There’s a quiet moment, right before we reach for food, when something inside us asks for attention. For many of us, especially those who’ve lived through stress, trauma, or years of disconnect from our bodies, that moment can feel confusing. We wonder: Am I hungry… or is something else happening inside me?

In a culture that teaches us to override our cues, it’s easy to mistake overwhelm for hunger. But your body is always communicating — and it speaks in sensations, not judgment.

Here are five gentle signs that what you’re feeling may be overwhelm, not true physical hunger:

1. The urge feels urgent, not steady

Physical hunger builds gradually. Overwhelm arrives like a wave — sudden, intense, demanding relief. If the sensation feels like pressure rather than a cue, your nervous system may be asking for grounding, not food.

2. Your breath is tight or shallow

When the body shifts into survival mode, the breath rises into the chest. The belly braces. Digestion slows. In this state, it’s hard to sense true hunger because the body is prioritizing safety over nourishment.

3. Your thoughts are racing

Overwhelm scatters the mind. You may feel foggy, frantic, or unable to focus. Eating can become a way to pause the mental noise — not a response to physical need.

4. Your stomach feels tense, numb, or closed

Overwhelm often shuts down sensation. You might feel a knot, fluttering, or nothing at all. True hunger tends to feel open, warm, or gently hollow — not tight or armored.

5. You’re craving comfort, not nourishment

If you notice you’re seeking soothing, escape, or grounding, that’s emotional or nervous‑system hunger. It’s not wrong. It’s simply a different kind of need.

Your body isn’t confused — it’s communicating

Learning to distinguish hunger from overwhelm isn’t about discipline or control. It’s about attunement. It’s about remembering that your body has always been on your side, even when its signals feel tangled.

This is the heart of Reclaiming Hunger — a gentle, somatic path back to your body’s wisdom. A place where hunger becomes a conversation, not a conflict. Where nourishment includes food, yes… but also breath, rest, boundaries, and care.

Reclaiming Hunger begins in February. I’d love to walk this path with you.