#032 - The Emotional side of Stress Eating
Stress is a constant visitor in adult life. It arrives silently through work overload, relationship conflicts, money worries, unanswered messages, unrealistic expectations. There’s that deep, invisible weight of needing to hold everything together. And in the middle of that chaos, food becomes a friend. Not just any food. Comfort food. The kind that wraps around your heart like a blanket and reminds you of home, safety, or childhood. Maybe it’s pasta, chocolate, or just something soft, salty, warm something that, even briefly, makes everything feel a little easier.
The emotional relationship between stress and food runs deep. Many say they’re addicted to sugar or snacks, but often it’s really relief immediate, unquestioned that we seek. Just to feel... better. Food is quick, readily available, and effective in overcoming moments of need. It gives us something to do with our hands, our mouths, and our anxiety. In a world where few things feel safe or soothing, food is both. But here’s what makes it complicated: relief is not the same as resolution. This distinction lies at the heart of why changing food habits during stress can feel so challenging.
That pleasure fades, and when it does, the very thing we tried to escape remains plus guilt. And so, the cycle begins: Stress. Eat. Guilt. Restrict. Crave. Eat. Guilt. Repeat. Breaking this cycle takes more than willpower. It takes understanding a shift that happens only when we pause to look beneath the surface. It takes recognising that, sometimes, when you feel like you need food, what you really need is to cry. Or to take a nap. Or to scream into a pillow. Or to ask for help. It takes curiosity. Courage. And a lot of gentleness.
I’ve been studying behaviour for almost five years. I’ll be honest: I still have episodes of stress eating. They’re smaller now, less frequent, more conscious but they still happen. Not because I don’t know what to do. Sometimes I just don’t have the energy to do anything else.
I’ve learned that this doesn’t make me broken; it makes me human. Stress is part of life. And food is part of life. But just because they're connected doesn't mean they have to stay that way. There are other paths forward. Real stress management starts with awareness. Notice when you’re overwhelmed. Check in with your body. Ask: What am I really needing right now? And then, slowly, expanding your emotional toolbox. Exploring new forms of relief that aren’t rooted in food alone. Maybe it's a walk. A stretch. A friend’s voice. A playlist. A bath. A grounding breath.
Food will always be there and sometimes it will be what you need. However, the goal is a life with more than one outlet for pleasure, where your nervous system learns to calm without always relying on it. You deserve more than just survival. You deserve care. Comfort. Real solutions. And that begins not with control, but with compassion.
So next time you find yourself standing in front of the fridge after a hard day, pause for a moment. Not to judge. But to notice . To ask. To choose with presence. Remember, healing means recognizing your needs and giving yourself more ways to care for them than just food. That’s the heart of breaking the cycle: awareness, self-compassion, and expanding your options.
Mari Giuseppe