Have you ever felt incredibly angry, lonely, depressed, or frustrated? Has this feeling ever occurred while you were in the middle of lunch, dinner, or when you were about to have a snack to keep you going throughout the day? If so, do you recall eating too much? Too little? For many people, emotions can certainly affect the way they eat. Similar to the way people abuse substances, food can be used to escape, control or numb uncomfortable emotions.
Previous studies have sought to explore the effect that emotions can have on eating, and they’ve found that many people who are experiencing troubled mental states often struggle simultaneously with disordered eating behaviors. The instant gratification experienced through food offers a sense of immediate comfort to the sufferer. Unfortunately, if left untreated, disordered eating can get significantly worse, severely impacting mental health and quality of life.
Learning to Cope with Difficult Emotions
When it comes to mental illness and/or addiction recovery, it’s common for emotions to feel like a rollercoaster ride. Recovery requires the willingness to sit through a wide spectrum of emotional highs and lows. One minute you may feel on top of the world, only to find yourself feeling as though things will never get better a few hours later. During these experiences, seeking immediate relief through food can be detrimental to your health, your healing and your recovery.
Learning to cope with the ebb and flow of emotions healthily is necessary to create a sense of control and stability in your life. Unfortunately, many people new to recovery lack knowledge and practice of healthy coping mechanisms. Luckily, several treatment options are available to offer support.
Treatment Options
At Avalon Malibu, we realize how intertwined mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is. Our treatment modalities promote proactive measures that create a foundation for sustainable wellness. We provide education on health and nutrition management to help our clients learn proper self-care, building self-esteem and self-worth. Additionally, we offer a combination of individual and group therapy during which clients have the opportunity to process emotions in a safe and supported environment. Being human means having feelings, but you don’t have to let them drive. With the proper coping skills, you can take back control of your life. For more information, call Avalon Malibu today at 844-857-5992.
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