Therapy for overeating
I see many clients who are concerned about the way they eat. You may be preoccupied with food, go on eating binges, or be unable to stop eating after taking the first bite of certain foods. Maybe you’re obsessed with body weight or size and restrict eating or over-exercise.
We have a food industry that makes junk food that is designed to induce cravings and overeating. Yet our media culture glorifies unrealistic images of fit, thin bodies. It’s not surprising, then, that many people end up with disordered eating.
Support is essential to letting go of the endless attempts to control food, which almost always end up backfiring.
Signs food may be a problem for you
I see a huge overlap between anxiety, depression and overeating. Eating is the go-to strategy for managing emotions for many people. We eat for the sense of ease and comfort.
But when we overindulge, those feelings turn to discomfort, shame and disgust with ourselves. We feel out of control and are not sure how to stop.
Following are signs that food may be a problem for you:
- Do you eat when you’re not hungry – or not eat when you are hungry?
- Do you feel guilt or shame about your weight or eating behaviors?
- Do you eat normally in front of others and then overeat when you are alone?
- Are you an emotional eater, finding yourself reaching for food when you experience strong emotions?
- Are there some foods you can’t stop eating after taking the first bite?
- Do you spend too much time thinking about food, planning the next diet, exercising, or counting calories?
- Do you feel your eating habits are harming your physical or emotional health?
Stopping the vicious cycle of eating
Overeating can turn into a vicious cycle. You eat to deal with uncomfortable emotions and numb out. Your blood sugar spikes after eating carbs or sugary foods, then your mood crashes a couple of hours later. Cravings set in and you reach for food, starting the cycle again.
In therapy, I help you find freedom from compulsive eating. Some of the things I help with include:
- Identifying the feelings, situations and foods that trigger overeating;
- Learning healthier ways to manage emotions;
- Helping reframe negative thinking that contributes to overeating;
- Addressing anxiety and/or depression;
- Finding a balance between self-acceptance and change
You are not alone. If you feel now is the time to end the compulsive eating cycle, please contact me.