Every person has basic emotional and intellectual needs that must be met. The subconscious mind views these needs as mandatory, not options. An over eater\’s mind will compensate for unfulfilled needs with food.
Your Need to Feel Certain and Secure
Everyone needs to feel in control of their lives; facing the unknown can be very unsettling for many people. When a person loses the feeling of being in control, the mind will strive to regain control by employing whatever habits and behaviors it has been programmed with.
For stress eaters, this is a weakness. Stress often happens when the feeling of control has been lost. Stress eaters seek control through consuming food because, although they cannot control their outer circumstances causing stress, they are able to control what they eat.
Pay attention during stressful moments and identify if your immediate reaction is to make a bee-line to the kitchen. You may be compensating the feeling of losing control with eating food.
Your Need to Feel Significant
Another basic human need is the need to feel important. No one wants to live a life where their presence hasn\’t made the least bit of impact in the lives of others. We want people to remember us when we are gone, or it will be as if we never existed at all.
But there does need to be balance. Ever hear of the saying \”It is lonely at the top\”? Being significant requires a certain amount of responsibility; maybe too much for one person to handle.
Maybe food is giving you that \”special feeling\” that significance emits. Maybe you feel you are too significant and you are feeding your face as some sort of distraction from the responsibility that comes along with being significant. Next time you are feeling like you are being pulled in many different directions, pay attention to your response.
The Need for Variety
Sometimes life can become so certain that it becomes boring! Everyone has the need for variety in their lives. For some people, variety comes in the form of food. For good reason! With so many different kinds of foods out there, the choices seem endless! Plus, food is relatively cheap compared to other forms of \”entertainment\”. So instead of going out to a movie with your spouse or friends and blowing well over $20 on a movie ticket, some popcorn, and a drink; you head to your favorite restaurant or right to your refrigerator, and ease your boredom with your favorite junk food.
Does this sound like you? Pay attention to your actions when you find yourself getting bored. Is your first reaction to head for the pantry or the fridge? Chances are there are many other things you could think of to ease your boredom (like dishes, laundry, a project, etc.); but nothing says \”fun\” like a brownie fudge sundae!
The Need for Love/Connection
The deepest need you have is the need to feel loved and connected. The most damaging emotions you will ever have to deal with are rejection and loneliness. As an over eater, when you experience rejection and loneliness, your subconscious mind strives to compensate. For you, compensation comes in the form of \”comfort food\”.
Food is the one thing that a rejected person can depend on. Food will never tell you \”no\”, \”not now\”, or \”maybe later\”. Food is faithful in its purpose, and for an over eater, food\’s purpose is to comfort. Your mind knows that food is readily available anytime it is needed to comfort you. Therefore, your subconscious mind uses food to pacify the feelings experienced by rejection and loneliness.
Examine Your Needs
What needs aren\’t being met? Take time to examine your needs and identify those that are lacking in anyway. Freedom from over eating is to find the solution by knowing exactly wehre the problem lies.
Want to find out more about The Psychology of Permanent Weight Loss? Visit Michelle Casey\’s site on how to take the struggle out of losing weight today!
Why Do I Over Eat?
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