It's not about the food.
It hasn't ever been about the food.
It's about having a dysregulated nervous system,
An unsettled mind,
Feeling unsafe,
Bored or even lonely.
The food is the escape mechanism,
The distraction,
The number,
The drug,
The anesthetizer.
Use food to calm a dysregulated nervous system,
Whether it be feelings of anxiousness,
Depression,
Worry,
Or fear,
Or happiness,
Excitement,
Even anticipation.
All of these feelings and emotions can create a feeling or sensation of dysregulation in the body.
The mind and body don't want to feel uneasy,
So the mind reaches for something it thinks will help to regulate the nervous system,
Bringing the mind and body back to homeostasis.
For us binge eaters,
That something is food.
We know this affect we feel and experience once we've eaten,
Overeaten,
Or binged is only temporary.
It's a bandaid for the thoughts we're thinking in that moment,
The feelings we're feeling.
Before you have turned to food for solace,
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself,
What do I want in this moment?
What do I need right now?
If you have,
Has the answer ever been something to eat?
In my experience,
The answer has been a hug,
Connection,
Family,
A friend,
Someone to talk to.
It hasn't ever been food,
Because it's not about the food.
It's about what is going on in our minds,
Our thoughts,
And what is going on in our bodies,
The feelings,
Emotions,
And sensations.
Boredom is a thought pattern that creates sensations in the body,
Leading us to want to change those sensations.
So we turn to food.
Loneliness is a thought pattern,
Or a story,
That does the same thing.
Our thoughts create the feelings,
Emotions,
And sensations we either don't want to feel,
Or we want to feel more of.
Food is an emotional regulator for binge eaters.
To break these thought patterns and subsequent behaviors and actions,
We must get present.
Still.
Quiet.
Follow our breath until our mind settles,
Allowing our attention to drop into our heart.
This is where the answers are.
This is how we regulate our nervous system.
This is how feelings of anxiousness,
Depression,
Worry,
And fear will begin to dissolve.
By slowing down,
Relaxing the mind and body,
And just being.
Being present in the here and now.
Healing is possible.
Releasing the obsession and compulsion around food is possible.
Letting go of unhealthy habits and behaviors towards food is possible.
Remember,
It's not about the food.
It's about quieting and calming the mind and body.
Creating feelings of safety,
Warmth,
And comfort,
Especially for the body.
In time,
The nervous system will begin to relax.
The mind will begin to settle.
And the body will learn to trust and feel safe once again.
Patience,
Love,
And tolerance will be paramount throughout this process.
You can do this.
You are loved,
And you are not alone.
Much love.
Namaste.
