How empaths absorb emotion — and how it can turn into emotional eating
As empaths, sometimes we take on more than we can chew; both in our life and our bodies. Whether it’s wanting to help animals or people, our capacity to give can only go so far.
Especially because we feel everything. And those emotions can be heavy, and so is the resulting weight that we carry physically. The stress we feel from the responsibility we carry is draining, and we can turn to food (and sometimes sweets) to keep us going; unfortunately, in an unhealthy way.
And we become disconnected from ourselves, as we pick up on everyone else’s emotions. So we’re no longer connected; mind, body and soul, and we lose that delicate balance with our bodies.
It’s not that we don’t know what or how to eat; we can be very smart about how to do that. But our sensitivity goes on overload; and whether we’re actually eating allot or simply “holding on” or “protecting ourselves” in a metaphorical way, our bodies respond accordingly.
It’s also not our fault; it’s just how we’re wired as empaths. Our empathy, caring and powerful intuition make us unique and amazing. But sometimes it can manifest not only in our stress level, but on an emotional level that impacts our bodies.
How do I know this?
I’ve done the “die-its” as I like to call them. But more importantly, my own journey, and deep dive into how it happens and what it all means began 20 years ago in healing arts school where I studied mind-body wellnes (which included hypnotherapy). We offered free clinics for practice, and the weight loss clinic had the highest demand and the largest turnout.
So I wanted to get to the bottom of the problem, and dove into the mind-body-soul (or subsconscious) connection around the weight issue. This resulted in an award-winning book called: Lose the Diet – Transform your body by connecting with your soul.
And I began working with women who needed healing on a deep level in order the get their life – and weight into balance. There were those who “did too much” by wanting to people please and help others – especially the innocent, such as animals.
Eating could offer a feeling of love that they lacked when it came to loving themselves, and it was certainly no substitute. Because it’s a viscious cycle of trying to fight the habit of soothing our soul with food.
And a certain food can temporarily soothe a particular emotion that we’re struggling with. But because we’re “disconnected” with ourselves, we’re not aware of what that emotion is.
There were also women who’d been abused (mentally, emotionally or physically) and on a subconscious level, weight was a barrier to further hurt. In a way, they didn’t want to be seen or to be attractive to the opposite sex and the weight was their protection.
In the end, I learned that the answer to the weight battle is always the same: It starts with ending the battle with ourselves. There comes a time for a “ceasefire”. And the results that come from my work with women, is a happy end to the struggles they’ve had for years.
So, what’s the solution?
Ultimately, there are many emotional reasons why we eat, and why we “hold on” to weight. And the process of filling ourselves in other ways, and releasing excess weight actually works in a loving and relaxing way. Because when we stress out with diets and deprivation, we’re going in the wrong direction; and our well-meaning intentions backfire.
Then we find ourselves in the yo-yo diet cycle of gaining and losing weight, and gaining it back. It’s not healthy, and it certainly isn’t fun.
So, how do we re-connect mind, body and soul and release the weight naturally and with ease? Loving ourselves is at the core of getting our balance back. Then reconnecting mind, body and soul in a peaceful way that will result in a natural re-alignment in our weight and life.
At the core, finding natural balance in our body stems from:
- Healing within; in a soft and kind way.
- Realeasing weight gradually through relaxation and guided meditation, which re-connects mind, body and soul.
- Communicating with our powerful subconscious mind using metaphors (I also incorporate animal wisdom.)
- Self-Love, and filling our heart by means other than food.
- Having healthy boundaries in place that protect our health on every level: Mentally, emotionally and physically.
All of this requires de-stressing and going within – instead of trying fad diets or other external things. And, doing it in a calm and soothing way – which releases the very stress that compounds the weight.
And when we do these things, the weight we’ve been attracting and holding on to can be freed from our physical body; as our “soul body” comes back to center. It’s a natural and gentle process, and it feels better too.
We remember what we knew all along: That we are beautiful souls that are in alignment at our core, but may have temporarily lost our way. The external world with its ups and downs; pain and heartbreak was allot for us, and we tried to take it on ourselves.
But when we release, heal and have our loving boundaries in place, it’s a win-win on every level of our being. We feel better at our core, we’re whole and don’t need to fill the emptiness with food. And we can be free of the excess weight that we’re carrying, and discover our natural balance on every level of our being.
When we stop fighting our bodies and start loving ourselves, the answers come to us. Allowing ourselves to find that happiness and inner glow that we carry, turns into an external glow and our beauty shines through.
