Food And Our Moods

Q. I can’t seem to stick to a diet. I get so depressed all the time and food seems to comfort me. I eat because I’m unhappy and I’m unhappy because I eat. Do you have any ideas of what I could do? I need your help badly!

A. Too often, we eat in response to feeling depressed, stressed, bored, anxious, or lonely. But there are ways to decrease the urge to binge on high-calorie foods when experiencing these feelings, which are serving as food triggers. The best way to do this is to get at the root of the problem: that is, get at the root of what’s eating you.

Below are some tips on coping with different feelings, which will help you avoid the urge to binge:

Depression

Indeed, feeling depressed over an external or internal event or can cause us to overeat. The best thing to do if you are feeling depressed is to speak with a mental health professional. He or she will be able to discuss your problem with you, and will be able to help you focus on coping. Exercise can help too-research shows that exercise helps to boost our endorphins, or “feel-good” hormones, ultimately improving our mood. The important (although difficult) aspect to recognize is that overeating in response to feeling down can cause us to feel worse.

Stress or Anxiety

Overeating in response to stress or anxiety can create more stress, especially as the number on the scale increases! If you tend to overeat when you feeling anxious, take time to stop and think about what is causing the anxiety. Is your husband driving you crazy? Are you awaiting a reimbursement in order to pay a bill? Do you have too much to do and too little time? Whatever it is, identify what is causing the anxiety, and think of realistic solutions. A solution that will immediately “take the edge off” is heading outside for a quick run (or walk) around the block.

Boredom

If you tend to overeat when you’re feeling bored, ask yourself which time of day this usually occurs. Does it occur at night when you’re flipping through television channels? On a Sunday afternoon when waiting for the laundry to be done? Depending on the time period, think of an activity you can do when you are bored, such as reading a magazine, or going shopping. Don’t forget, logging on to your favorite Web site is always an option!

Anger

If you are feeling angry, and overeating in response, ask yourself why. Did someone lie to you or hurt your feelings? Did you not get promoted at the job? If this is the case, turn the energy from your anger into positive energy. A good way to think of it is like this: Someone has hurt you, (your boss or your friend) so why should you give him or her the power to have control over your eating habits? Hasn’t he/she done enough harm already? Keeping these words in mind can help you cope with your anger, and can prevent you from bingeing.

Loneliness

Treat loneliness as you would treat boredom-that is, be sure to plan for times when you are most likely to feel lonely. Arrange activities to do with friends ahead of time. If the loneliness occurs suddenly, pick up the phone and call a friend. If no one is around, turn on the television or radio, or log onto your favorite Web site. DietWatch.com offers several support groups, depending on your needs. Registered Dietitians are available too, if you wish to receive one-on-one professional advice on your eating triggers.

By Lisa Drayer, MA, RD