I’m emotional.

Yes, I am emotional. And when I become emotional I eat. This means that I am usually eating. I have thought about this concept of emotional eating before, but today it really hit me. I also realized that some of the changes in my emotions are subtle which means I don’t always associate my wanting food with an emotional change.

For me food is my drug. It is how I place salve on the hurt or the confusion or disappointment. Food for me is just as addictive as cocaine, alcohol, or heroin.

Since food is necessary for life, how do I detox from it? How do I begin eating only when I am hungry and for sustenance and not because I am feeling a certain way? Emotional eating has long been a coping mechanism for many people, I believe. I am not assuming that everyone who is overweight is depressed, angry, or hurt. However, it is something to look at. Becoming overweight means that you are eating more than your body needs to survive. Why would anyone do that just because? Is it really the love of food? If I am honest with myself, half of what I eat I could not eat again. It wasn’t that good. But it filled the void in the moment. In return it leaves with unwanted pounds as a constant reminder of the hurt or pain or boredom I initially felt. Guess what? The cycle continues.

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