Let’s talk about a phrase many of us have muttered, usually while sitting on the floor in yesterday’s clothes, elbow-deep in a packet of biscuits meant for “sharing” (who are these people who share snacks?): “I’m depressed and I can’t stop eating.”
Yup the holy trinity of modern despair: low mood, low motivation, and a mysteriously vanishing family-size bag of Doritos.
But why do we reach for the fridge when our brain feels like a smog-filled underpass? Why does sadness make us snacky? Here are my thoughts:
When you’re depressed, your brain is starved, not necessarily for calories, but for dopamine, serotonin, and other neurochemical bits and bobs that make life feel vaguely worth it.
Junk food, bless it, offers a quick-fix burst of these feel-good chemicals. The brain goes: “Oh look, sugar! That’s serotonin in a biscuit costume!”… And suddenly, you’ve eaten seven Jaffa Cakes and forgotten why you walked into the kitchen in the first place.
When you’re sad, touch-starved, or just tired of being a human in this economy, food becomes comfort. It’s predictable. It doesn’t ask questions. It doesn’t say, “Have you tried yoga?” or “What are your long-term goals?”
No. It says: “Come here. I’m chocolate. I won’t judge you.”
Let’s be clear: emotional eating is not a character flaw. It’s a coping mechanism, not the most sustainable one, perhaps, but one that works in the short term. And when you’re exhausted just trying to exist, short-term relief can feel like survival. So if you’re thinking, “I can’t stop eating, what’s wrong with me?” The answer is: nothing. You’re just a person with feelings, a mouth, and access to toast.
Firstly, don’t shame yourself. You’re not weak, you’re not broken, and you’re definitely not alone.. However, this munching is only a short term solution, so here are a few things you can try:
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Check the craving: Are you hungry? Bored? Lonely? Angry?
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Eat something real first: Like an actual meal. Protein. Fibre. Something your nan would call “a proper dinner.”
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Make a swap: Not in a diet-y way. Just… try a walk before the crisps. Or scream into a pillow. Or write a passive-aggressive poem about your feelings. See what works.
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Talk to someone: Not just your cat. (athough they are excellent listeners.)
If you’re struggling with depression and eating feels like the only thing tethering you to the earth right now, you’re just doing what you can with the tools you have. One day, you might swap the biscuits for a bike ride. Or therapy. Or Kundalini yoga.
But for now, if what you need is a biscuit and a good cry, do both. No judgement here. And please, if you’re really struggling: talk to a GP, a therapist, or someone you trust. Depression does not have to be a life condition.
Finally and this is just my opinion, the medical professions sometimes prescribe anti depressants without offering ways that you can get to the root of the cause of your sadness. Do ask them to be referred so you can start to find the steps you can take to find yourself again, and whilst that might be a new “you”, you will have grown from that and be stronger from it.
Understanding where our pain is coming from is the first step on the road to recovery and taking back control of your life and sense of peace.
Thanks for reading this and do reach out if you need support; we have some really good people on this community who have been throug the mill and back and can help. x
Photo by Annie Spratt
