I’m going to explain this today, using a model called the Whirlpool of Grief.
I’ll be substituting grief with overwhelm / stress / panic.
As you can see, we all start at the top – in the river of life. We’re all going about our daily business, happily floating along until BAM, BOOM – SOMETHING HAPPENS, and we fall down the waterfall.
Now, over the past two years, we’ve all living in the pandemic. We’ve been living day to day, with uncertainty, fear and overwhelm – not knowing what the hell is going on. Add in any additional stress, childhood trauma, family life, work – blah blah EVERYTHING, and we’re all falling down the waterfall.
In the model above, it clearly shows that on the way down the waterfall, as we experience all this shiz, we may be numb, in shock and some denial. In terms of our eating habits, you may have noticed some MASSIVE denial over how you’re eating, what you’re choosing and definitely managing to convince ourselves that it’s not that bad. Shock can sometimes make you completely unaware of what’s happening – so perhaps you’ve found yourself inhaling half a packet of biscuits, before you even notice?
This is EXTREMELY NORMAL.
At the bottom of the waterfall – you might feel like you’re falling apart. Or as my clients have said – been totally unable to get a grip on it all. You might feel severely disorganised – as someone who is totally incapable to ‘meal planning’ or even writing a shopping list – this resonates massively with me. So eating habits feel hay-wire, perhaps having cereal for dinner. Or just a load of random food for lunch. Shopping baskets filled with stuff that will ‘make you feel better’ but actually have no nutritional value.
Stress eating is a real thing – and the thing, is so many people can recognise it – but have absolutely no idea how to solve it. Eating when angry, or overwhelmed, or stressed – it’s so common. And yet there’s I think there is little out there to combat the two things together – it’s often separated out as two entirely different things.
These offers can sometimes feel like a chocolate life jacket being thrown at you whilst you’re circling round and round in the waterfall of overwhelm.
As the waters settle, and your eye gets pulled towards what sounds like a solution. You slowly swim out of the waterfall towards loving yourself again, and that’s exactly what I do. I support women with the right kind of life jacket – one that’s easy to put on, comfortable and supportive.
I help them figure out why they fell down the waterfall in the first place, and give themselves permission to relax, and to make the changes they want. Managing all of the physical symptoms – PMT disappearing, losing weight, stomach aches disappearing. And being able to finally get organised, patient and compassionate to themselves. Puttting an end to stress eating. Managing their overwhelm.
And it is beautiful here. Calm. Serene.
What would that be like for you?
Because none of this is your fault. None of this. You’re not a failure for not being able to sort it out. You’re going through some stuff. And I’m here to support you til you’re back on your feet.
You can work with me either 1:1 or via my mini series in a group.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the above – please either DM me or comment below.
Love Louisa x
Got questions? Drop me a message via the contact form below and we can see if we might be a good fit.
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