stress eating

Guide to help you avoid stress eating

Many people who are battling eating disorders end up stress eating to find comfort or to cope with pressure.  As a result, these people end up bingeing on sugar and fat- rich food, which again affects their mood negatively. Dr Kedar Tilwe, Consultant Psychiatrist, Fortis Mulund and Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi gives you a few tips to help you beat comfort eating episodes.

  • Try mindfulness

Using mindfulness techniques, especially mindful eating can help you savour and enjoy small amounts of food, limiting the need to binge.

  • Develop coping mechanisms

It’s vital to have alternative coping mechanisms to deal with stress and triggers. This will reduce the need to binge. Listening to songs that make you smile or taking up a hobby can be equally effective techniques to help channelise and relieve your stress.

  • Be mindful of what you are eating

The age-old practice of adhering to a calorie intake chart can help you gain perspective, but it should be utilised as a guideline and not as a rulebook.

  • Make sure to stock up on healthy snacks

Stocking your refrigerator or home with healthy foods and limiting high-carb foods will also help. Increasing fluid intake is also an alternative that you can consider. Fluid intake at regular intervals is an absolute must.

  • Beat stress with a good diet and exercise

Apart from eating the right kind of food that’s good for your overall well-being, it’s also important to exercise daily.  Physical activity, especially exercise, is a good stressbuster, and inculcating it into your daily routine will help.

  • Seek professional help if you need it

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and mindfulness techniques can help in checking the impulses, and if necessary even medicines are available to help check the urges and to control stress eating.