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Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors: Trauma-Informed Practices to Nurture a Peaceful Relationship with Your Emotions, Body, and Food
"Petrella captures the heartbeat of what it means to recover from trauma and emotional eating, and offers hope that recovery is possible. A must read book!"
—EDReferral.com
Heal the trauma at the root of your emotional eating.
If you’ve experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, your past trauma could affect how you care for yourself today. You may struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, and reach for food to soothe your emotions when feeling sad, anxious, or stressed. You aren’t alone. In fact, studies show there is a strong link between adversity, trauma, and abuse and emotional eating. The good news is there are tools you can use to heal from the past and nurture a healthier relationship with food, your body, and yourself. This book offers step-by-step guidance for rewiring your brain to calm trauma-based fears, regulate your body and emotions, connect with your inner wisdom for strength, and release emotional weight.
Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors offers an innovative, trauma-informed approach to overcoming emotional eating using the principles of mindfulness, self-compassion, and neuroscience. With this gentle guide, you will gain a deeper understanding of your trauma, and discover alternative ways to soothe stress and difficult emotions when they show up. You’ll also learn to shift your focus away from your weight, so you can cultivate a more loving connection with your body as you heal.
With this compassionate guide, you’ll discover ways
Calm your anxious brain and body Safely process your emotions Transform self-punishment into self-compassion Practice self-forgiveness and overcome body shame Take your power back from trigger foods Create an emotionally safe sanctuary with friends, family, and home Most importantly, you’ll find the support you need to end the cycle of emotional eating and release the weight of your trauma—so you can live with a greater sense of freedom and vitality.
—EDReferral.com
Heal the trauma at the root of your emotional eating.
If you’ve experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, your past trauma could affect how you care for yourself today. You may struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, and reach for food to soothe your emotions when feeling sad, anxious, or stressed. You aren’t alone. In fact, studies show there is a strong link between adversity, trauma, and abuse and emotional eating. The good news is there are tools you can use to heal from the past and nurture a healthier relationship with food, your body, and yourself. This book offers step-by-step guidance for rewiring your brain to calm trauma-based fears, regulate your body and emotions, connect with your inner wisdom for strength, and release emotional weight.
Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors offers an innovative, trauma-informed approach to overcoming emotional eating using the principles of mindfulness, self-compassion, and neuroscience. With this gentle guide, you will gain a deeper understanding of your trauma, and discover alternative ways to soothe stress and difficult emotions when they show up. You’ll also learn to shift your focus away from your weight, so you can cultivate a more loving connection with your body as you heal.
With this compassionate guide, you’ll discover ways
Calm your anxious brain and body Safely process your emotions Transform self-punishment into self-compassion Practice self-forgiveness and overcome body shame Take your power back from trigger foods Create an emotionally safe sanctuary with friends, family, and home Most importantly, you’ll find the support you need to end the cycle of emotional eating and release the weight of your trauma—so you can live with a greater sense of freedom and vitality.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 2, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. I listened to the audiobook version from the library and immediately knew I had to own a physical copy. Although, I may buy the audiobook version too because the author narration was the single most comforting book I’ve ever listened to. And I’ve listened to a lot of self improvement books. The way she checks in with the reader gives a sense of being guided by an actual person.
Reasons I loved the book:
1. I loved her trauma informed perspective on disordered eating. It really helped to validate my experience.
2. She cares about being intersectional.
3. There are MANY practical tips to use. Ranging from very simple to complex.
Constructive criticism:
1. In her chapter where she discussed physical exercise, I personally felt like there was too much emphasis on walking and it came off as ableist. Walking can be difficult and I think she missed an opportunity to talk about a wider range of body movement options.
2. It felt like there wasn’t enough BIPOC representation. To me it felt like the book was obviously written by a white woman and had a “white default” feel.
Reasons I loved the book:
1. I loved her trauma informed perspective on disordered eating. It really helped to validate my experience.
2. She cares about being intersectional.
3. There are MANY practical tips to use. Ranging from very simple to complex.
Constructive criticism:
1. In her chapter where she discussed physical exercise, I personally felt like there was too much emphasis on walking and it came off as ableist. Walking can be difficult and I think she missed an opportunity to talk about a wider range of body movement options.
