Tag: behaviors

When betrayal strikes, everything seems to change; nothing seems untouched by the effects that create havoc in the relationship and the couple’s world at large. Healing from betrayal is no easy task, for an act of betrayal can cause significant trauma. While the mind reels from fears, worries, and confusion, the heart and spirit are affected by painful emotions such as sadness, anger, resentment, and shame.

Physiologically, the effects of betrayal can manifest in somatic issues such as headaches, exhaustion, sleeplessness, and digestive issues.

A recent study published in the journal NeuroImage found that when study participants engaged in self-criticism or self-blame, their brain showed activity in the regions of the brain strongly correlated with depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. Translation: If you're preoccupied with your faults and mistakes, you put yourself at risk for emotional eating and weight gain.

This brain research confirms what I have long known. I used to have a poor self-image and a great deal of anxiety. As a result, I engaged in unhealthy patterns around food and eating. I soon went from being an attractive TV soap opera star to being obese.