Using food and eating to resist discomfort

When we eat to resist or change painful or uncomfortable emotions, we try to substitute the pleasure of eating for what we deem undesirable.

We all have a natural preference for pleasure over pain. But in always moving away from emotional discomfort by eating, our suffering actually increases. Not only do we fail to develop and practice valuable skills to nurture, soothe, and care for ourselves, we never learn what the difficult emotions have to teach us. What’s more, the habitual use of food to avoid emotional pain may cause physical pain and illness, contribute to disordered eating and eating disorders, and alter our natural set point range because we are consistently eating more than our bodies truly need.

When we find ourselves eating to aggressively change emotional states, again we must begin by noticing that there is a disconnect between what our bodies are communicating and what we are acting out. Once we notice this, we find ourselves at a transformation point: we may choose to continue down the habitual path of eating to avoid discomfort, or try something new.

Journal prompt: When do you notice yourself eating out of a desire to avoid discomfort or negative feelings? What foods do you tend to choose? Why do you think those specific foods appeal at these times? What emotions or sensations are you aware of prior to eating at these times? Does eating feel like self-care in these moments or something else?