Overcome Stress Eating With Mood & Food Awareness
Stress-eating, or eating because you’re upset, restless, overwhelmed or overstimulated is pretty common. But you can beat it. By eating mindfully, you can stop stress eating and get along better with both food and stress.
What is Stress Eating & Why does it Happen?
Stress eating happens when we eat because we’re feeling emotional, not because we’re actually hungry. When stressed, our bodies release hormones that make us crave foods that are fatty and sweet. These foods make us feel better for a little bit because they make our brains happy. But that good feeling doesn’t last, and we might feel guilty later.
Beating Stress Eating with Mindful Eating
Mindful eating means being fully aware of why and how we eat. It helps us focus on bodily sensations as well as the sensory-experience of food, like noticing how our food tastes, feels, and smells. Being mindful when we eat helps us make better choices and stop eating just because we’re used to it.
Why We Stress-Eat
Eating to deal with feelings, like stress, anger, or sadness, is called emotional eating. Daily problems or big life changes can make us feel upset and lead to emotional eating. This can mess with your goals if you’re trying to lose weight. You might eat a lot without really enjoying it, especially when you’re feeling strong emotions.
Sometimes, eating is a way to avoid dealing with tough situations or feelings. But after eating, the same problems and feelings are still there, plus the negative feelings associated with binge eating, or eating foods that aren’t meeting our needs.
Getting Back on Track after Stress Eating
When you’re feeling down and want to eat, try these mindful eating tips to control your cravings:
- Listen to Your Body:
Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. - Manage Your Stress:
Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing if stress makes you want to eat. - Check Your Hunger:
Ask yourself if you’re really hungry or just craving. - Pause Before Eating:
Before you eat out of stress, stop and think about why you’re reaching for food. - Breathe Deeply:
Calm yourself with deep breaths before eating. - Choose Foods That Serve You:
Eat foods that are good for you and give you energy. - Eat With Attention:
Enjoy every bite without distractions.
Support and Distractions
- Find Support:
Share your feelings with friends or a group. - Treat Yourself Right:
Don’t be too strict with your diet. Enjoy treats in moderation. - Tap Into Compassion:
Forgive yourself and learn from emotional eating episodes.
Choose Mindful Eating Over Stress Eating
If you’re struggling to break stress eating habits, it might be time to talk to one of our therapists who can help you understand your eating habits, stress management and learn new ways to cope. Mindful eating is a great way to overcome stress eating. It helps us be more aware of our eating habits and make choices that are good for our bodies and minds.
Why not start practicing mindful eating today? Your body and mind will be grateful.
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FAQ's About Therapy in New Jersey
How do I get started as a new client?
New Clients can reach out to us directly via call, text or email here:
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that clients provide at least 24 hours notice in the event that they need to cancel to avoid the 50% cancellation fee. we understand that life happens and do our best to be flexible & reschedule.
Does my insurance cover my visits?
We provide”Courtesy Billing” for clients who are using the Out-of-network insurance benefits.
Our Insurance Page shares a small blurb about Why We Left Insurance Panels
Do you offer traditional talk therapy?
of course! though we have some unconventional therapy approaches, we are rooted in evidenced based practices. Talk therapy is a major player in the therapy room! See What we Treat and Integrative Services for more information
Is Online Therapy As Effective As In-Person Therapy?
Online therapy is essentially face-to-face counseling, just conducted remotely. Studies show that teletherapy is as effective as traditional counseling. Professional organizations and state governments recognize its benefits and have set regulations for it. However, like any therapy, its success in achieving your goals isn’t guaranteed. It’s important to discuss with your therapist whether teletherapy is working for you.
Can I Change Therapists If I'm Not Happy?
Yes, you can switch therapists to another provider within the practice, or we can provide you a referral if preferred. We want to ensure that your time and effort are well spent, and that you are getting the relief you need, that’s why we work collaboratively with each other in the practice, as well as outside therapists who we know and trust.
How Do I Know If Therapy Is Helping?
You should feel like you’re making progress. Signs it’s working include:
Feeling comfortable talking to your therapist
Your therapist respects boundaries
You’re moving towards your goals
You feel listened to
You’re doing better in life
Your self-esteem is getting better
Is Online Therapy Easy to Use for Non-Tech-Savvy People?
Yes, it’s pretty simple to access sessions. You’ll need basic internet skills, such as opening and visiting the patient link sent to you via email. It’s similar to video chatting like Facetime or Zoom. We can also walk you through it on the phone the first time to ensure a strong connection
What Questions Should I Ask My New Therapist?
Feel free to ask anything. Some good questions are:
- How often will we meet?
- What do you specialize in?
- What experience do you have with my issue?
- What outcomes can I expect?
- How will I know I’m progressing?
- How long do you usually work with clients?
- How will we set my treatment goals?
How Should I Prepare for My First Session?
Showing up is all that you need to do! But if you really want to get the most out of session, it could help to take some time to think about what you want from therapy. It helps to write down your goals, questions you have or things that you feel are important to share.
What is the difference between associate therapists & fully licensed therapists?
Our Qualifications:
Our founder, Rebecca Sidoti, is a highly qualified, state-licensed therapist and supervisor with extensive training in anxiety related disorders and innovative treatment such as Ketamine Therapy. Mind by Design Counseling adheres to standards set by the our governing counseling boards.
To see each providers credentials, training and licenses, visit our “Meet the Therapists” Page to learn more.
- LAC/LSW are therapists who may practice clinical work under the supervision of a fully licensed therapist.
- LPC/LCSW are therapists who have completed the necessary clinical hours post-graduation under supervision and can practice clinical work independently.
What Geographic Areas Are Served?
Currently, we serve clients in New Jersey and are expanding to other states as telehealth laws evolve. While telehealth offers the convenience of attending sessions from anywhere, state laws require clients to be in-state during their session.
Is Virtual Counseling Suitable for Everyone?
Online therapy might not be as effective for individuals with chronic suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, significant mental health history, or those recently in intensive care. Such cases often benefit more from traditional, in-person counseling. We’ll help you decide if our online services are right for you during your intake and evaluation.
What Equipment is Needed for Online Therapy?
To join a session, log in using the credentials we provide. No downloads are needed. Our platform, compatible with both individual and group sessions, requires:
A computer or mobile device with a webcam and internet access.
We’ll help you test your setup before your first appointment to ensure a reliable connection. iOS users should use the Safari browser for mobile and tablet sessions.
What Questions Will Therapists Ask Me?
It depends on your goals. Expect questions about your thoughts, feelings, relationships, work, school, and health. They’ll ask to understand your therapy goals.
How Do You Keep Client Information Secure?
Security and Confidentiality of Sessions:
Your privacy is crucial to us. We use TherapyNotes, a HIPAA-compliant platform, ensuring secure and confidential teletherapy sessions. This platform’s security features include encrypted video connections, secure data transfers, and encrypted databases, ensuring your information is safe at all times.
What is VRT used for?
we use VRT to support Exposure Therapy, a long standing traditional therapy modality to treat phobias, anxiety and stress. we send a headset directly to your home so you can access VRT from anywhere.
VRT not only helps with exposure therapy for phobias, but is great for ADHD, mindfulness, PTSD and social anxiety.
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Rebecca Sidoti, LCSW
VR Therapist
OCD & Anxiety Expert
Kristin Justice, LAC
Grief & Loss
Women’s Mental Health
Stress & Adjustments
Caroline Goodhines
Maria Rice
