When Cravings Speak Louder Than Words

Juanita never considered herself a person with addictions or emotional battles. She worked hard, carried herself gracefully, and lived with the quiet strength many admired. But there was one part of her life she battled silently cravings.

Not cravings for food alone, but cravings for comfort.

It began years ago when she moved from Africa and started life overseas. The change, the distance, and the unfamiliar culture left her feeling lonely in ways she didn’t know how to describe. And instead of talking about it, she turned to something that felt safe and predictable food.

At first, it was harmless. A late-night snack here, a dessert after dinner, an extra plate when memories of home felt too heavy. But with time, cravings became escape. Whenever disappointment, stress, or sadness showed up, food became her relief.

She began eating not because she was hungry but because she didn’t know how to sit with her feelings.
In one counseling session, she whispered, “It felt like eating filled the silence inside me.”
Not with judgment but with honesty.

For many, cravings are not about appetite. They are about emotional survival. Whether it’s food, shopping, scrolling endlessly through a phone, or relationships we sometimes run to what feels familiar when life feels overwhelming.

Cravings are messages. They reveal where the soul is hurting, where healing is needed, and where emotional hunger is deeper than physical need.
Psychologist Dr. Brené Brown once said,
“When we numb painful emotions, we also numb the ability to experience joy.”

Juanita realized she wasn’t eating because she lacked discipline she was eating because she lacked emotional space, emotional safety, and emotional support. What she needed wasn’t another diet; she needed healing. She needed to learn how to feel, not just fill.
As she began acknowledging her loneliness, stress, and exhaustion, something changed. The cravings softened. They didn’t disappear overnight but they no longer controlled her.

She began replacing emotional eating with emotional awareness. Instead of asking, “What do I want to eat?” she learned to ask, “What am I really feeling?”

Cravings are not weakness they are signals.
If you find yourself reaching for things not out of need, but out of numbness know this: you are not alone, and you do not have to struggle in silence.
Healing begins when you allow yourself to be honest.

If you are facing cravings, emotional struggles, or silent battles and need a safe place to talk, help is available.

For counseling, support, or guidance, contact:
Dr. David Rex Orgen at 614-753-3925.