Step away from the cookie jar

How do you handle stress, do you turn to food for comfort?

If the answers yes, it’s ok - you are not alone. It’s so easy to open the snack cupboard and reach for those crisps, or that chocolate bar when we're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or just a bit down. Though did you know we have an in-built superpower that if switched on, can identify, and perceive the stress to determine whether or not we’ll indulge in that biscuit or 3?

So, this bit is really clever it blew my mind when I first learnt of the two types of stress, did you know there are two? Challenge stress and threat stress, which both affect our cortisol levels. When we view a situation or life event as a challenge, our brain triggers a response that caps off our cortisol levels, protecting us from producing too much of this hormone, pretty cool right! This means that we're less likely to turn to that cupboard for comfort during these times.

However, when we view a situation as a threat that we can’t overcome or there’s no solution for, our brain doesn't have a ceiling level for cortisol production. Which means when we feel threatened by a situation and panic internally (even only a little bit), we're more likely to produce excess cortisol, which can lead to increased hunger and comfort eating.

So we can use this amazing superpower to avoid comfort eating when we’re stressed by shifting our mindset from a threat response to a challenge response. And reframe that situation in our minds as ‘difficult but doable’, rather than seeing it as a looming disaster.

Reducing our anxiety is also crucial in preventing comfort eating. When we're anxious, we tend to think in black and white terms, which can increase our cortisol levels. Techniques like meditation, box breathing, and regular exercise can reduce our anxiety, there-in reducing our cortisol levels and avoiding the urge to hit the snack cupboard.

So, next time you're feeling stressed, before your tempted to reach for that comfort food, instead of focusing on the negative aspects, visualise an opportunity for growth and learning. Reframe the situation in your mind by asking yourself questions like “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I grow from this experience?”. Then break the challenge down into smaller, more manageable steps, and focus on taking one step at a time to ease the feeling of overwhelm.

Take the first step towards managing your stress and anxiety today! Don't be afraid to seek support. If you're interested in learning more about how hypnotherapy can help you, send me an email and let's discuss how we can work together to help you feel more calm, relaxed, and in control.