2. It felt like there wasn’t enough BIPOC representation. To me it felt like the book was obviously written by a white woman and had a “white default” feel.
October 12, 2023
This book was powerful, and truly just what I needed to read recently. I’ve been on a journey of healing my relationship with my body and eating habits for quite some time, and this book was full of self-compassion exercises that I’ll carry with me as I continue on. At the time of reading this, emotional eating isn’t something I struggle with as often, thanks to the practice of intuitive eating — but the lingering effects of trauma, “yo-yo dieting”, self-depreciation, and restrictive eating have taken a lot of effort to work through. There were many gems of knowledge for trauma-healing that I found very helpful. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a history of trauma or a complex relationship with food and their body.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.
August 6, 2024
Another therapy assignment... I found it triggering at times and helpful at others. The worldview was a little wonky and several of the homework assignments didn't apply to me because of it.
December 19, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This book is a compassionate, non-judgmental guide to overcoming the deeper, trauma-based issues that fuel emotional eating for some people. I was interested in this book from an academic perspective, so I can’t critique any specifics from the basis of personal experience, but I thought the material was helpful and wise overall. I appreciate the author’s emphasis on having compassion for yourself and learning to accept mistakes and bad choices in a way that helps you move on and make better decisions, instead of spiraling into shame and making things even worse for yourself. There’s also a lot of helpful information about different ways that trauma disrupts people’s emotional processing and how people can heal.
The author encourages her readers to focus on inner work instead of just trying new strategies to control their food consumption, explaining that healing from deeper issues can help people change their relationship to food. She also keeps the book neutral about weight. She emphasizes at the beginning that emotional eating can affect people of any size, and although she explores body image themes and struggles that will be especially relevant to people who have dealt with weight stigma, the book focuses on beliefs and behaviors, not someone’s body size.
I also appreciate that in the section focusing on diet culture, the author clearly differentiates between unhealthy, weight-related food restriction versus special diets for allergies and other food sensitivities. A lot of authors miss this incredibly important nuance and make it sound like avoiding and restricting food for any reason is always wrong and can lead to an eating disorder. I appreciated the careful handling of it here, especially because the author explains why these are different issues.
Something else I liked was the author's encouragement for people to rid their external environments of things that are negative or unnecessarily triggering, whether it's a gift from a relative who abused you or something with a degrading, sexualized message. She also encourages people not to like or share memes that make light of emotional eating or trauma. I appreciated this chapter in addition to the chapters focusing on internal experiences.
However, this book specifically focuses on childhood trauma, with encouragements, recommendations, and examples focused on people who experienced abuse or neglect as children. If someone is dealing with emotional eating related to traumas they’ve suffered as an adult, parts of this book will apply and be helpful, but they need to have accurate expectations. The title and description sound very general, but this book focuses on painful childhood experiences, especially with parents who were unable or unwilling to support their child emotionally.
This book is also exclusively targeted towards women. The author explains at the beginning that emotional eating can affect anyone, but that her experience is mostly with women, and that even though men can have similar issues, they’re less likely to seek help. Because of this, she focuses on women, feminine-coding all of her references to the reader and focusing on women’s stories. There are only two brief anecdotes in the entire book that are about men.
I think that this is a huge missed opportunity, especially because she herself acknowledges that men are less likely than woman to get help. And why would men reach out for help, when they not only have to overcome the stigma they feel, but also have to deal with basically every resource on the issue being specifically designed for women and barely even acknowledging them as an afterthought? Maybe men will be more likely to get help when books like this actually speak to them and tell their stories!
I would recommend this book to women who are dealing with emotional eating, or to family members and therapists who want to better understand and support women struggling with this issue. I didn’t care for some of the suggested practices and activities, which were frequently so spiritually out there that they clashed with my worldview, but this book has a lot of great advice and offers helpful reflection exercises and healing approaches that people of any background can find helpful.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a compassionate, non-judgmental guide to overcoming the deeper, trauma-based issues that fuel emotional eating for some people. I was interested in this book from an academic perspective, so I can’t critique any specifics from the basis of personal experience, but I thought the material was helpful and wise overall. I appreciate the author’s emphasis on having compassion for yourself and learning to accept mistakes and bad choices in a way that helps you move on and make better decisions, instead of spiraling into shame and making things even worse for yourself. There’s also a lot of helpful information about different ways that trauma disrupts people’s emotional processing and how people can heal.
