Emotional eating can be seen either as an attempt to fill (as in obesity and bulimia) or to deprive oneself entirely of the fulfillment of (as in anorexia) a void that lies deep within a person.

Basic emotional needs, having been left unfulfilled, compel the person (subconsciously) to attempt to ease the pain which is caused by the void that is within them.
In much the same way that an alcohol or drug addict may use his drug of choice to escape the internal pain, the food addicted person may experience a temporary relief from this gnawing emotional pain, through binging, purging, or self deprivation.

Will power, self-control, fad diets, and strict regiments for food consumption, among other traditional methods of "dealing with emotional eating" obviously fail to treat the person's core emotional issues.
Keeping in mind that the obese or bulimic person is currently eating out of a sense of deprivation, further deprivation only perpetuates a cycle of dieting, binging, dieting, binging.
These ideas and methods often result in further emotional turmoil, as well, because the person who diets and goes off of diets repeatedly, will tend to view themselves as a failure or as someone who is lacking will-power and self-control.
This lowers self-esteem even further and only adds new elements to the original problem.

To end this viscous cycle the emotional eater should be encouraged to look within, to identify the source of the emotional pain and address whatever needs they have, which have previously been ignored or denied.
By finally acknowledging long suppressed hurt and pain, (the result of unmet needs either in childhood, or past or present adulthood) the person can then begin to make a real plan to get their needs met.

Many people have never learned to "parent" themselves, in a healthy manner.
While this could be due to a childhood environment of abuse or neglect, emotional eaters, typically, do not accept or practice the idea of "taking good care of oneself". They are not in tune with their own emotional well-being, and may have no real notion of how to get their needs met in a healthy way. For these people eating may be the only way they know to reward themselves, pamper themselves, spoil themselves, or comfort themselves.

A journal of eating patterns and habits, that includes an honest look at the precipitating emotions, can be an excellent tool to begin to identify core issues that the person is dealing with.

A plan of action that does not serve to further deprive the person, but that rewards, and enriches their lives, can be a successful form of addressing the eating disorder.
This plan may include tapping into creative potential, identifying and building on hidden talents, sensory experiences which do not involve food (scents, sounds, sights) social activities, educational endeavors, and other activities which serve to better the person's relationship with him/herself.

Achieving a reasonable balance between areas of current self-deprivation (usually emotional) and areas of extreme excess (food consumption) is the most beneficial way to deal with emotional eating.

Learn more about this author, Randa Morris.
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