So what's the significance of this story? Well, I hope it helps some who tend to get so angry with themselves when they succumb to eating under stress. No, I don't believe this study means that we can't take charge of overeating, but I think it does show that emotional eating is complex and that our appetites are driven by a number of different issues and realities. The desire to eat to cope with emotions and stress is something that should be approached with respect. Ignoring the cravings or the urges doesn't necessarily get us where we want to go.
I think the story supports the importance of having tools to cope with stress, to bolster our self-care and to help us feel empowered--tools that we can strive to use instead of overeating or stress eating. What do you think?
Take good care,
Melissa
2 comments:
That is pretty fascinating. I find that I do the same thing, though I think living alone aggravates it. I am a recent college grad and this is my second year living alone. While I absolutely love the privacy, I think I tend to eat more because sometimes I get lonely and bored at home by myself. When my boyfriend are friends are here, I don't eat nearly as much -- partly because I am occupied, and partly because I don't want to look like a pig. But stress definitely makes it even worse. I am trying to funnel my overeating energy into exercising instead, but it's hard at the end of a long work day to have that kind of motivation!
I'm learning to be kinder to myself when stress and/or emotions get the best of me and I overeat as a result. Thanks for reminding me that, while I need to develop more strategies for coping with the stress, it's not the end of the world if I go a little overboard now and again.
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