The Difference Between Physical Hunger and Emotional Hunger

Emotional hunger is powerful. It comes on quickly and becomes so over-whelming it becomes vital to fulfil; you must urgently see to that need.

On the other hand, physical hunger comes on slowly, and there is no urgent need to fulfil or satisfy the hunger straight away – unless you have not eaten for a long time.

Emotional eating craves certain foods; basically empty nutritional food, like crisps, chocolates, biscuits, cakes and even ice cream. You feel you need this to fulfil this really strong desire for sweet food.

Physical hunger does not crave food and is happy eating fruit and vegetables. During this time anything sounds good, and there is no need to satisfy a craving; you are just hungry.

The emotional eating is done mindlessly. You do not even realise what you are doing and before you know it, you have consumed a whole packet of biscuits; it leaves you wanting more as you like the taste in your mouth.

With physical hunger you are aware of what you are doing. With physical hunger you are satisfied when full. Emotional hunger is never satisfied when full, you keep eating more and more until you are uncomfortably full. With physical hunger your stomach just needs to be satisfied, whereas emotional eating is not satisfaction of the stomach, but instead of the brain.

Your brain focuses on the specific texture’s tastes and smells.

Emotional eating makes you feel regret guilt and shame, but when physically eating you never feel this or very unlikely too; and if you do feel this, it’s likely that deep down that you know you have not eaten anything of nutritional value.

What are the common emotional triggers?

1. Can be for comfort.

2. Rewarding yourself.

3. Stress, anxiety, irritability, resentment, shame, guilt.
You numb yourself with food to avoid facing up to those difficult situations.

4. Boredom or feeling of emptiness.
Eating for something to do to relieve the boredom. Food gives you escapism for a bit.

5. Childhood habit.
This is the major one. Parents rewarding their children with food, or even bribing them with food can have a damaging subconscious effect.

6. Childhood memories.
Having to clear your plate before you could leave the table or have your pudding.

7. Been given food when upset.
This is the major problem with my clients and it stems back to being a child.

8. Social gatherings.
Social gatherings on a regular basis and eating the wrong foods can lead to weight gain and may be your circle of friends encouraging you to eat.

Have you found that stress can make you turn to chocolate, cakes, biscuits or crisps? And then the more uncontrollable the stress is and the more likely you are to turn to emotional eating for further relief? Then I can definitely help. Get in touch.