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Eating is something that every human being needs to do but what happens when it crosses the line from being a fundamental need for survival to a crutch for emotional health?

It has been suggested that women are the worst offenders of emotional eating. We eat chocolate when we're upset, menstruating, stressed or just need a lift. But is that really unhealthy? In moderation it is a harmless way of feeling a little better after a bad day. Emotional eating is much more than this. It can range from binging to starving yourself but the core issue is a connection between food and your wellbeing.

People with eating disorders often have such an unhealthy relationship with food because it is the only area of their life they feel they can control. Even if it is killing them to do so, in their minds by "controlling" their need for food they are taking control of their lives and it is extremely difficult to teach someone that there are other ways of doing this.

The other extreme is people who feel discontented with their lives and seek solace in food, and usually very unhealthy food. If you are sad and wanting comfort you don't tend to reach for an apple. I think we can all identify this, everyone has times when they feel bad and sit on the couch with a movie and a tub of ice cream eating themselves better. Again, in moderation this is not particularly harmful and for most people this is not a regular occurrence. If, however, you have am addictive personality and/or depressive tendencies this can go from occasional to habitual to addiction. Consequences are obesity and a resulting increase in self loathing leading to more eating - a vicious cycle.

So how to deal with this? There is no universal solution because as humans we are inherently unique and each person's reasons for emotional eating are different. The most important thing, which is common to all, is to treat the eating habits as a symptom and not a cause. The first step may well be to change the way the person eats but this will not be a permanent solution unless their reasons for eating emotionally are addressed. This may require counselling, rehab or psychological help but that is a course to be determined by the individual. As with all addictions the first step is to admit the problem to yourself and then to others, perhaps someone you trust or a professional. From here you can work on the best solution for you but remember that it is about YOU and that you are the person who can help you the most.

Learn more about this author, Daniela Cirignano.
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