From Vacuums to Cravings: How We Get Pulled Back In
Hoovering isn’t just about carpets, it’s about the forces that suck us back into old patterns. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how addiction, food, and emotional habits mirror the pull of toxic relationships, and why self-care requires conscious choice.
For many of you, the Hoover will be familiar, and for others it will be strange. In 1907, a janitor named Spangler invented a carpet sweeper as a health aid. He had asthma, and carpet was his enemy. Carpets collect everything: dust, dirt, lint, and more. His invention allowed him to keep the carpet cleaner, leading to fewer asthma attacks. He was not the manufacturing type and ended up selling his invention to William H. Hoover, a name familiar to many of you. The Hoover Vacuum Company turned the device into a huge success.
The Hoover found its way into many homes. Initially, the Hoover salesman went door to door, complete with the in-home demonstration that would convince the housewife that she had to have it. I am old enough to remember this guy coming to the door with all of his equipment and a mini version of the vacuum cleaner. The thing made a deafening noise, which was actually a plus because when Mother was “hoovering,” you could get away with things.
Over time, “hoovering” was applied to other actions as well. In psychology, hoovering refers to the action of a narcissistic person as they attempt to recapture attention and regain control of the life of another. You could think of it as being “sucked” back into a toxic relationship. Not all of us end up in narcissistic relationships, but most of us have things that suck us back in. Perhaps yours is food, movies, gambling, or alcohol. We can easily get pulled into a variety of addictions.
In this little essay, I am thinking more about the actions of the junk food addict. You know this person, or perhaps you are this person. Junk food acts as a partner, always nearby, easily accessible, and never says no. With this partner, we can gain solace at any time, along with the pounds. The junk food industry loves sugar, fat, and salt. These three ingredients send our brains into a high. Much like the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner, our brains crave more junk and then more and then more. There must be a switch somewhere in the brain that welcomes these ingredients, much like the narcissist welcomes capturing the attachment of another.
Look around as you are out and about, and you will see that the Hoover is winning. Obesity is rampant in our society, and we think nothing of it. In fact, the women’s fashion industry has fully embraced it. I understand why they have done this as a business strategy. If I were in the fashion industry, I would value the same approach. However, I am in the self-care industry, where your mind and body need to work together to make decisions that build strong relationships, foster emotional growth, and provide models for those you love.
Thus, the hoovering should be left to the carpet.
Want to explore how food cravings and emotional habits intersect? Visit Psychology Today’s article on why we crave junk food and Greater Good’s guide to breaking free from addictive patterns.
If you’re navigating food habits, emotional cravings, or addictive cycles, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, balance, and resilience.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
