Last night, I had a wave of grief so deep it made me wish I didn’t have to feel it. And if you’ve ever reached for food to escape pain, I know you can relate. In this episode, I open up about my mom’s decline with Alzheimer’s and the raw emotions that come with it. I talk honestly about how painful feelings can lead us to want to numb out—and how, with compassion and some tools, we can feel those feelings without turning to food. This is the real work of healing. It’s not always pretty, but it’s where the freedom is.
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A personal reflection on grief and emotional overwhelm
How emotional eating often stems from a desire to avoid discomfort
The moment Tricia faced overwhelming feelings about her mother’s decline
“I don’t want to feel this”—how that thought can lead to eating
Why fleeting thoughts (even dark ones) aren’t something to fear
The healing power of writing, prayer, and honest expression
“Feel, deal, and heal”—why bypassing emotion doesn’t work
What emotional eating really means: a form of self-protection
Alternative tools for managing painful emotions (writing, EFT, reaching out)
The importance of community and support during emotional lows
Encouragement to move through emotions instead of numbing them with food