ANXIETY - It's an emotion that can take over and cause your life to turn upside down. We all worry at some point in our life, but ongoing anxiety can cause significant problems in our health.

Today, we're going to show you how to conquer the anxiety that leads to emotional eating, and the first step is to identify if anxiety might be the driving force behind some of the choices you're making.

How to Conquer the Anxiety that Leads to Emotional Eating

• Is anxiety starting to interfere with your daily life?
• Is anxiety causing you to make choices that aren't healthy?
• Do you find yourself constantly worrying about what is going to happen next?
• Are you turning to food in an attempt to relieve the worry?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then it is very likely that anxiety is influencing your life in a negative way. Google defines anxiety as: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome or the desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease.

Does that sound familiar to you? Dr. Gary R. Collins, in his book Christian Counseling, says this about anxiety, "According to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with realistically acknowledging and trying to deal with the identifiable problems of life. To ignore danger is foolish and wrong. But it is also wrong, as well as unhealthy, to be immobilized by excessive worry. Such worry must be committed to prayer to God, who can release us from paralyzing fear or anxiety, and free us to deal realistically with the needs and welfare both of others and of ourselves."

I have often battled with anxiety in the form of worry. I can remember worrying about things as early as 8 years-old. It has been a crippling emotion for me at times, but it's one that I am slowly learning to overcome. Cleaning up my eating has been a large part of my "healing". Another key component has been learning to immediately turn to scripture and prayer, not food.

When we eat, certain chemicals are released in your brain (seratonin, dopamine, beta-endorphins) and these chemicals make you feel good! Eventually you will find yourself in a pattern of feeling anxiety, then eating to calm those feelings. This will lead you down a path of intense emotional eating.

One of the first steps is to be aware of your emotion. Each time you start feeling anxious, address it. Say to yourself "I'm feeling anxious right now, and food might help me for a few minutes but it won't take away the feelings for good".

I'm feeling anxious right now, and food might help me for a few minutes but it won't take away the feelings for good.

If you struggle with anxiety, I challenge you to memorize God's word so that you can quickly turn to HIM, not food. He will always be there, and His truth is always beneficial!

Tape index cards with scripture around your home, in your car, keep one in your purse or on your phone.

Remember, worrying will not change anything. Trust in God to take care of you and know that He is always there.

Here are some verses that will help to get you started:

• Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
• Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
• Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
• Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
• 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present. - Sarah Young (Jesus Calling Devotional)

Remember, food will only make you feel better for the moment. It won't take away the feelings of anxiety. Chances are, the food that you are turning to in those moments will only make it worse.

View The Other Posts in the Emotional Eating Series

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* Individual results may vary.