Stress Eating, “Kuchisabishii,” and the Nervous System: A Tokyo Chiropractor’s Perspective

You may have seen the popular Japanese meme making the rounds:

Kuchisabishii (口寂しい): When you’re not hungry, but you eat because your mouth is lonely.

It’s funny because it’s true. Most of us have eaten out of boredom, stress, or habit rather than true hunger. And once the laughter fades, what’s left is an uncomfortable truth: we often eat to cope, not to nourish.

For many Tokyo expats and busy professionals, especially during prolonged periods of isolation or high stress, this behavior has become increasingly common. At its core, kuchisabishii isn’t about food at all. It’s about your nervous system seeking relief.

Why We Stress Eat: The Biology Behind Emotional Eating

Healthy eating serves many roles. We eat to survive, to connect socially, and to regulate our emotions.

From a neurological standpoint, stress eating makes sense.

One of your body’s primary “bonding” and “feel-good” hormones is oxytocin. It’s released:

• During childbirth and breastfeeding

• When we hug, touch, or connect with others

• When we feel safe, supported, and cared for

What many people don’t realize is that the physical act of eating also triggers oxytocin release. This connection begins in infancy, when nourishment and bonding are inseparable.

Your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between:

• Eating to fuel your body

• Eating to soothe stress, loneliness, or overwhelm

In both cases, you receive the same chemical reward. This is why emotional eating can feel so hard to “control.” Your nervous system is seeking regulation and comfort.

Kuchisabishii Is a Nervous System Signal, Not a Willpower Problem

When you overeat during stress, boredom, or burnout, the food isn’t the true goal. The goal is the feeling of relief, comfort, safety.

Once you understand this, the question shifts from:

“How do I stop eating so much?”

to:

“What does my nervous system actually need right now?”

This reframing is powerful. It replaces guilt with awareness and opens the door to healthier coping strategies.

Natural Ways to Boost Oxytocin Without Stress Eating

If your body is craving oxytocin, there are many ways to provide it without reaching for food.

1. Human Touch and Connection

Hug someone you care about. And don’t rush it.

Longer hugs (yes, even the slightly awkward ones) increase oxytocin release and calm the nervous system. Laughter afterward is a bonus.

For expats in Tokyo, where physical connection can be limited, this matters more than you might think.

2. Chiropractic Care and Nervous System Support

Chiropractic care is a hands-on form of healthcare that directly engages the nervous system.

For many people (especially those living alone) a chiropractic adjustment may be the only intentional, supportive human touch they receive all week.

Beyond physical relief, chiropractic adjustments help reduce nervous system stress and improve brain-body communication, allowing your body to regulate itself more effectively.

As a Tokyo chiropractor working closely with expats, I regularly see how consistent chiropractic care helps clients feel more grounded, calm, and resilient; not just less sore.

3. Time With Animals

Pet your cat. Play with a dog. Sit quietly with an animal for a few minutes.

Animal contact reliably increases oxytocin levels and can interrupt stress-eating patterns long enough for your nervous system to reset.

A Holistic Approach to Stress, Eating, and Health

At Electra Chiropractic, we don’t see stress eating as a failure of discipline. We see it as a signal from an overloaded nervous system.

When your spine moves well and your nervous system communicates clearly, your body is better equipped to:

• Regulate stress

• Make intuitive food choices

• Recover from emotional and physical overload

• Respond thoughtfully instead of reactively

Health isn’t about restriction; it’s about supporting your body so it doesn’t need to compensate.

Looking for Nervous System–Based Chiropractic Care in Tokyo?

If stress, burnout, or emotional eating patterns feel familiar, it may be time to look deeper than symptoms.

At Electra Chiropractic in Higashiazabu, we offer:

• Comprehensive spinal and nervous system assessments

• Digital posture analysis

• Neurological and orthopedic testing

• Personalized, holistic chiropractic care for English speakers

If you’re ready to support your body instead of fighting it, I invite you to book a complete spinal and nervous system check-up.

📍 Electra Chiropractic, Tokyo - Caring for expats and locals with evidence-based, holistic chiropractic care.