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Why do I think of food as the one stop solution for all the problems in my life?

20 Answers
Last Updated: 05/26/2020 at 2:03pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jill Kapil, PsyD

Psychologist

I have over 9 years of clinical experience, specialize in anxiety, and am passionate about my work. My approach is collaborative, empathic, supportive, and goal-oriented.

Top Rated Answers
Miracle
March 3rd, 2015 5:22pm
This often occurs when we put all our emotions 'on to' food. This could be for a variety of reasons but a very common one is because you do not have very many other ways to self sooth and food in your childhood was associated with comfort or reward so it quickly became a long term solution for coping with negatives in life (in a similar way to a child who has just had a vaccine might be given a packet of sweets. Another common reason is because food for you has been associated with positive experiences such as social events or celebration so you are constantly seeking to recreate that joy or emotion even when it is just you and food.
Anonymous
March 3rd, 2015 11:37pm
When I use food as a solution, I am trying to fill a hole which cannot be filled with food. So what's the hole you're trying to fill? Sometimes figuring that out is the first step to quit feeding the face. That's what I did!
SharewithMarcel
July 14th, 2015 1:32am
Eating food, easpecially sweet and fatty food, triggers the brain with feeling rewarded, feeling good. If can calm you down and even make you feel loved.As children, we are often treated food by out parents, relatives and adults so we learn that it is comforting and rewading and carry on this feeling as adults. If you are suffering, it can happen that food happens to become the one thing that makes you feel better, so as soon as you experience stress, sadness, discomfort, your brain craves food because your experience has been that it makes you feel better.
immortalsprings
May 26th, 2020 2:03pm
Food is both physically satisfying and mentally soothing. People don’t always eat just to fulfil physical hunger. Sometimes we get hunger signals when we experience emotional desires. So we turn to food for comfort or stress or boredom relief, or to reward ourselves. Some foods are comforting because it reminds us of our positive past memories or it stimulates the reward signals in your brain, but often, not only does the original emotional issue remain, but you also feel guilty for overeating. The solution begins when you realise that food is not a cure or a coping mechanism. The second step is keeping a food journal so that you can begin to understand when you truly and physically need to eat and when you just want to fill a void.
Zee2002
January 7th, 2019 11:43pm
I do that to. I think because it's comforting. Your body thinks it's comforting, so it seeks it out when you're struggling. The thing is to find other coping mechanisms. It feels good to take care of yourself. It doesn't have to be running or swimming. It can be lifting weights or doing yoga or gardening. FInd other things that make you happy and be aware that food is a problem for you. It's a problem for a lot of people. Just be aware of when you tend dto go to food and think about how you can try to change those behavoirs. Thinking and realizing are half the battle, honestly.
MydogAlpha
December 27th, 2016 9:17pm
I think everyone has that one thing in their lives that brings them joy and comfort. It's different for everyone. Some shop, some read, some eat. Anything can be overdone. Moderation is the key. There is always an underlying emotion that's being ignored in any type of over indulgence
Skylarsanders
July 26th, 2016 10:18pm
Because while there may be an emotional stress, food brings physical comfort to the body. It soothes
LovableGeek16
July 19th, 2016 5:03pm
Food is always there, it's comforting and it's something that feels good in the moment. When you're sad, food gives you something stable because you know it's not going to leave you or hurt you like everything else. Its there when you have a bad day or when someone said something cruel.
Anonymous
May 23rd, 2016 6:02pm
Food is a comforting factor for some, including myself. Many feel food will comfort them and stop it
fancydrums00
March 8th, 2016 1:19pm
Food is great. Food is like comfort. Which is why some people rely on food and look at it like it's some kind of stress relief. Food brings comfort but it will never make your problems disappear.
Letshelpeveryone
January 19th, 2016 6:54am
Don't blame food or anything you are completely perfect no matter what's going on and if people aren't ok with it they can deal with it because they are jelous of your awesomeness!
Anonymous
January 4th, 2016 6:21pm
You have conditioned yourself to think that way. By constantly going to it, you trick your brain into thinking that it's the solution for anything and everything. Try going to other sources, such as music, poetry, etc.
AWfulesomejj96
December 29th, 2015 10:08am
The logical explanation for that behaviour are:: 1)Eating disorder,almost everyone had experienced it. 2)Consuming food activates the reward circuit in the brain releasing dopamine and serotonin thereby increasing one's pleasure and casting away worries off.
GrayTheGuide7
September 15th, 2015 5:16am
Food is a comforting and rewarding thing. Some food can create hormones that make you feel happy. Chocolate is an example. That's also the reason most people prefer unhealthy foods. Unhealthy food contains substances that make us feel good. In the end, healthy food is the real way to go. Healthy food is what is actually good for you. Vitamins and nutrients can help you feel more active, so that you can do the things you need to do. Realizing that you like food because of the hormones produced can help you to avoid it. You may not really need food in order to be happy or fix a problem. The true answers to your problems could be somewhere out there in the world, away from your kitchen.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2015 5:39pm
Food is a one stop solution for my problems in life because I had anorexia and I am thankful for every bite recovering lets me take. I am thankful because food gives me the energy I need to live a happy life.
Anonymous
June 17th, 2015 12:10pm
Its part of an eating disorder or a comfort. If you dont have on excessive amounts of weight and you have a healthy BMI, then you should be all good.
DaveC2016
June 4th, 2015 12:46am
That is actually a coping method in most people. You have heard that term before "comfort food". That is actually a thing. While, it is recommended that you chose a healthier method of coping. What you feel is completly normal. However, you should look to the alternatives rather than feasting on junk food.
SparklyLadybug
May 28th, 2015 3:46am
I can't answer why you think something. I am not you. Perhaps because it's one thing you can control, no matter what. Learn that there are other things you can control and food doesn't have to be the answer to all!
LendfulEar
May 26th, 2015 12:34am
We often want to find something to comfort us whenever we are troubled, and sometimes indulging in some delicious food is the easiest way. Other options that may work include meditation, writing in a journal/diary, or chewing gum or sucking on candy to stop yourself from eating more than you wanted to.
fixyou733
April 27th, 2015 5:16pm
You think of food as a solution because food can temporarily make you feel better. It actually affects the part of your brain that gives you positive feelings. Even though food makes you feel better, it is not exactly a solution for your problems. When you have a problem, try thinking of ways that you can fix it. Make sure food is not the answer. Think of things that you can say or do to improve your situation.