Why do we emotionally eat?

As kids, many of us were taught to manage our emotional lives with food.

We were taught that going for ice cream was the answer to feeling sad if we flunked out on a test.

We were taught that McDonald’s could take the sting out of loneliness if no one wanted to play with us that day.

We were taught that eating a cookie was the answer to feeling humiliated if someone made fun of our outfit, hair, laugh, whatever.

We were taught to avoid our “negative” emotions and try to feel better asap by using food.

What we WEREN’T taught was how important our emotional health is.

We weren’t taught it’s ok (and normal) to feel “negative” emotions.

We weren’t taught how to listen to our emotions and understand what they’re trying to tell us.

And we certainly weren’t taught the importance of feeling and processing our emotions.

So one of the reasons we continue to eat our emotions is because we simply don’t know what else to do.

You don’t know what else to do when you feel embarrassed after your boss mentions a mistake you made in front of the whole team.

You don’t know what else to do when you feel pissed at your husband for not remembering your anniversary.

You don’t know what else to do when you see a donut and want it and then judge yourself for wanting it because you’re “being good” today.

You don’t know how to celebrate without cake.

You don’t know how to say no to the cake without feeling uncomfortable when people question why you’re not having it.

You don’t know what else to do when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and feel shame because you think your ass is too big.

You eat because you don’t know what else to do.

No one taught you.