Sometimes, when I’m in a counseling session, I look into your eyes, and it hits me… IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD.
Sometimes, I am able to overcome my discomfort to come right out and say… “I know I don’t know you very well yet, but I’m going to come right out and tell you… IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD.“
“What is it about?” you quietly whisper.
“What other things are going on in your life? What stressors are so deep within you that it is making you physically sick?” I ask.
You look at me in surprise. Tears flow. I’ve hit the target. So we talk about life… what happened in your childhood or the status of your current relationships. And we don’t talk about carbohydrates or FODMAPs or what you put in your smoothie this morning.
Life doesn’t happen in a vacuum. While your gut problems are certainly connected to what you ate for breakfast and the handful of medications you take, they are just as related to the stress and the pain buried deep inside. My heart breaks for you, because I know how bad it must be to be causing so many physical problems.
Ultimately though, I have hope. Because if you work through the emotional pain, the physical pain will improve too. Thank you for trusting me with your secrets.
Sometimes, IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD.
