Overcoming Emotional Eating
/“Emotional eating doesn’t heal emotional issues.” Karen Salmansohn
EMOTIONAL EATING IS A COPING SKILL… AN UNHEALTHY COPING SKILL. YOU ARE INTELLIGENT AND CAN LEARN NEW, HEALTHY COPING SKILLS
Here are links to two worksheets you can use to become aware of emotional eating and to stop it:
Emotional Eating Awareness Form
Emotional Eating Form
Here are several healthy coping skills to use rather than using emotional eating to cope:
Practice deep breathing and other relaxation skills to slow the body and brain
Journal your thoughts and feelings about what you are experiencing in the moment
Call a friend and talk about what’s going on and ask for support
Read a book, play a game on your phone or play a musical instrument
Use your hands to do a puzzle, knit, write a thank you note
Ask yourself how you’re feeling and what you need emotionally
Do a web search for healthy coping skills
Help someone else in some way
Check in with an online support group
Write what you’re learning about yourself by not eating when you’re emotional
Make a list of examples of when you engage in emotional eating and a healthier, alternate behavior:
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Here are a few websites those and other ideas can be found:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/diets/emotional-eating.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047342
https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-eating
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inside-out/201309/emotional-eating-5-reasons-you-can-t-stop