Childhood Issues can be the Root of Compulsive Behaviors

February 14, 2008 |

Diets have a nasty habit of stirring up the past where all those painful memories live. When awakened, they crawl up the subconscious tunnel to poke holes in our self-worth. As we pull away from the comforting security blanket of food, we face the emptiness of our soul.

Job stress, family pressures, health conditions, worry and negative thinking intensify childhood pain. Life becomes a tangle of painful emotions, and dieting tugs on the string of that tangle. One pull and the soul says “Ouch! Don’t mess with this stuff, it hurts.”

On the surface, people may see you as a successful individual, but beneath there are painful issues that have never been resolved. If these issues are causing a desperate desire to escape through food, then no diet pill or exercise program will solve the problem. Dieting may work for a time, but eventually you’ll only have to face the pain of failure.

Addictive/compulsive behavior is a desperate attempt to find peace in an emotional storm of insecurity, disappointments and childhood pain. In that storm, it is impossible to maintain the focus needed for self-discipline. Like trying to rake leaves in a windstorm, the mind changes direction with every emotion that blows through. To gain self-control, you need to calm the winds of insecurity that are driven by distorted, negative thinking. You need to calm the storm and be at peace.

Getting Past Childhood Issues

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do with it. You may have been abused, insulted, faced illness and loss, but you can overcome the past. Bad things happen, and we can’t change that. But we can change the future. It is time to leave the past in the past and get on with life. It is time to stop feeling like a victim.

Depression is a pity party, anger only hurts you, resentment seals out love, and worry fixes nothing. Distorted thoughts get distorted results. Set your mind to what you can do, and then do it. Encourage yourself. Take action and your emotions will come into line; those painful memories will fade in the light of joy.

Eating is the easy way out, a dependable source of pleasure and comfort. An aching soul is eased for a few moments, but the emptiness and pain quickly return. Food can’t fix the past, but Christ can. With God, nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:37) He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3) Face your fear, because you have nothing to fear. When God is for us, who can be against us? When depression raises its ugly head, scorn it. Feelings are unscrupulous salesmen selling you something you don’t want. Don’t buy it. Look only at the facts. Why are you feeling this way? Get the points written on paper and look at them objectively. Is it really as bad as it feels? Emotional issues are tiny battles you need to win. Make your decision, then stand by it. Do what you can, and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Run from fear and it will become more frightening. Run from a problem and it will grow into a Goliath. You are ready for the challenge. Face your Goliath with courage. Face it and overcome it. Face your fears and insecurities and your pain will turn to freedom and joy.

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