Do You Use Your Body To Cope?
Life can be overwhelming…
Things don’t go your way.
People hurt you and betray you.
Work is exhausting.
Your relationships feel strained.
School feels impossible.
Adulting never stops.
You’re juggling balls of fire (without knowing how to juggle), and you’re terrified that if you drop just one, everything will go up in flames.
You’re stressed, worried, and overwhelmed. You’ve tried everything—yoga, prayer, venting to your support system, organization, long baths—but nothing brings lasting relief. You still feel like you’re drowning, and hopelessness starts creeping in.
When Emotional Pain Turns into Body Obsession
When emotions feel too big to handle, we often search for something we can control. For many, that "something" becomes their body.
Instead of facing feelings of loneliness, frustration, or stress, you fixate on your weight, shape, or size. You notice every “flaw.” You feel uncomfortable in your own skin. You tell yourself, I can do something about this!
And society encourages it. You’ve heard it before:
"Exercise is a great stress reliever!"
"Eating clean makes you feel better!"
While movement and nutrition are valuable tools, they can also become an escape—an obsession. If you find yourself avoiding emotions by controlling your body, you may be stuck in a cycle of shame, self-hatred, and dissatisfaction. No matter how much you restrict or train, it’s never enough. The deeper pain remains.
Breaking the Cycle: Allowing Yourself to Feel
Instead of avoiding emotions, what if you allowed yourself to feel them?
Try:
Crying – Let the tears come; they release built-up stress.
Yelling or screaming – Express your frustration in a safe way.
Throwing things (safely!) – A pillow or stress ball can be surprisingly satisfying.
Feeling anxious or worried – Sit with the discomfort instead of running from it.
Your emotions are not wrong. They are not bad. They are human.
A Visualization to Help You Process
When a painful thought comes up, imagine it as a fluffy cloud floating in a bright blue sky. You don’t have to chase it, change it, or judge it—just let it drift by.
The more you allow emotions to exist without resistance, the less control they have over you. Fighting emotions only makes them stronger. Accepting them gives you freedom.
You Are Enough. Period, end of sentence.
You don’t need to change your body to be worthy. You are enough exactly as you are, right now. You have the tools within you to be OK.
Take a deep breath. Let’s start here.