The technique of the familiar demon

In his book “Eating in Peace”, Dr. Gérard Apfeldorfer defines emotional eating as a “familiar demon”.

How to become aware of it and find the real demon behind it, the triggers?

The Familiar Demon

Using situations that evoke intense, yet known, emotions helps to protect against emotions that are also intense, but unknown.

We prefer a familiar demon to an unknown demon. We trade one problem for another.

Emotional eating is the familiar demon. We know it, we have tamed it. 

The unknown demon or demons are unpleasant emotions that we do not allow ourselves to feel. The unknown demons can be varied and depend on each individual.

A shame demon can be persistent criticism at work or in the family or among friends that affects one's self-esteem. Eating is a way to avoid facing this shame and especially to protect one's self-esteem.

But, it can also be a demon of minor annoyances: the weather, a friend canceling plans, a device that no longer works. Nothing too serious. But, instead of feeling frustration or even anger about this event, it’s easier to turn to the food demon.

Eating becomes like a point of anchorage and spares expressing one’s anger.

The Anxiety of Separation

It’s when we realize that even the minor annoyances of everyday life affect us and activate our familiar demon, that we need to think about the anxiety of separation.

The anxiety of separation is when what one can objectively call a minor annoyance causes real suffering.

In this process, it’s as if adapting to the ups and downs of life becomes a threat to the permanence of each being.

The anxiety of separation also manifests in the daily difficulty of separating from objects, even when they are no longer useful.

We accumulate objects, clothes, memories, until we feel overwhelmed (a little reminder: empty, full…). Throwing away an object becomes a heartbreak.

This is also true for people and places. A vacation departure can become problematic, like the stay of a loved one.

The anxiety of separation is very often visible in people suffering from emotional eating.

Take some time to reflect on it.

Losing weight and fat, doesn't it awaken in you the memory of other unacknowledged losses? As if a part of yourself were disappearing?
This is the kind of awareness that Foodelles offers you. Ready for this inner journey?