The author encourages her readers to focus on inner work instead of just trying new strategies to control their food consumption, explaining that healing from deeper issues can help people change their relationship to food. She also keeps the book neutral about weight. She emphasizes at the beginning that emotional eating can affect people of any size, and although she explores body image themes and struggles that will be especially relevant to people who have dealt with weight stigma, the book focuses on beliefs and behaviors, not someone’s body size.
I also appreciate that in the section focusing on diet culture, the author clearly differentiates between unhealthy, weight-related food restriction versus special diets for allergies and other food sensitivities. A lot of authors miss this incredibly important nuance and make it sound like avoiding and restricting food for any reason is always wrong and can lead to an eating disorder. I appreciated the careful handling of it here, especially because the author explains why these are different issues.
Something else I liked was the author's encouragement for people to rid their external environments of things that are negative or unnecessarily triggering, whether it's a gift from a relative who abused you or something with a degrading, sexualized message. She also encourages people not to like or share memes that make light of emotional eating or trauma. I appreciated this chapter in addition to the chapters focusing on internal experiences.
However, this book specifically focuses on childhood trauma, with encouragements, recommendations, and examples focused on people who experienced abuse or neglect as children. If someone is dealing with emotional eating related to traumas they’ve suffered as an adult, parts of this book will apply and be helpful, but they need to have accurate expectations. The title and description sound very general, but this book focuses on painful childhood experiences, especially with parents who were unable or unwilling to support their child emotionally.
This book is also exclusively targeted towards women. The author explains at the beginning that emotional eating can affect anyone, but that her experience is mostly with women, and that even though men can have similar issues, they’re less likely to seek help. Because of this, she focuses on women, feminine-coding all of her references to the reader and focusing on women’s stories. There are only two brief anecdotes in the entire book that are about men.
I think that this is a huge missed opportunity, especially because she herself acknowledges that men are less likely than woman to get help. And why would men reach out for help, when they not only have to overcome the stigma they feel, but also have to deal with basically every resource on the issue being specifically designed for women and barely even acknowledging them as an afterthought? Maybe men will be more likely to get help when books like this actually speak to them and tell their stories!
I would recommend this book to women who are dealing with emotional eating, or to family members and therapists who want to better understand and support women struggling with this issue. I didn’t care for some of the suggested practices and activities, which were frequently so spiritually out there that they clashed with my worldview, but this book has a lot of great advice and offers helpful reflection exercises and healing approaches that people of any background can find helpful.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
Thank you #netgalley, #dianapetrella and #neharbingerpublications for this ARC of a book that I 100% need.
I will start off by saying I am NOT a self-help book reader; never have been. I have tried a few times with a few different subjects. I'm very much a "i want to get lost in my reading and forget my real life" type person but when I saw the title of this book on NetGalley, I took my chances in hoping that I would be, not only approved to read it but also able to read it. By page 49, I had pre-ordered the book on Amazon which comes out 9/1. This book is exactly what I need to compliment my therapy sessions. There are a lot of Emotional Eating self help books on the market but one tailored to Trauma Survivors of Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse I have never seen. As a survivor of those different types of traumas, emotional eating has always been an issue for me which is why my weight fluctuates a lot. This book not only had statements that I have have used to try and justify my eating and avoidance of the root cause, it also has other real life survivors speaking of going through the same journey. We already know the who of the book and it goes into the what and when, they why and how to help heal. It gives real life, helpful techniques to help not only get to the root cause of the why but also what steps to take to help stop emotional eating. There are also links for the publication that will provide some additional resources, templates, etc. While I was reading the book (beginning of July 2023), I tried bringing up the webpage but I don't believe it was ready yet. However, I did go to the main webpage and signed up for a few newsletters. I noticed that the author is licensed independent clinical social worker specializing in childhood trauma and emotional eating based in Providence, RI which is my old home State. If I was still in RI, I would absolutely make an appt with her. I am very much on a healing journey from childhood and young adulthood trauma and this is one more tool in my toolbox that I will 100% use. I am recommending this to a few friends that have also experienced the same trauma and have the same issues with emotional eating. This book is fantastic and a must read.
