Many of us know this feeling: a sudden desire for chocolate at the end of the day, an irrepressible need to snack on something sweet after a strong emotion, or that automatic gesture that pushes us towards the cupboard without even thinking about it. These “sweet compulsions” can be a source of guilt, or even incomprehension. However, they have nothing to do with a lack of will.
“Sugar compulsions are never proof that we “lack discipline”. They are the expression of an imbalance in the body or in the emotions”, explains Orlane Fagnoni, dietician-nutritionist and hypnotherapist.
Understanding what is happening within us already allows us to relieve the pressure… and act more effectively.
When blood sugar plummets, the brain cries out for sugar as an emergency
One of the main causes of compulsions is what happens in our blood: blood sugar. When you eat too little, too quickly, or too sweetly, your blood sugar rises quickly… then drops just as suddenly. These variations, which resemble a roller coaster, create stress for the brain.
“When blood sugar drops, the brain receives an energy alert and immediately demands sugar”specifies Orlane Fagnoni.
It is therefore not a question of a “greedy” desire, but of a real biological reflex:
- The body simply seeks the quickest way to replenish energy: sugar;
- With repetition, the greater these variations, the more frequent the compulsions become;
- We enter a vicious circle where biology takes control.
Sugar as an emotional bandage: a quick solution… but short
Sugar doesn’t just affect energy. It also directly affects our emotions. With each bite, it stimulates dopamine, this molecule of immediate pleasure, and serotonin, which provides a feeling of calm. It’s this dual effect that makes sugar so “comforting.”
“Many people find themselves snacking when they are stressed, lonely, anxious or simply tired. Sugar then becomes a way of calming an emotion that we do not know how to soothe otherwise”explains the nutritionist.
It soothes yes… but very briefly. A few minutes later, the emotion returns, and sometimes even more intensely. And the craving for sugar starts again.
When the gesture becomes automatic: the brain creates shortcuts
By using sugar to calm an emotion or fatigue, the brain records this behavior. He likes quick solutions, those that work “well enough” and immediately.
“The brain creates automatisms. We end up opening the cupboard or the fridge without even having time to express a desire”explains the expert. It is no longer a conscious choice: it is a neurological reflex.
The more you use it, the stronger it gets. This is how some people have the feeling that the compulsion is “overtaking them”. In reality, it has simply become part of a neural circuit.
Hormones, a major but little-known factor
Finally, hormonal variations – whether the menstrual cycle, postpartum or menopause – profoundly change the way the body manages energy and emotions. Appetite changes, insulin sensitivity varies, and… desires for comfort increase.
“Women often think they “break down” more, but in reality, their hormonal background makes them more vulnerable to compulsions”reassures Orlane Fagnoni.
Hypno-nutrition, one of the keys to escaping the cycle of sugar compulsions
Faced with these often out of control mechanisms, simply wanting to “be careful” is not enough. This is why hypno-nutrition can act in this area, by combining two complementary approaches: nutrition, which stabilizes the biological terrain, and hypnosis, which acts on automatic behaviors and the emotional relationship with food. A dual action which makes it a powerful tool.
Reprogram the brain: appease automatism at the root
In hypnosis, we act directly on the neural circuits that trigger the compulsion. “On teaches the brain to put distance, to postpone the gesture, to create other possible paths”explains the therapist. The impulse becomes less intense, less urgent. It’s not a fight: it’s a gentle redirection, which circumvents automatism instead of thwarting it.
Soothe emotions without food
Hypnosis also works on stress, mental overload, nervous fatigue. “We teach the body to find other sources of relief other than sugar”continues Orlane Fagnoni. Breathe differently, send signals of calm to the nervous system, strengthen self-confidence… All this reduces the need to compensate with food. And gradually, sugar loses its status as an “emotional crutch”.
Stabilize blood sugar to avoid irrepressible cravings
The nutritional part is just as important: it stabilizes the ground. Avoiding spikes and drops in blood sugar helps prevent distress calls from the brain. This involves balanced meals, sufficiently rich in protein, fiber, and sometimes intelligent snacks to support the body at the right time. “When blood sugar levels become stable, compulsions decrease on their own”underlines the nutritionist.
A method to rebalance and soothe
According to the nutritionist, the objective of hypno-nutrition is never prohibition. “Sugar is part of life. What we want is to relearn how to take advantage of it consciously, without impulsiveness.” says Orlane Fagnoni. Because let’s remember, sweet compulsions are not a problem of will, but a tangle of biology, emotions, habits and hormones.
Hypno-nutrition can thus propose acting on these different levels, in a gentle and lasting way, to understand the message behind the impulse, soothe the body and reprogram automatisms. A method to test, but always with a professional.