i received a text from a former client last week.
happily, it was to inform me that she was “doing great!”
this particular client had struggled with binge eating.
which was heightened during periods of anxiety.
after i replied, i started thinking about her and our coaching sessions together.
and i recalled a comment she once made to me:
“even with the thought of bingeing i can feel a release.”
at the time, she thought this was a strange reaction.
but i actually didn’t find it odd at all.
of course she felt a release when she thought about binge eating.
it was the way she had always handled her anxiety in the past.
and it had developed into a habit over time.
now even the idea of comforting herself in this way relieved some of her stress.
she was able to intuitively recognize how that made her feel better.
this insight served her well when applied to the stress-reduction techniques she was learning.
she began a routine of self-care, which helped to considerably diminish her anxiety.
she went for morning walks.
she got extra sleep.
she broke projects down into baby steps.
she didn’t binge.
and even more critical than not bingeing, in my opinion, was that . . .
she identified the sources of her anxiety.
THIS WAS MAJOR!
*******
in times of stress the body automatically shifts into the classic fight-or-flight response.
it’s a built-in safety mechanism that supports us during life-threatening events.
our “watch out” signal.
we believe something bad is about to happen.
experiencing occasional anxiety is inevitable.
we all feel anxious or afraid at times, it’s part of being a human.
turning to food is one way to disconnect (or at least briefly distract) from these overwhelming feelings.
food has naturally soothing chemical properties.
so it works!
(albeit temporarily.)
preparing food, eating, even thinking about the process can rechannel that nervous energy for some.
unfortunately eating in a dysfunctional manner may only add to those feelings of stress.
if you’ve ever found yourself relying on food for comfort, there is hope.
you needn’t automatically become a victim to your circumstances.
the good news is that being aware of this reaction can stop it in its tracks.
however unpleasant sitting with strong emotions may be, doing so is the road to healthier coping methods.
what can you do instead?
5 ways to channel your energy through a healthier outlet:
- practice relaxing, consciously and methodically, by breathing deeply
- take no action at all for 10 minutes (i call this “waiting out the emotion”)
- write your negative thoughts down, and run the paper through a shredder
- work on reframing these irrational beliefs into realistic, positive statements
- go to your “comfort place”, if only for a few minutes, to settle your mind
- take a hot bubble bath, work in your craft space, walk to your special outdoor sanctuary
- remember the successes you have already had
- keep an ongoing journal of your triumphs, no matter how small, for an easy access list
- IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF YOUR ANXIETY!
- this is crucial to examining any potential problems in your life which need addressing
