Could You Have an Eating Disorder? Are you a mom too?
Do you find yourself gaining weight during times of stress? Do you fear boredom because you know you’ll simply eat to fill the time? These are just some of the symptoms of emotional overeating. If you think you’re suffering from any sort of eating disorder, some signs and symptoms may help you identify whether or not this is what you’re struggling with.
Mindless Eating
If you have a binge eating disorder or emotional overeating problem, you may stuff food in and not even really taste it or realize what you’re doing. It’s as though you are “out of it” and just mindlessly stuffing food into your mouth. It’s especially easy to dismiss this kind of thing when you’re a mom because it sometimes feels like you hanging on by a thread. (we need our energy!) But there’s a fine line between eating for health and eating for chewing sake. (and I’m not judging girlfriend, I’m right next to you)
Feelings of Guilt and Shame
Many people with emotional overeating disorders feel really embarrassed and hateful of themselves after they’ve got through with an eating binge. The problem, of course, is that these negative feelings may make you reach for more food for comfort. If you find yourself reaching for food when you’re stressed and then feeling sh*tty afterward then, this can be a sure sign. I know (I KNOW) how hard it is to acknowledge this and even more so to share with someone else. However, remember that life is bigger than you. And this is simply a moment in time. You WILL get through these emotions.
Eating in Secret
Because of being embarrassed, may emotional overeaters will eat in private, reserving their “naughty” foods for when no one is looking. That chocolate bar you hid in your drawer or the snacks you ever so meticulously stowed away IN THE BACK of the cabinet. Yea, it’s tough to overcome this habit and easy to continue in silence, but I promise you, nothing is ever secret, and whether you, believe it or not, your kids ARE watching. You deserve to be the healthiest version of YOU. And your family deserves honesty. You got this.
Always on My Mind
Do you think about food all the time? Do you feel anxious about the prospect of leaving the house without snacks or money to buy food? Constantly thinking about food (food obsession) may be a sign that you have an emotional overeating disorder. An unhealthy motto I still live by is:
I don’t eat to live. I live to eat.
Feeling Sick
Sometimes, emotional overeaters will eat and eat to comfort themselves, and then feel sick afterward. This is your body’s way of telling you you’ve eaten far too much more than is good for you, but for emotional overeaters, this sickness does not necessarily deter the next binge. I placed this one last because I know I ignored this for A LONG TIME and brushed it off as I’ve always had stomach, digestive issues. UGH. There’s a load of mental blocks and breakthroughs to be had before you may be able to overcome this issue. That’s okay. Just commit today.
Identify Your Triggers
Emotional overeating is usually triggered by something – emotions, yes, but sometimes we need to be more specific than that. Identifying your triggers can go a long way toward helping you overcome the disorder. Basic trigger categories include: * Emotional – Eating to relieve boredom, stress, or anxiety * Psychological – You may eat in response to negative, self-destructive thoughts * Environmental/Situational – You may eat simply because the opportunity is there. Also in this category is the habit of eating while doing another activity, such as reading or watching TV. Do any of these signs and symptoms describe you? If so, don’t worry – there are treatment options available for emotional overeaters. Check with your healthcare provider for advice on therapists or specialists in your area.
