Emotional emptiness is a major cause of overeating and it can jeopardise our weight loss efforts if we cannot resolve the issue. Firstly we should understand what emotional emptiness is. This term is often used to describe a feeling of sadness, hollowness, loss, or disconnection.
Many of us may eat to stifle and suppress this hollow feeling. Others may resort to drinking alcohol, taking drugs, gambling, spend excessively, or partaking in other unhealthy or unproductive activities.
Fortunately, there are numerous healthy alternatives to resolve emotional emptiness. Here are few examples:
- Reconnect with our inner self
The terms "emotional emptiness" and "spiritual emptiness" are interchangeable in many cases. Whether it is our emotions or our spiritual self that is crying out and desperate for attention, both can be easily resolved by simply taking time to tune in and get reconnected each day.
This can be achieved by simply sitting quietly with our own thoughts, calming stress and relaxing mentally and physically. We could also meditate or do yoga, or just sit quietly and relieve ourselves from worries, stress and any other negative thoughts. If we do this for as little as 10-15 minutes each day, we will be surprised at how more balanced and centred we will feel.
- Socialize with others
The feeling of inner disconnection can often be attributed to loneliness so we may find it beneficial to connect and socialize with other people. We should attempt to regularly meet friends and family for a get together, even if we simply arrange to meet for a coffee and chat. Perhaps we support a charity or youth organisation which we can volunteer our time and help. Simply being in the company of others can help immensely, and we should do our best to reach out emotionally to people and this will help to lift our own emotional state. The term "reaching out" means doing what we can to uplift and help people, even if this simply involves offering kind, sympathetic or encouraging words.
- Do things that we enjoy and make us happy
Every day we should try to do activities which give us pleasure, we enjoy, and make us happy. The more we do this, the more we will inspire inner happiness and fulfilment. What makes us happy and content? We should list of all the activities which we enjoy doing and which give us pleasure, everything that uplifts us and gives us inspiration, and all the things which make us smile and laugh. Once our list is complete, we should then start doing at least one of these things every day. We do not have to devote much time to it, but one or two short periods each day will help ease emotional emptiness and diminish the desire to use food to fill the emotional gap.