As we move into a season centered around meals, gathering, and gratitude, I want to talk about something many people quietly carry: food insecurity and the mental strain that comes with it.
Right now, uncertainty around SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) is adding more stress to families already struggling. Ongoing government funding delays have disrupted access to this essential resource. When that safety net slips, the emotional weight can be just as heavy as the physical hunger.
More Than an Empty Pantry
Food insecurity doesn’t always look like starvation. It might be skipping meals to make food stretch, choosing between groceries and gas, or eating low-cost options that lack nutrition. For some families, it’s a constant balancing act between bills, caregiving, and nourishment.
The emotional impact can be significant. People experiencing food scarcity often report chronic stress, heightened anxiety, guilt, and isolation. Parents may feel deep shame about not being able to provide, while children may absorb messages about lack and instability that stay with them well into adulthood.
How Scarcity Affects Mental Health
Mental health isn’t separate from survival. When basic needs like food aren’t reliably met, the nervous system stays on high alert. That ongoing stress can lead to:
Anxiety and worry about the future
Depression and feelings of helplessness
Disrupted sleep or concentration
Emotional withdrawal or irritability
Strained family dynamics
Food insecurity can also reawaken past trauma, particularly for those who grew up in poverty or had to take on adult responsibilities too early. In therapy, we sometimes see clients struggling to regulate their emotions, not because they lack skills, but because their bodies and minds are still in survival mode.
SNAP Benefits and Systemic Stress
When SNAP benefits are delayed or reduced, people are left with impossible choices. These disruptions aren’t just bureaucratic—they are deeply personal. For many, programs like SNAP are lifelines. When that lifeline becomes unreliable, it chips away at a person’s sense of safety and stability.
The truth is, therapy can’t replace a stocked fridge. But it can support individuals and families in navigating the emotional toll of scarcity. We work to name the stress for what it is, build practical coping tools, and, when needed, help connect clients to local resources. Most of all, we aim to create a space free from shame.
Support Is Available
If you or someone you care about is facing food insecurity, please know you are not alone. Here are a few places to start:
211 Wisconsin – Call or text 211 to get connected to food pantries and assistance in your area
Local school meal programs – Many offer free meals with no income documentation required
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service – For up-to-date SNAP benefit guidance
And if you're in a position to offer support—whether that’s donating, volunteering, or simply offering kindness—know that even small gestures matter.
Moving Toward Healing
At A Healing Place, we understand that mental health is shaped by lived experience. Food insecurity isn’t just about access to groceries. It’s about dignity, safety, and the right to live without the fear of going without. We’re committed to walking alongside those facing these challenges with empathy and respect.
If you’re navigating stress around food access or simply trying to make sense of that constant worry, we’re here. Healing starts with being seen and supported.
Blog written by:
Lisa Anderson
Owner of A Healing Place