What to Do When You Overeat for Comfort, Not Hunger in Brisbane

Emotional eating  and comfort eating are very common experiences here in Brisbane.  If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for food when you’re not truly hungry, you’re not alone—and there’s nothing “broken” or hopeless about you.  Many of us use food as a way to cope with difficult feelings, stress, or even past traumas.  I’m here to offer support and practical strategies to help you understand at a deeper level.

Understanding Overeating

It’s important to remember: overeating is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower.  Often, comfort eating develops as a coping strategy—a way to soothe, numb, or escape from uncomfortable emotions.  For many people in Brisbane and beyond, food becomes our safe place when life feels overwhelming. Recognising the role that overeating plays is the first step toward doing self-compassion and making some kind of meaningful change.

Building Emotional Awareness with Compassion

Shame and self-criticism often fuel the cycle of overeating for comfort. That’s why trauma-informed support is so crucial.  One of the approaches I explore in my book and the Support to Stop Overeating podcast is treating yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a friend.  The next time you notice an urge to eat for comfort, gently ask yourself:

• What am I really feeling right now? (e.g., anxious, lonely, frustrated, overwhelmed?)
• What do I truly need in this moment—is it food, rest, connection, quality time out?

Journalling or using a feelings vocabulary can help us become familiar with our emotional landscape.  We might notice patterns—like turning to food after a tough day at work or when we’re feeling isolated.  Building awareness is not about blaming ourselves for all our lacks in life.  It’s about learning to meet ourselves with understanding and support in a soft, even light-hearted way.

Exploring Non-Food Ways to Meet Our Needs

Often, overeating and comfort eating is our attempt to satisfy our needs that aren’t about hunger, instead they could be about a need for: comfort, connection, communication or clarity.  Once we have identified our true needs, we could try experimenting with gentle alternatives:

• Taking a Mind-Full walk around some of Brisbane’s beautiful parks, bays or riverfronts
• Practising soothing activities, like listening to music, art, deep breathing, stretching or journaling
• Trying your hand at a local Brisbane workshop for something creative to put a spark in your step

Remember, food is only one of many ways to care for yourself—exploring new options can empower you to break the cycle of automatically reaching for food the moment you feel something uncomfortable.

Practical Strategies for Emotional Safety

If your overeating has roots in past trauma, it’s vital to approach change at your own pace and with deep self-compassion.  Genuine care is all about safety, trust and choice.  Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Give yourself permission to make slow, sustainable lifestyle changes. There’s no right way and no timeline.
• Seek out compassionate support, from a counsellor experienced in eating issues.
• Remind yourself that using food for self-soothing was a skill you developed for a reason—it made sense for you at the time.
• Be especially gentle with yourself on days when things feel hard; healing is never going to happen in a straight line.

Support is available here in Brisbane, from specialist therapists to community organisations like Eating Disorders Queensland.

Moving Toward Hope and Empowerment

Healing your relationship with food is possible.  Every time you pause, identify a feeling, or choose a non-food comfort—even for a moment—you are building a new neural pathway in your brain.  Practice self-compassion, honour your emotional needs, and remember: you don’t have to walk this road alone.

If you’re seeking support for overeating right here in Brisbane, please reach out.  You deserve respect and dignity as you create a more peaceful relationship with food—and with yourself.