Alex hadn't expected to be back in Dr. Chen's office so soon after their last conversation about his eating habits. Yet here he was, fidgeting with his water bottle, wondering how to explain that this time, it was about work. The last few sessions had helped him start noticing his body's signals around eating, but somehow that awareness had spilled over into other areas of his life – especially at work, where he'd been struggling with a proposal for a new employee wellness program.
"So," Dr. Chen began, settling into his chair with his usual unhurried manner, "how has this week been?"
"Actually..." Alex cleared his throat. "I know we're supposed to be working on my relationship with food, but something happened at work that I think might be related?" He paused. "Though maybe I'm just avoiding the real issue..."
Dr. Chen's eyes crinkled slightly. "The body's wisdom doesn't compartmentalize the way our minds do. What happened?"
"Well, I've been working on this proposal for a company-wide wellness initiative – you know, trying to address burnout, stress management, that kind of thing." Alex gave a short laugh, an image flashing through his mind of himself the night before — takeout containers scattered around, crime show playing in the background.
"The night before it was due, I was so anxious I could barely think," he continued. "I ended up watching three episodes of this crime show I've been meaning to catch up on. Even ordered takeout..." he glanced at Dr. Chen, then added, "which actually gave me some space to breathe. To step back from it all."
"Sometimes we need that space," Dr. Chen observed.
"But as soon as I finished eating and the show ended, the anxiety was right back, maybe even worse." Alex leaned forward. "Then I remembered what we've been practicing – feeling what the body's trying to say. And it was so clear: I hadn't talked to any actual employees about what they needed. The whole proposal was just... theoretical."
Dr. Chen nodded, waiting.
"So I started sending some late-night messages to colleagues I trust. Not exactly proper research," Alex grinned sheepishly, "but better than nothing. And something shifted – I felt... lighter? Not completely better, but different."
"Different how?"
Alex closed his eyes, remembering. "Like... I was still nervous, but it wasn't that same knot in my stomach. It felt more... purposeful?"
"And then?"
"Then I realized what else was bothering me – I hadn't gotten Steve's input. He runs our mental health benefits program, and..." Alex hesitated. "Well, you know about my issues with Steve from last time. The thought of reaching out to him that late, especially given our history..."
"But you did?"
"Yeah. Actually sent him a message asking for his thoughts. And he replied right away — had some useful suggestions about integrating with existing programs I didn't even know about. And there was this line: 'Next time, let's discuss this earlier in the process.'" Alex shifted in his seat. "I felt that old familiar tightness at first, but... I don't know. Maybe because I was already feeling better about the whole thing, it didn't hit as hard?"
"When I finally went to bed..." Alex paused, searching for the words. "Even though the proposal still needed work, my body felt... I don't know how to describe it. Like things had clicked into place?"
Dr. Chen smiled slightly. "Like your system was confirming you'd done what was needed?"
"Exactly!" Alex sat up straighter, then slumped slightly. "Though I'm still wondering if I should have pushed harder on some parts. And I'm not sure what happens next – what if they approve it and I have to actually implement this thing?"
"But something feels different about even those concerns?"
"Yeah..." Alex thought for a moment. "They feel more like... next steps? Not that same stuck anxiety. Which... huh. That's kind of like what we talked about with eating, isn't it? The difference between being hungry versus eating to avoid feeling something else?"
Dr. Chen nodded. "The body's signals work similarly across different areas. When we learn to listen in one domain..."
"It carries over," Alex finished. "Though I have to admit, I didn't expect my eating habits and work stress to be so connected."
"Ah," Dr. Chen's eyes twinkled. "But where do you think stress shows up first? In what we reach for when we're overwhelmed, or avoid when we're aligned?"
Alex thought about the takeout from the night before, and how this morning he'd wanted fruit for breakfast. "Okay, point taken." He paused. "So food is either... what, like a way to numb out from stress, or..."
"Or fuel for what matters to you," Dr. Chen finished quietly. "Your body reaches for what it needs in the moment — sometimes that's comfort, sometimes that's energy."
"You know what's interesting?" Alex continued, sitting forward. "Since then, I've started noticing this pattern everywhere. Like yesterday, I had this nagging feeling about a team issue. First I tried cleaning up my email – which felt good for about five minutes." He laughed. "Then I wrote up some process notes, which helped more but still didn't quite do it. It wasn't until I had a conversation with my colleague about our workflow that I felt that same... completeness."
"Sounds like you're learning to read not just the signals, but how your system confirms when you've responded well to them."
"Yeah..." Alex sat back, a look of wonder crossing his face. "Though I still can't quite believe the same skills apply to both eating and work stuff."
"The body's wisdom doesn't discriminate," Dr. Chen smiled. "It keeps sending signals, and as we learn to listen, each small shift moves us toward what feels better."