May 25 2009
Am I hungry?
Every day someone tells me how they satisfy their emotions with food. When they’re under stress they grab chocolate; when they’re bored they munch on chips; when they’re tired they reach for the ice cream; and when they’re lonely cookies are their favorite friend.
My response is often to encourage them to ask this question: Am I hungry? If I’m not physically hungry, what is it that I truly need?
There are several great books on the market to help you figure out how to effectively deal with emotions without using food. One of my favorite authors is Michelle May, MD, at www.amihungry.com. I love her books and her insight into how we’ve learned over the years to use food to satisfy our emotions.
If you’re trying to solve this puzzle, here is something to guide you along your way from Michelle:
When I’m hungry, I eat what I love.
When I’m bored, I do something I love.
When I’m lonely, I connect with someone I love.
When I feel sad, I remember that I am loved.
If you’ve worked through this on your own, please let us know some tips that you found especially helpful.