Exactly what makes us comfort eat?
Addictive habits stem from the subconscious mind. As we journey through life, we store the consequences of the incidents we’ve been through, and when we are inevitably faced with difficult conditions, our mind generates methods for us to cope with them. Once the mind has linked a particular approach with the sensation of enjoyment or stress removal, it makes us think that we should use this same strategy anytime we feel bad.
Typically parents will reward their kids for good behaviour with some sweets. Additionally, ‘treats’ like biscuits, chocolate, and cupcakes are used when children are feeling unhappy, or if the parent wants to apologise for something (“Stop crying. Let’s go for a McDonald’s”). This tends to then result in the development of life-long behavioural patterns, where these types of food are linked to pleasure and good times – meaning that whenever you are feeling miserable or distressed; your first instinct is not to think about the problem or speak with someone regarding it, but to search for the cake tin.