Grief can come in a few different forms whether you have experienced the death of a loved one, have to deal with a breakup, or grapple with the termination of a job either voluntary or involuntary. Changes like these can make a difference in how someone functions in their life and sometimes this means enduring significant changes in their eating habits.

Some people will overeat to cope with grief and some people will not eat at all because of the onset of nausea they begin to feel. In order to get through this difficult period of time, there are ways to take charge of your diet when you are grieving.

Identify help

If you are unusually sad or lonely, the best thing you can do in this situation is to see a therapist or a counselor to sort through the feelings that your grief has caused. Going through these circumstances alone will only make you starve yourself or overeat more instead of discovering what you are really going through.

Identify triggers

Since you may not have ever gone through grief before, you should understand what is keeping you from taking care of yourself regarding your diet. Grief is a much bigger issue than just the pain of losing something dear to you. Fear can paralyze you during your grief because you may be responsible for your loved one’s estate, have to move out of a home, stressed about your future, or remember agonizing memories which is completely overwhelming to deal with. With a therapist you can get a better understanding of why you are using your diet as a coping mechanism to try and avoid grief.

Identify emotions

Looking at the emotional aspects of your grief can help you to understand what you are actually feeling. Once you can discern your different emotions and work them out, you can either stop eating emotionally or stop from starving yourself as these emotions continue to come about.

Identify kindness

When going through your grief, you may stop taking care of yourself because you cannot find any comfort in your pain. Instead you may beat yourself up with guilt which could do one of two things concerning your diet. You will either overeat in hopes of making your feelings go away or not eat at all to accommodate the pit in your stomach. Engage yourself with kindness and do your best to nourish your body the way that it needs to be.

Grief is not an easy affliction to navigate your way through and your diet can make a big difference in helping you to manage it.

If you or someone you know needs help with their drug or alcohol addiction, The Kimberly Center has a treatment plan that will work for you. We believe that successful recovery encompasses the improvements in your self-esteem, relationships, and vocational productivity that substance abuse took away from you.

Call us today to begin: 855-4-KCENTER (855-452-3683)