Hypnosis for emotional eating

Emotional eating is eating to change how you feel rather than because you’re hungry. It might be stress after work, boredom on a quiet evening, loneliness, or simply being worn out.

Almost everyone does it sometimes. It becomes a problem when food is the main way you cope, when you eat past the point of enjoying it, or when you feel guilty afterwards and the cycle starts again.

Common triggers

• Stress at work or at home
• Boredom, especially in the evenings
• Tiredness and poor sleep
• Loneliness or feeling low
• Celebrating, or rewarding yourself after a hard day
• Old habits, such as food being used as comfort when you were young

How to tell emotional hunger from real hunger

Physical hunger builds slowly, can be satisfied by most foods, and stops when you’ve had enough. Emotional hunger tends to arrive suddenly, wants something specific (usually sweet, salty or crunchy), and often carries on past full. Noticing the difference is the first step.

Things you can try today

• Before you eat, pause and ask what you’re feeling right now
• Wait ten minutes before acting on a craving, and do something with your hands
• Keep the foods you reach for out of easy sight
• Eat regular meals so you’re not running on empty by the evening
• Find one other way to wind down, such as a walk, a bath or a call with a friend

How I work with it

Emotional eating usually makes sense once you see what it’s doing for you. In our sessions we find the feelings that send you to food, and in hypnosis I help you build other ways to meet those needs, so the urge has somewhere else to go. Many clients find the pull towards food becomes quieter and easier to say no to.

We also work on the guilt that tends to follow, because guilt is often what drives the next round of eating.

Hypnosis downloads for emotional eating

Common questions

Is emotional eating the same as a food addiction?

Not quite. Emotional eating is a learned way of coping, and many people find they can change it with the right support. If you feel your eating is completely out of your control, speak to your GP first.

Can hypnosis stop me wanting comfort food?

It can help the urge feel weaker and give you other ways to cope, but it works best when you’re ready to make changes too. Results vary from person to person.

Do I have to talk about my past?

Only as much as you want to. Sometimes it helps to understand where a habit started, but we can do a lot of useful work in the present.