Thank you again for the ARC!
I will start off by saying I am NOT a self-help book reader; never have been. I have tried a few times with a few different subjects. I'm very much a "i want to get lost in my reading and forget my real life" type person but when I saw the title of this book on NetGalley, I took my chances in hoping that I would be, not only approved to read it but also able to read it. By page 49, I had pre-ordered the book on Amazon which comes out 9/1. This book is exactly what I need to compliment my therapy sessions. There are a lot of Emotional Eating self help books on the market but one tailored to Trauma Survivors of Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse I have never seen. As a survivor of those different types of traumas, emotional eating has always been an issue for me which is why my weight fluctuates a lot. This book not only had statements that I have have used to try and justify my eating and avoidance of the root cause, it also has other real life survivors speaking of going through the same journey. We already know the who of the book and it goes into the what and when, they why and how to help heal. It gives real life, helpful techniques to help not only get to the root cause of the why but also what steps to take to help stop emotional eating. There are also links for the publication that will provide some additional resources, templates, etc. While I was reading the book (beginning of July 2023), I tried bringing up the webpage but I don't believe it was ready yet. However, I did go to the main webpage and signed up for a few newsletters. I noticed that the author is licensed independent clinical social worker specializing in childhood trauma and emotional eating based in Providence, RI which is my old home State. If I was still in RI, I would absolutely make an appt with her. I am very much on a healing journey from childhood and young adulthood trauma and this is one more tool in my toolbox that I will 100% use. I am recommending this to a few friends that have also experienced the same trauma and have the same issues with emotional eating. This book is fantastic and a must read.
Thank you again for the ARC!
April 27, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
“Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors: Trauma-Informed Practices to Nurture a Peaceful Relationship with Your Emotions, Body, and Food” by Diane Petrella, with a foreword by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, is a compassionate and insightful exploration into the complex relationship between trauma and eating behaviors.
Petrella’s work is grounded in the understanding that trauma, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, can profoundly impact one’s relationship with food. The book is not just about eating or food; it’s a journey towards understanding and healing the emotional wounds that often manifest as disordered eating patterns.
The author’s approach is holistic and multifaceted, incorporating mindfulness, self-compassion, and neuroscience to guide readers through the process of rewiring their brains to calm trauma-based fears. This is not a quick-fix diet book but a deep dive into the psyche, offering step-by-step guidance to regulate emotions and develop a nurturing connection with one’s body.
What sets this book apart is its trauma-informed lens, recognizing that traditional methods of addressing emotional eating often overlook the root cause—trauma. Petrella acknowledges the courage it takes to confront these deep-seated issues and provides a gentle, yet effective roadmap for recovery.
The narrative is both educational and empathetic, making complex psychological concepts accessible without oversimplifying the challenges faced by trauma survivors. The inclusion of practical exercises allows readers to apply the principles in their daily lives, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-discovery.
In conclusion, “Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of emotional eating and trauma. It’s a book that doesn’t just aim to inform but to transform, offering hope and practical tools for those on the path to recovery.
“Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors: Trauma-Informed Practices to Nurture a Peaceful Relationship with Your Emotions, Body, and Food” by Diane Petrella, with a foreword by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, is a compassionate and insightful exploration into the complex relationship between trauma and eating behaviors.
Petrella’s work is grounded in the understanding that trauma, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, can profoundly impact one’s relationship with food. The book is not just about eating or food; it’s a journey towards understanding and healing the emotional wounds that often manifest as disordered eating patterns.
The author’s approach is holistic and multifaceted, incorporating mindfulness, self-compassion, and neuroscience to guide readers through the process of rewiring their brains to calm trauma-based fears. This is not a quick-fix diet book but a deep dive into the psyche, offering step-by-step guidance to regulate emotions and develop a nurturing connection with one’s body.
What sets this book apart is its trauma-informed lens, recognizing that traditional methods of addressing emotional eating often overlook the root cause—trauma. Petrella acknowledges the courage it takes to confront these deep-seated issues and provides a gentle, yet effective roadmap for recovery.
