Anxiety when eating: symptoms, causes, how to control and reduce it

Although it is possible that many people may come to think otherwise, what is really true is that anxiety, under normal conditions, is a defense mechanism that helps us improve our performance and activate.

It is even considered as a historical defense mechanism, which appeared in our ancestors as a mechanism to help them mobilize when, for example, they had to flee from a wild animal or an enemy.

However, at the present moment in which we develop our daily life, the anxiety has become a real problem, which generally goes beyond the limits that frame it as Defense mechanism, appearing in other situations that have nothing to do with those that should activate us to mobilize.

In fact, it is common for one of its main causes to be stress, nervousness and excessive problems. Although there are several symptoms of anxiety, the truth is that it can also be manifested through the compulsive food intake.

What is anxiety when eating and why does it appear?

The anxiety when eating is a way by which the anxiety It tends to manifest itself, at which point the anxious person eats compulsively as a way of trying to reduce the basic symptomatology of anxiety.

Even though Anxiety disorder is considered one of the most common mental disorders In accidental countries, the truth is that you have very different ways of manifesting.

Some people can be nervous and stressed in certain situations. While others, as we have indicated, tend to eat compulsively trying to reduce that nervousness or tension through food.

How to identify anxiety when eating?

For identify anxiety when eating, and help you to know if you suffer or not anxiety when eating, it is advisable that you pose the following basic questions:

  • Do you eat compulsively when you feel anxious and nervous?
  • Do you eat when you have stress?
  • Do you think you eat compulsively?

What effects does eating anxiety have on health?

There are studies that show that when a person suffers from anxiety when eating, it is more common to tend to eat products or foods little or nothing healthy, rich in calories and sugars, given that it is ultimately what the body asks.

It is common for people afflicted with this disorder to eat more industrial pastries, cookies or chocolate, and binge. Which in turn puts their health at risk, since they have a greater predisposition to suffer from overweight and obesity.

How to solve anxiety when eating and how to control it?

For solve anxiety when eating, the main key is to identify what worries us and that leads us to eat compulsively. It is also a single concern or many. Maybe it's fear or fear of the future, or face situations that we do not know and that cause us fear.

Once you have located the focus of your concern, the fundamental thing is to try to channel it progressively.

Generally the most appropriate, if we can not control that anxiety for ourselves, is to go to a psychologist specialist in disorders of anxiety, to help us to treat and solve our problem in an easy and simple way.

  • When you have anxiety avoid the exciting. It is advisable to reduce the consumption of beverages such as coffee or tea, and food products such as sugar. It is better to replace them with relaxing infusions, fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Practice physical exercise. In addition to being an extremely healthy option and essential to enjoy good health, it is ideal not only to recharge the batteries, but to de-stress.
  • Eat calm and sitting. Make 5 meals a day, try to chew slowly and well every bite, and eat seated. Do not hurry at lunchtime, because that will lead you to eat more, badly and in excess.
  • Eat satisfying foods. They will help you increase the feeling of fullness and reduce appetite.
  • Practice some natural therapy such as relaxation or meditation. It may be useful to know how to learn to relax.
  • Take relaxing infusions.

How to reduce anxiety about food?

In addition to the tips to control the anxiety of eating that we have already given, below we will indicate some tips to reduce anxiety for food, as long as you consider that these tips or tricks can be useful (otherwise, especially if you are facing a serious anxiety disorder, our recommendation is that you go to a specialist to help you deal with the problem):

  • Reduce exciting drinks: exciting drinks such as coffee or tea often aggravate the problem, since they tend to increase appetite.It is best to reduce their consumption or eliminate them from our day to day until the anxiety disappears.
  • Increase the frequency of meals: as many nutritionists maintain it is better to eat 5 times a day than 3, since this way we can increase the frequency of meals and avoid getting hungry to the next meal. It should be distributed in: breakfast, lunch, lunch, snack and dinner.
  • Reduce or eliminate less healthy foods: it is known that those people who follow a diet based on the habitual consumption of sweets, pastries and unhealthy foods usually maintain this long-term diet, with the risks that this entails for health. Therefore, the key is to substitute these foods for healthier and lower calorie foods.
This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Psychologist. We advise you to consult your trusted Psychologist. ThemesAnxiety

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