Comfort Eating Hypnotherapy in Manchester
Food can provide comfort and pleasure. If eating has become a source of distress, feels hard to manage or is followed by guilt, you may want support.
I’m Adrian Tannock, a CNHC-registered hypnotherapist in Manchester city centre. I work with adults seeking help with comfort eating, emotional eating, stress eating and the anxiety or self-criticism around these experiences.
We start by looking at what is happening in your life, including hunger, routines, emotions and health, and what kind of support would be appropriate.
CNHC registered · Senior member of the General Hypnotherapy Register · Practising hypnotherapy in Manchester since 2005 · Private office on Deansgate · Registered and insured to practise
Emotional Eating, Urges, and Eating as Relief
Eating may offer a break from pressure, something enjoyable at the end of the day or a familiar source of comfort. You might be concerned about:
- reaching for food when stressed, bored, lonely or overwhelmed
- cravings that feel difficult to manage
- eating quickly or with little awareness of what is happening
- eating past comfortable fullness, then feeling regret or self-criticism
- hiding eating or feeling embarrassed about it
- repeatedly making strict rules or fresh starts, then feeling distressed when they are hard to keep.
The reasons can be mixed. Hunger, tiredness, routine and emotion may all be involved in the same situation.
Why Comfort Eating Can Feel So Hard to Change
Food may become associated with a brief break from pressure. A particular time, place or feeling can then cue a familiar response. If eating is followed by harsh self-criticism, that can add more distress.
Hunger and restriction can also matter. Skipping meals or trying to compensate for eating may leave you hungry and more preoccupied with food. We look at physical needs, emotional experience and circumstances together.
How Hypnotherapy May Help with Comfort Eating
We agree what you want to change. This might include feeling less distressed around food, responding differently to self-critical thoughts or finding more ways to get rest and support.
Sessions may include discussion, hypnosis, mental rehearsal and practical changes to try between appointments. I may use hypnosis to rehearse a familiar situation and a response you want to practise. We review how the work is affecting you and adjust it where needed.
I also draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This may involve noticing a thought such as “I’ve ruined it” and deciding on the next helpful action. That action might include eating, resting or asking for support, depending on the situation.
You can read more on my Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Manchester page.
A Brief Example of How the Work May Unfold
For illustration, someone might get home hungry and exhausted after working through lunch. They eat quickly, feel uncomfortable afterwards and promise to be stricter the following day.
We would look at the missed food and the workload alongside the self-criticism. The first changes might be practical, with nutritional advice from an appropriate professional if needed.
Hypnosis could be used to rehearse recognising the pressure earlier and asking for support. We would review whether any agreed changes were helping and what else needed attention.
When This Approach May Be a Good Fit
This work may be relevant if comfort eating or stress eating is causing distress and you want support with the habits, anxiety, emotions or self-criticism involved.
If part of you wants change and part still values the comfort that food provides, we can talk about both. The consultation helps us consider whether this work fits your needs and whether other care is needed.
Eating Difficulties, Medical Support, and Safety
Comfort eating can overlap with binge eating, restrictive eating, purging, body image distress, depression or trauma. Diabetes, hormonal changes and medicines may also need to be considered.
Hypnotherapy does not replace medical, nutritional or specialist eating-disorder care.
Please speak with your GP promptly if you are worried about binge eating, purging, restricting food, rapid changes in weight, feeling out of control around eating, or your physical or mental health. You can ask for help at any body weight.
If an eating disorder may be present, assessment and appropriate specialist care come first. We can discuss whether my work could have a part to play alongside that care.
What to Expect Next
During the consultation, I will ask how eating affects you, when difficulties arise, what you have already tried and what you would like to change. We will also discuss relevant health information and any treatment or support you are already receiving.
I will explain how I work, and you can ask questions before deciding whether to continue. You can read more on my what to expect from hypnotherapy page.
Contact me
Please use this form for general enquiries. I will use the details you provide to respond to your enquiry in line with my Privacy Policy. This form is not monitored for urgent or crisis support. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.
Arrange a Consultation
To arrange your free consultation, use the contact form or call me on 07790 506375.
The consultation lasts up to 60 minutes and can take place online or at my private Manchester city centre office on Deansgate. There is no obligation to book further sessions, and you can take time afterwards to decide.