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| Thursday, October 02, 2008 |
| Need A Hug? |
Last week I was the victim of a random attack of overeating. A short list of possible excuses and longer list of unanswered questions about what set me off are still floating through my head. The harsh memory of an upset stomach and surplus calories that were my punishment linger on as well. I knew that I would regret finishing that lemon pound cake… I did it any way. Have you ever found yourself eating ‘my’ cake? Did you wonder what you were really feeling or feeding? There hasn’t been anything warm and fuzzy about this topic, until now. That may just be part of the problem and part of the ‘cure.’ Sometimes we just need a hug.
Denise Gellene of the L.A. Times explains that new “research shows that there is a psychological basis linking cold temperatures to feelings of loneliness, despair, or sadness.” Researchers at the University of Toronto explain that “our mind is not independent of our body. Perceptions we think of as purely cognitive also involve physical perceptions.” It is mind over matter. When we are feeling lonely, or sad, or possibly hungry, what we might describe is feeling cold. Eating gives us comfort, eating makes us feel warm. Sometimes, we just need a hug to feel better.
Ms. Gellene also interviewed “Lawrence E. Williams Jr., professor of marketing at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business who studies temperature and emotion.” Describing being lonely but feeling cold he said “the association is believed to have its roots in infancy, when the physical sensation of warmth that comes from being held is connected to being loved.” Sometimes we just need a hug.
Another expert, “Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, a psychologist at Ohio State University said the feeling of cold might be a reaction to stress caused by social isolation. When people become tense or stressed, their blood vessels contract, cooling the skin.” Sometimes we just need a hug to feel better.
The next time you are tempted to eat ‘my’ cake, put on a pair of warm fuzzy socks, your favorite robe, and try to find a hug. It just might make you feel better.
- Nancy
Labels: Mind-Body Connection, Nancy
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posted by The Sensei Team @ Thursday, October 02, 2008   |
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| 2 Comments: |
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it doesn't work and you know it!
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Dear Anonymous,
I’m disappointed. I thought it had a lot of potential. Like hiccups, I give every ‘remedy’ equal opportunity to cure me from an ‘attack.’ Sometimes the call of the wild is just too strong.
Does something special tempt you, or does it just depend on your mood?
-Nancy
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it doesn't work and you know it!