Hunger

If we posit both that unresolved trauma and unexpressed instinctual urges reside in patterns of tension in the viscera, could it be that overeating is a way of pacifying those feelings?  In a sense, this possibility is obvious: we have likely all overeaten when under stress.

But usually what is referenced is the effect on blood chemistry.  A combination of fat and carbohydrate reduces cortisol production, in my understanding.  Certainly a sense of satiety dulls the nerves a bit, and quiets the mind.

But Peter Levine remarked in his book that in some senses one could view the brain as an organ evolved by the stomach in order to better feed itself.  Now, I am no Darwinian, but neither am I stupid enough to ignore clear connections.  My position is simply that field theories have to be added to the equation for it ever to account for all the variables/evidence.

Be that as it may, can it be a case of contending “brains”, one of which feels tension unrelated to hunger, but can only relieve it by triggering the eating circuit; and with the other brain, of course, being the one that wants to be skinny and healthy?

I think most intelligent people grasp that simple carbs have to be controlled, since they induce responses which trigger further eating.  Beyond that, I think there are many, many possible diets which will result in weight loss.  The hows are not really that complicated.

Logically, though, if this rough premise is true, then much of our modern obesity can be explained by the abstraction and unnaturalness of our modern world.  If you live in your head, if you never feel “primitive”, if you never let atavistic urges express themselves, then large parts of your self go unlistened to, but they don’t then go away.  They demand attention.

This is all highly speculative.  I am just playing around with ideas, sketching.  I do that a lot.  There may be something here, maybe not.  For my part, I am going to continue working to understand these things.