Self-control, Food Seeking and Eating

This blog is about learning to control compulsions. Generaly, compulsions have both brain and behavioral (evironmental) factors regulating its intensity. Food compulsion in particular can be deeply rooted in the manner of maternal weaning and attachment. That sets a pattern in the way the brain regulates hunger drive and food seeking behavior. The early experiences and tendencies can set a tone of relating and interacting with objects or stimuli associated with food. If emotional conflicts arise, which may not be related to food, there will be conflicting response patterns. And if food is near the tendency can be to engage in compusive food seeking behavior. The energy arising from stress, mood and anxiety can find expression in food seeking and eating. The types of foods that are sought can be a directly correlated to a particular mood that upregulate or down regulate that mood. And the compulsion is like a trap, one seeks foods that make the person feel good when they feel bad and the good feeling reinforces the seeking of that food. Self-control is when the person is able to be aware of the trap-vicious cycle, delay gratification, be able to mentalize, identify conflicting emotions within oneself (internal stimuli), identify conflicting response patterns, and identify environmental stimuli associated with food. Professional help may be needed to connect with god, to reduce troublesome feelings and to relearn response patterns. If false body image is mentaly associated with food seeking and food eating, then help is also available; see www.Qministry.com for help.