GETTING CONTROL OF STRESS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

National Eating Disorders Association, NationalEatingDisorders.org KP.org

GETTING CONTROL OF STRESS EATING HOW NOT TO FEED YOUR FEELINGS

Sometimes it happens after getting an angry email from your boss, going through a break-up, or losing someone close to you. It starts with a handful of chips and the next thing you know you’re polishing off that pint of ice cream without even knowing what happened. This episode could be classified as stress or emotional eating.

Although there is no formal definition of “stress eating”, on a basic level it is the practice of consuming food – usually comfort or junk foods – in response to feelings instead of actual hunger. Whatever emotions drive a person to overeat, the result is usually the same. Once a person realizes what they have done, they beat themselves up, feel bad, and overeat again, resulting in an unhealthy cycle.

The good news is that if you are prone to falling into the trap of stress eating, you can take steps to regain control of healthy eating habits with tips from expert Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, Marriage and Family Therapist at Kaiser Permanente Stockton Medical Offices.

BE AWARE OF STRESS LEVELS

Many of us also turn to food for comfort, stress relief, or to reward ourselves. When stress is chronic, as it so often is in our chaotic, fast-paced world, it is easier to fall into the trap of eating to feed your feelings. According to Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, it is concerning that “we pack our days full of ‘to do’ items and are often exhausted by the time we get home at night.” In her practice, Jennifer has witnessed younger and younger patients struggling with disordered eating.

FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUE

We all know that food can become a crutch when we are stressed and it may be a symptom of unmet needs. Jennifer explains that it is important when treating her patients to identify what the motivation is to change it, or as she likes to say, the why behind the wish to make things different. She encourages her patients to try to better understand their emotions and help them develop tolerance and coping skills instead of using food or another method as a numbing agent.

BE MINDFUL

According to Jennifer, “one of the most effective ways to take a step in the right direction is to engage in mindfulness.” She defines mindfulness as slowing down, paying attention, and being curious, (not critical) about habits. So, next time you feel the need to reach for that bag of chips or pint of ice cream, take a step back to slow down and identify your feelings in that moment.

LEARN MORE:

KAISER PERMANENTE OF CENTRAL VALLEY

Multiple Locations Thrive.KaiserPermanente.org/Care-Near-You/ Northern-California/CentralValley