge eating occurs when the thoughts return after eating and more food is required to shove the feelings back down. By then, the person is absorbed in feelings of guilt or physical feelings of fullness and can obsess over that instead of the real problem.
Treatment
Treatment for food eating disorders is available through a number of facilities. Formal treatment typically includes some sort of mental-health therapy and support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous (see Resources), according to HelpGuide. At the same time, people prone to emotional eating can develop ways to recognize and control their eating habits. When cravings hit, emotional eaters should consider the reality of the situation to tell if they are truly hungry. If they just ate an hour ago, then the craving is most likely due to feelings and not hunger. A journal can help to document behavior and provide clues to the eating triggers. Emotional eaters can find other ways to distract themselves. Going for a walk, calling a friend or reading can provide the time needed to let the strong emotions pass. Retraining the body to find gratification from healthy diversions can help stop emotional eating.
