Understanding Food Trauma : MindsetOpediaDMHC Blogs

Food trauma will be both defined and explored as seen in intensive treatment settings from both psychological and nutritional backgrounds. Trauma with foods/feeding, physical traumas involving food, trauma associations with food, and food itself as trauma.

When a body is stressed by trauma , it reacts by producing cortisol which generates the flight/fight/freeze response we have when imperiled. Generally after we’re frightened, our cortisol level decreases through surges of brain chemicals which calm us down and return us to a normal emotional state. When these chemicals are overtaxed, however, they can’t do their job and we’re left in a heightened state of anxiety much of the time. Living on edge is the result of your body generating excessive cortisol.

Food trauma can lead to also not identifying with a taste of a particular food or food group associated with the trauma. In response the olfactory senses don't register the taste or the physiological response is allergy or food aversion.

The person who experiences food trauma may disassociate with specific flavours , food items and groups as it triggers the trauma response in the body. Emotional acceptance of the processing the impact of trauma can take years of informed therapy , systematic desensitization and social encouragement. Even then the body can reject the food as the triggers of the trauma response are within the environment. A constant introduction and re introduction of the food / food group with psycho-social support can bring acceptance of being around the food but not consuming it.

This is where food abuse comes in and prevalence of eating disorders. We eat because it comforts us or because the nutrients in food (carbohydrates) biochemically combat our anxious state and numb us if we eat enough. We reject food for the sense of control it gives us. We may not even realize that we’re stressed and looking to be put out of our misery.

Take a minute to consider whether you endured trauma as a child. Trauma can be difficult to recognize because it may have seemed normal at the time. You might have minimized your suffering because it’s painful to face the experience. 

Going back to the food/ food group is the collective therapy goal.Can be achieved by -

Reintroducing the food in your immediate environment during meals and snacks times.

Eating a bite at the point in time.

Put a small portion in your plate and get to visual acceptance of the food item/ group 

Expressing and recording your before and after experience.

Seek Professional help to cope with the food trauma and understand the triggers around it. You can reach out to a food psychologist, nutritional coach, wellness coach and even a dietician can help.

By,

Ms. Aarti Ahuja

Psychologist

Council Member

WICCIDMHC