Unlocking Healing: Empowering Women with Trauma to Reclaim Health and Happiness

Discover the transformative power of healing as registered dietitian Christa dives into the profound connection between emotional trauma, blood sugar control, and weight management. 

Key Topics: 

• (3:43) These layers of trauma have led them to develop mental defense blocks, using food as a shield against their pain and an escape from their harsh realities. However, this coping mechanism has taken a toll, resulting in weight gain and the onset of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
• (4:43) Are you trying to dodge a strong emotion? 
• (5:00) What I would love for you to do, is give yourself some time and space between grabbing that food and asking yourself a few questions. 
• (5:10) The more you reflect on these questions and identify what the true trigger is, I ask you to please find a counselor or therapist and work alongside a dietitian to really guide you and even connect you to a community of other women – to help further empower you.

Really the aim of both of these platforms is to not only bring up-in-coming research in medications, tools, and strategies within the diabetes field BUT also to talk about the triggers that have caused food addiction, binge eating, and self-sabotage. As well as tools I’ve used in my own sessions with women who’ve left using, and I quote their words, “Empowered, Free, and shocked at how awkward this feels!”

I’ve seen healing in just having a safe space and someone to talk you through these feelings. And I truly believe there needs to be more of a dialogue and outlet for women to discuss how to face some of these struggles in such a safe and protected space.

 So today, very specifically, I want to start the dialogue of examples and tools for healing. And over the past few months, I’ve had the honor of working closely with many women who have faced tremendous traumas in their lives. 

These women have endured a wide range of challenges, each with its own emotional impact. From surviving abusive relationships to experiencing loss and grief, their stories are a testament to their resilience.

Some of these women have gone through ruthless divorces, where their once-promising partnerships turned into battlegrounds for emotional turmoil and uncertainty. Others have carried the weight of past traumas, stemming from parents who imposed regimented expectations on them to become perfect wives, stifling their individuality and self-expression.

And it doesn’t stop there. Many of these incredible women have also faced the heart-wrenching struggles of ex-husbands using their own children against them, manipulating and exploiting their vulnerabilities for their own gain. To even physical and mental abuse. 

It’s an understatement that these traumas have profound effects on their mental and emotional well-being. As a result, they often turn to food as a means of coping, seeking solace in temporary moments of comfort.

These layers of trauma have led them to develop mental defense blocks, using food as a shield against their pain and an escape from their harsh realities. However, this coping mechanism has taken a toll, resulting in weight gain and the onset of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Women naturally will open up when they feel safe. This is just the beginning of healing. By creating this safe space with a combination of education, counseling, therapy, and reframing, I’ve seen how it’s empowered these ladies to rewrite their narratives and reclaim their health and happiness.

Which has also helped them to lose weight and gain control of their blood sugars because we addressed the root of the behavior without “dieting.” 

So dear viewer, do you notice doing a behavior where you’re trying to dodge a very strong emotion? Is it watching TV and opening up a bag of chips and they are finished at midnight? Then, you go to the 24-hour convenience store to get a to-go meal? 

What I would love for you to do, is to give yourself some time and space between grabbing that food and asking yourself a few questions. 

1. Where are you right now?
2. Are you eating because you’re truly hungry? If no, what are you feeling?
3. What is this feeling? 
4. Does it have a color? And does the color change as you continue thinking about it? 
5. Do I know what the feeling is? Can you identify it?

The more you reflect on these questions and identify what the true trigger is, I ask you to please find a counselor or therapist and work alongside a dietitian to really guide you and even connect you to a community of other women – to help further empower you.