The narrative is both educational and empathetic, making complex psychological concepts accessible without oversimplifying the challenges faced by trauma survivors. The inclusion of practical exercises allows readers to apply the principles in their daily lives, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-discovery.
In conclusion, “Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of emotional eating and trauma. It’s a book that doesn’t just aim to inform but to transform, offering hope and practical tools for those on the path to recovery.
March 9, 2024
When I find a book that offers so much wisdom for me personally as well as for my clients, I am elated. Filling a void in my offerings, it’s “required” reading for the women in my practice who are emotionally eating from childhood trauma.
A gentle tone and hopeful perspective sets Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors apart from others in the field. Diane Petrella takes the reader by the hand and skillfully moves through trauma-based patterns, common emotional eating recovery pitfalls, and negative self-talk using prompts, and real-life examples for recovery. Information presented flows in an easy-to-follow format and highlights why and how trauma-based emotional eating requires a specialized, focused, and compassionate approach. I highly recommend this book for practitioners and clients alike.
A gentle tone and hopeful perspective sets Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors apart from others in the field. Diane Petrella takes the reader by the hand and skillfully moves through trauma-based patterns, common emotional eating recovery pitfalls, and negative self-talk using prompts, and real-life examples for recovery. Information presented flows in an easy-to-follow format and highlights why and how trauma-based emotional eating requires a specialized, focused, and compassionate approach. I highly recommend this book for practitioners and clients alike.
August 20, 2024
"Healing Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors" was an impactful read for me. As someone who struggles with emotional eating, this book offers a compassionate and insightful approach to understanding the connection between trauma and eating habits. I appreciated how the author didn’t just focus on surface-level solutions but really delved into the underlying emotional wounds that drive these behaviours. The practical strategies and gentle encouragement throughout the book made me feel seen and supported, offering a path toward true healing rather than just managing symptoms. This is a resource I'll return to again.
July 19, 2023
If you struggle with emotional eating or have a trauma history, this book is a handbook of how to work through your past and make the changes you desire. It would be a great tool to use with a therapist or a self- help manual to start your journey. Diane guides you through techniques to decrease your distress level as you commit to this. It's like having a supportive friend leading the way. Her message of self compassion is one many of us need to be reminded of.
July 3, 2023
This book is highly recommended with a five-star rating. It provides valuable and informative content that will assist individuals in addressing emotional eating and navigating through the process of grief. The chapters are well-written, offering insightful perspectives on these subjects. Overall, it is a great resource for anyone seeking guidance in these areas
February 7, 2024
A very good book about trauma and emotional eating, if a little but repetitive. But most of the self-help books I've read or translated are.
I think there are a lot of great practices and ideas to be learned. Can recommend!
Also I hope the book will find its readers in our country as well. Will be happy to promote as much as I can.
I think there are a lot of great practices and ideas to be learned. Can recommend!
Also I hope the book will find its readers in our country as well. Will be happy to promote as much as I can.
July 8, 2023
Gently but firmly Donna takes one by the hand to guide one through the process of stopping with Emotional Eating for Trauma Survivors. Also Over Eaters may find guidance in the book. It is not a kick-start but it will lay the foundation of one's way...
October 11, 2023
There are some interesting aspects to this book. There are also some spots with good insights and advice. Overall though I just was not very impressed by the guidance provided or the way in which the information was presented.
May 29, 2024
The author of this book is a neighbor of a book club friend so we opted to read the book and meet with the author in attendance. We had a great discussion and we were able to ask Diane about the process of writing the book and how long it took to come to fruition!
October 31, 2025
If this is your first look into healing, this could be a good place to start. The author is kind, gives lots of ideas, and checks in on you a lot. If you are seasoned in therapy or are a counselor yourself, it may seem a bit redundant.
June 16, 2023
Five stars. Great and informational book to help with healing emotional eating and processing grief. I enjoyed all the chapters. Found them to be insightful. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 4, 2023
Good tips. A good starting point for working on trauma eating. I felt more connection to physical embodiment would help
April 11, 2026
My only critique is the general idea that all emotional eating is problematic when it is a normative human experience. It’s only problematic when it’s the only or primary coping strategy.
October 21, 2023
I can definitely see how this will help start to heal emotional eaters. Only when they are ready to deal with the issues though because some of this was hard to face.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews