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We hope that this email finds you safe, healthy, and managing ok in these challenging times. We look forward to hopefully returning to our office in the very near future to resume our in-person work with clients. In the meantime, we are offering virtual sessions to current and new clients.
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Why Emotional Eating is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing
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Emotional eating is eating in response to emotions rather than in response to physical hunger and often involves eating to soothe or numb uncomfortable feelings. Despite what you may have heard, emotional eating is not necessarily problematic.
Are you finding yourself engaging in emotional eating more than usual? If so, you’re not alone. When you’re distressed or experiencing other uncomfortable emotions, it’s natural to seek comfort through food. Seeking pleasure and comfort from food as an antidote to the disappointment, grief, uncertainty, fear, and frustration that many of us are feeling in the midst of this pandemic is not a behavior that deserves to be pathologized.
There is a difference between eating emotionally with attunement, intention, and mindfulness and eating in a way that is disconnected from your body and your true needs. Looking forward to and savoring a delicious dessert at the end of a difficult day might make you feel better if that’s what you were craving and if eaten in a way that honors your body. On the other hand, disconnected emotional eating is likely to make you feel worse physically (eg, uncomfortably full) and emotionally (eg, experiencing guilt or shame). Emotional eating can also be problematic if it’s your only coping mechanism because true healing from painful and difficult emotions is unlikely to occur if food is the main coping tool used.
Food is meant to be so much more than just a vehicle to obtain necessary nutrients. There is nothing wrong with making food choices that provide pleasure, enjoyment, and comfort in this difficult time (or any time for that matter). Even if you feel that your emotional eating is more harmful than helpful, it’s important to be compassionate with yourself. You are doing the best you can with tools that are familiar and easily available.
And it may also be helpful to begin experimenting with new coping strategies to add to your toolbox so that food is not the only tool you rely on. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Connect with others: call or video chat with a friend or family member
- Move: go for a walk, do some stretches, or even just reorganize/clean up your space
- Entertain yourself: watch a good movie, read a book, listen to music, do some arts & crafts
- Meditate: spend a few minutes practicing deep breathing or try a guided meditation app
- Journal: write down your thoughts and feelings to help you process them
- Get support: reach out to your treatment team for an appointment. We're here for you if you need us!
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News and Updates
Monika is now booking virtual Head to Pointe® Workshops for summer. These workshops include nutrition and self-care talks for dancers, as well as trainings for teachers, staff, parents, and healthcare professionals on eating disorder awareness & prevention.
Don't miss out on this essential education for dancers and those involved in their training and care. The Head to Pointe® Workshops make a great addition to summer intensives. Click here to learn more or contact Monika to book now.
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